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Collaboration in Action: SMC and DVIP Partners Strengthen Seattle’s Response to Domestic Violence

October 16, 2026

Each October, the City of Seattle’s Mayor’s Office on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault brings together partners across Seattle Municipal Court (SMC), the Seattle Police Department, the Seattle City Attorney’s Office, and others throughout Seattle to honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month—a time dedicated to uplifting survivors, deepening community understanding, and… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: Domestic Violence Intervention Project, News Release, Probation ServicesTagged With:

SMC Judges Re-Elect Anita Crawford-Willis as Presiding Judge and Damon Shadid as Assistant Presiding Judge

October 6, 2026

On Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, a majority of Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) judges re‑elected Honorable Anita Crawford-Willis as Presiding Judge and Honorable Damon Shadid as Assistant Presiding Judge for a consecutive two-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and ending Dec. 31, 2028. Honorable Pooja Vaddadi will join them as the… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: News Release, Presiding JudgeTagged With: ,

From the Archives: Milestones That Marked Our Work

September 15, 2026

This post is part six of the “From the Archives” blog series, a 12‑part exploration of how the Seattle Municipal Court’s (SMC) work, people, and spaces have evolved over time. This month, we turn our attention to the milestones that have shaped our community—moments of dedication, service, and continuity that… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: General, News ReleaseTagged With: ,

Community Resource Day 2026: Growing Partnerships and Meeting Evolving Community Needs 

August 21, 2026

Nearly 100 community members from across Seattle and King County visited Seattle Municipal Court (SMC)’s Community Resource Day on Aug. 21 at the Rainier Community Center in Columbia City. As in previous years, SMC staff supported attendees with setting up payment plans for Seattle traffic tickets, addressing outstanding warrants, and answering… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: Community Engagement, General, News Release, Programs and Services, SMC in the CommunityTagged With: , ,

From the Archives: Rebuilding, Refining, and Reinventing — How Seattle’s Community and Therapeutic Courts Continue to Evolve

August 17, 2026

This post is part five of the “From the Archives” blog series, a 12-part series exploring how the Seattle Municipal Court’s (SMC) work, people and spaces have evolved over time. This post looks at how SMC’s community and therapeutic courts have evolved over time, shaped by trial and error, deep collaboration,… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: Domestic Violence Intervention Project, General, News Release, Programs and Services, Specialty Courts

Final Order Regarding Delta 9 THC Testing and Analysis (July 21, 2026)

July 28, 2026

On July 21, 2026, the en banc panel of Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) Judges Catherine McDowall, Andrea Chin and Damon Shadid issued their ruling on the Delta-9 THC cases.   The defendants in these consolidated cases moved to suppress all Delta-9 THC results by the Washington State Tox Lab under Frye… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: en banc ruling

From the Archives: The Changing Bench

July 21, 2026

This post is part four of the “From the Archives” blog series, a 12-part series exploring how the Seattle Municipal Court’s (SMC) work, people and spaces have evolved over time. Through conversations with Judges Andrea Chin, Faye R. Chess and Willie Gregory, this post explores how the bench has changed… [ Keep reading ]

From the Archives: People of the Court

June 2, 2026

This post is part of “From the Archives,” a 12-part series exploring how the Seattle Municipal Court’s work, people, and spaces have evolved over time. While courtrooms are the most visible symbol of the institution, much of what keeps the court operational happens far beyond public view. Two longtime employees,… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: News ReleaseTagged With: ,

Youth, Families, and Community Come Together for SMC’s 2026 Law Day Celebration 

May 22, 2026

For nearly 50 years, the U.S. has celebrated Law Day every May—a tradition first established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 and officially designated by Congress in 1961. While Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) does not formally observe Law Day on May 1, the court hosts its own annual celebration later in the month, offering students and families… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: Community Engagement, News Release, SMC in the CommunityTagged With: , ,

From the Archives: Before Digital Case Systems

May 4, 2026

This post is the second in a 12-part series called “From the Archives” which explores different themes in the court’s history—highlighting how the work, the people, and the spaces have evolved over time. Click here to read part one. What the Work Looked Like Before digital case systems, court operations at Seattle… [ Keep reading ]

Filed Under: General, News ReleaseTagged With: ,