Earlier this week, Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) staff Katie Truelove and Margaret McCurdy welcomed two members of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) for a site visit.
SMC receives state funding for its specialized court programs, such as veterans’ treatment court and mental health court. AOC administers the funds and ensures the court is in compliance. Requirements for compliance include a site visit, quarterly reporting, self-assessments, and regular participation in meetings and training.
“Four years ago, the Washington State Legislature passed a bill to set aside $7.4 million to support specialized court programs—and initially this was done in the form of a grant that AOC administered,” explained Truelove, SMC policy and program analyst. “We were one of the courts statewide that applied for—and received—initial grant money, but now the funds are part of the state’s operating budget, which is determined every two years. AOC continues to administer the funds and ensure compliance,” added Truelove.
Over the past several years, SMC has developed and adapted therapeutic court services based on the grant/state requirements and the amount of funding available. McCurdy’s position as SMC therapeutic courts coordinator position, is funded through these monies, as is training and recovery supports. The funding also enables SMC to partner with other City of Seattle personnel, as well as with King County so that court clients can access a community support specialist, mental health clinician and veterans’ treatment clinician.
“It was wonderful to be able to share the work of SMC’s mental health and veterans’ treatment courts with AOC,” McCurdy said. “They appreciated getting the chance to meet with other SMC staff and our partners at the city and county levels.
“AOC could tell that the team cares deeply about the therapeutic courts and the participants they serve,” McCurdy added. Their visit highlighted just how lucky we are to have such collaborative, thoughtful and dedicated teams working in our therapeutic courts. Our teams have goals of continuing to grow and improve and we look forward to hosting AOC again in 2026 to share what we have achieved.”
At the end of the site visit, AOC staffers met SMC Presiding Judge Anita Crawford-Willis, who enthusiastically spoke about her past two years on the bench at SMC’s mental health court before she became presiding judge in January.
“SMC’s specialty courts provide personalized attention to offenders and victims. They address the root causes of repeat unsafe and criminal behavior,” said Judge Crawford-Willis. “Our participants learn valuable skills to remain out of the justice system.”
In 2024, several dozen people opted into to SMC’s mental health and veterans’ treatment court programs. Both programs have graduation ceremonies, with the majority of people completing them successfully.
“During these ceremonies, I was always touched by the stories told and witnessing journeys of personal growth,” Crawford-Willis concluded. “Specialty courts are a compassionate way forward to ensuring a fair and equitable tribunal.”