Red and blue lights blur through the cracked windshield. The car sits skewed at an angle, the hood steaming faintly. The teen driver’s hands grip the wheel, knuckles pale, heartbeat thudding in their throat. A faint smell of burnt rubber fills the air. It happened so fast—just a second of looking away. Traffic crawls past, headlights staring. The young driver blinks hard, trying to steady their breath, mind racing through what comes next. Footsteps approach, measured and firm. A flashlight cuts through the haze. Are you OK? the officer asks. The driver nods, though everything inside still trembles with shock and disbelief.
For teens incurring their first speeding ticket or traffic infraction, everything seems frightening and unknown. Going to court seems daunting, but there is an alternative for local teens known as Seattle Youth Traffic Court (SYTC). Teens who opt in to this specialized program have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes by a judge and jury of their peers (under adult supervision), rather than simply being punished.
On Oct. 20, 19 students from Garfield High School were officially sworn in by SMC Judge Catherine McDowall to begin their (school-) year-long duties at SYTC. Before swearing the students in, she thanked them for their civic engagement and told the teens they are providing an important service to the community.
By statute, youth courts in courts of limited jurisdiction such as SMC can handle civil infractions committed by individuals under 18. In fact, SMC has only handled traffic infractions in SYTC, but the cases have changed over time. Last year, (September 2024-June 2025) about 75% of SYTC cases involved collisions, committed by youth who didn’t stop at a stop sign or light, followed too closely, or failed to yield to right of way. That said, five of the cases on the docket this week involved speeding. SMC has the capacity hear six SYTC cases per month.
Across the country, there are nearly 1,500 youth traffic courts. These courts act as a diversion from the formal juvenile justice system, focusing on education and providing a “second chance” to help young drivers learn and avoid future infractions. Students typically take on roles such as judge, prosecutor, and jury, and may impose consequences like community service, educational sessions, or fines.
At SYTC, defendants take part in a restorative justice circle led with support from SPD Detective Curtis Oh and Officer Tre Smith. Both officers play key roles in the program, sharing real-world experiences from similar driving cases to help defendants understand the consequences of their actions. They also offer practical advice to encourage safer driving and prevent future infractions.
SMC has participated in SYTC with students from Garfield High School and Seattle University School of Law since 2012. It is co-led by Margaret Fisher, a law professor at Seattle University (SU) School of Law, Al Snyder, a teacher at GHS who serves as SYTC’s youth advisor, SMC Judge Catherine McDowall, as well as SMC magistrates Seth Niesen and Noah Weil. SMC employee Simi Gill, who works in court operations, is also highly involved, as are law students at SU, who serve as mentors.
SMC is fortunate to have Margaret Fisher’s involvement. In 2000, she was hired by the American Bar Association to develop the national youth court training curriculum and traveled across the country observing youth courts in action. Inspired by what she witnessed, Fisher returned to her dean with an idea, enlisted law school students for support, and partnered with SMC and GHS to establish a youth court of their own.
To learn more about SYTC, visit https://www.seattle.gov/courts/programs-and-services/specialized-courts/seattle-youth-traffic-court.