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Snohomish County's Municipal Courts

Snohomish County's Municipal Courts are courts of "Limited Jurisdiction".  As a result, Snohomish County's Municipal Courts are authorized by Washington state statute to preside over a limited number of types of cases.  In general, these municipal courts have jurisdiction over the following types of matters: civil and traffic infractions, criminal misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors. 

Thus, Snohomish County's Municipal courts are authorized to preside over Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUI/Drunk Driving) charges because they are gross misdemeanors.  In certain circumstances, Snohomish County's Municipal Courts are also empowered to issue civil orders for protection to victims of domestic violence. 

As a practical matter, Snohomish County's Municipal Courts function very similarly to the county's district courts.  The Municipal Courts schedule arraignments, pre-trial hearings, non-jury and jury trials.  They also handle sentencings and probation review hearings.  Each municipal court also has its own collections and probation monitoring departments.  These Snohomish County Municipal Courts also provide related services such as legal representation for indigent persons.

Snohomish County has several municipal courts that function completely independently from the Snohomish County District Courts.  These municipal courts are typically located in Snohomish County's larger cities.  For example, if you have been arrested for DUI by the city police in either Everett, Edmonds, or Lynnwood, you will most likely be ordered to appear in the municipal court of that city.  On the other hand, it is important to note that many Snohomish County cities simply file their traffic infractions and criminal misdemeanors in one of Snohomish County's District Courts. 

Thus, it is imperative that you follow the specific direction provided on any tickets or notices that you receive.  If you have any questions about what you should do or where you should appear, it is imperative that you contact an experience criminal or traffic ticket attorney immediately.  Our offices have access to every Snohomish County Municipal and District Court information database.  We can immediately look your case up and determine the exact status of your matter, including when and where you are next required to appear in court.  If you have already missed a court appearance, we can also determine if a warrant has been issued for your arrest.

Snohomish County Municipal Court Criminal Cases

In all Snohomish County Municipal Court criminal cases, the City is required to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.  Additionally, all defendants have the right to an attorney at all court hearings.  If you are a criminal defendant and cannot afford to hire a lawyer, the municipal court in which you are appearing will refer you for a screening to determine if qualify for the appointment of a public defender.  If you are a defendant in a Snohomish County Municipal Court criminal case, you must appear at all scheduled hearings or a warrant will be issued for arrest. 

If you have been cited to appear in a Snohomish County Municipal Court for criminal matter, you are either being charged with a misdemeanor or a gross misdemeanor.  The municipal courts do not have jurisdiction over felony matters.  If you are charged with a misdemeanor, you are facing a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.  If you are charged with a gross misdemeanor, you are facing a maximum penalty of 365 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. 

The three primary municipal courts in Snohomish County are located in Everett, Edmonds, and Lynnwood.  Our attorneys handle all Snohomish County Municipal Court criminal matters, including but not limited to the following:

• Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUI/DWI/Drunk Driving)
• Minor Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (Minor DUI/Minor DWI/Minor Drunk Driving)
• Hit & Run Attended
• Hit & Run Unattended
  
• Driving While License Suspended (DWLS)
  
• Minor in Possession of Alcohol
• Disorderly Conduct
  
• Possession of Marijuana
  
• Reckless Driving
• Negligent Driving
• Reckless Endangerment
• Assault IV
• Assault IV - Domestic Violence
• Harassment
• Harassment - Domestic Violence
• Malicious Mischief
• Malicious Mischief - Domestic Violence
• Protection and No Contact Order Violations
  
• All Degrees of Theft (Shoplifting)
• All Degrees of Criminal Trespass
• All Fraud and Forgery Charges
  
• Prostitution and Solicitation
• All other Misdemeanors and Gross Misdemeanors in the Lynnwood, Edmonds, and Everett Municipal Courts
  

Snohomish County Municipal Court Speeding and Traffic Ticket Cases

In addition to handling Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUI/Drunk Driving) cases in the Edmonds, Everett and Lynnwood Municipal Courts, our experienced traffic attorneys also handle all speeding and traffic ticket cases in these courts as well.  Many people erroneously believe that they have few options except to simply admit their guilt and pay their alleged speeding ticket or traffic infraction fine.

Nothing, however, could be further from the truth.  If you have been issued a speeding to traffic ticket, you have rights.  Depending on the nature of the alleged violation, you may have several defenses available to you.  Our experienced ticket attorneys handle hundreds of moving violations throughout Western Washington every year.  If you have been issued a Snohomish County Speeding or Traffic Ticket, you must respond to your  notice of infraction (green copy of the speeding or traffic ticket) within 15 days of the alleged date of violation, or the date of issuance if you were not cited and given a ticket on the day that you are stopped.

In order to timely and properly respond, you must select one of the options on the back of your ticket and mail or bring it to the court no more than 15 days after the date on which the violation is alleged to have occurred or from the date of issuance (if ticket was not issued to you at the time you were stopped).  If you fail to respond within the 15 days, a finding of committed will be entered and the Department of Licensing will be contacted.  As a result, your license may be suspended, and you will receive additional penalties.

