Superior Court Judge Responsibilities

Superior Court is the general jurisdiction trial court for the State of Washington. The largest volume of cases heard in Superior Court are family law cases and felony criminal cases. The Court also hears protection order requests, evictions, juvenile cases (criminal cases, dependencies, truancies, etc.), appeals from District Court and state administrative agencies, involuntary commitments, and a wide variety of civil disputes. Appeals from Superior Court would be heard by the Washington State Court of Appeals initially, and then (if discretionary review is granted) by the Washington State Supreme Court.

 

(By contrast, a Washington State District Court hears misdemeanor cases, small claims cases, infractions, and civil disputes where the amount in controversy is $100,000 or less, and other cases.)

 

In Whitman County, there is one Superior Court Judge (currently, Gary Libey), and one District Court Judge (John Hart).