Requesting A Contested Hearing

In general, you should always strongly consider contesting your hearing, even if you are undecided about whether or not to retain an experienced speeding and traffic infraction lawyer.  If you want to contest or challenge your infraction, your can either contact our offices directly or simply check the “Contested Hearing” box on the back of the green copy of your ticket. Again, you must do so within 15 days of receipt.  The court will schedule a hearing upon receiving your request. Either you or your attorney must appear for this hearing.  If you fail to appear, there will be severe consequences.

In every Snohomish County speeding and traffic ticket case, the city must prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence. You or your attorney can require (subpoena) witnesses to attend the hearing, including the officer who wrote the ticket.  If you lose at the hearing, the finding will be reported to the Department of Licensing.

Failure To Respond

Depending on the type of infraction you were issued, f you fail to respond to your notice of traffic infraction, any or all of the following may occur:

• The court will determine that you committed the infraction
• You will lose your privilege to drive
• Your penalty will be increased by $52
• Your case may be sent to a collection agency


Edmonds Municipal Court, Snohomish County

Edmonds Municipal Court
Joan Ferebee, Court Administrator

250 5th Avenue
Edmonds, WA 98020
425-771-0210
425-771-0269 Fax

Melanie Thomas, City Prosecutor
Sunset Building
Suite 3D
23607 Highway 99
Edmonds, WA 98026
425-778-2429

Website:  Edmonds Municipal Court

Services provided:

We also handle all Edmonds driving crimes, including Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUI/DWI/Drunk Driving), Negligent Driving in the First Degree, Reckless Driving, Driving While License Suspended (DWLS), Hit and Run (both Attended and Unattended), and Reckless Endangerment. We also handle all Edmonds traffic infractions, including but not limited to Speeding, Following Too Closely, Failing to Maintain a Lane of Travel, Speeding in a School Zone, Seat Belt Violations, High Occupancy Vehicle Lane Violations (HOV/Carpool), Negligent Driving Second Degree (2nd), Running a Red Light, Making an Improper Turn, Failure to Yield, Making an Improper Lane Change, and all Traffic Accident cases. You have rights. Let us exercise them for you.

If you have questions about your Edmonds or Snohomish County speeding and traffic ticket, please visit our Snohomish County speeding and traffic ticket website.  Edmonds Speeding Ticket.

Everett Municipal Court, Snohomish County

Everett Municipal Court
Jeri Cusimano, Court Administrator
3028 Wetmore Ave.
Everett, WA 98201

Toll free number is 866-420-7961
T: 425-257-8778
F: 425-257-8678

Email: jcusimano@ci.everett.wa.us

Website:  Everett Municipal Court

Services provided:

We handle all Everett driving crimes, including Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUI/DWI/Drunk Driving), Negligent Driving in the First Degree, Reckless Driving, Driving While License Suspended (DWLS), Hit and Run (both Attended and Unattended), and Reckless Endangerment. We also handle all Everett traffic infractions, including but not limited to Speeding, Following Too Closely, Failing to Maintain a Lane of Travel, Speeding in a School Zone, Seat Belt Violations, High Occupancy Vehicle Lane Violations (HOV/Carpool), Negligent Driving Second Degree (2nd), Running a Red Light, Making an Improper Turn, Failure to Yield, Making an Improper Lane Change, and all Traffic Accident cases. You have rights. Let us exercise them for you.

If you have questions about your Everett or Snohomish County speeding and traffic ticket, please visit our Snohomish County speeding and traffic ticket website.  Everett Speeding Ticket.

Lynnwood Municipal Court, Snohomish County

Lynnwood Municipal Court

Physical Address:
19321 44th Ave W.
Lynnwood, WA 98036

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 5008
Lynnwood, WA 98046-5008

Phone numbers:
General 425-670-6668
FAX 425-774-7039
Probation Department 425-670-6670

Email Address Justice@ci.lynnwood.wa.us

Hours of Operation:
The Court Clerk's Office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (except for legal holidays).
The Courtroom is open at 7:30 a.m. on Monday and Thursday and 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
The Probation Department is open 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m.

Website:  Lynnwood Municipal Court

Services provided:

We handle all Lynnwood driving crimes, including Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUI/DWI/Drunk Driving), Negligent Driving in the First Degree, Reckless Driving, Driving While License Suspended (DWLS), Hit and Run (both Attended and Unattended), and Reckless Endangerment. We also handle all Lynnwood traffic infractions, including but not limited to Speeding, Following Too Closely, Failing to Maintain a Lane of Travel, Speeding in a School Zone, Seat Belt Violations, High Occupancy Vehicle Lane Violations (HOV/Carpool), Negligent Driving Second Degree (2nd), Running a Red Light, Making an Improper Turn, Failure to Yield, Making an Improper Lane Change, and all Traffic Accident cases. You have rights. Let us exercise them for you.

If you have questions about your Lynnwood or Snohomish County speeding and traffic ticket, please visit our Snohomish County speeding and traffic ticket website.  Lynnwood Speeding Ticket.

If you have been charged with a DUI in Edmonds, Everett, or Lynnwood, you can look up your next date by clicking on the link below.

Find your Snohomish County Court Date.