Welcome to the Grant County District Court's webpage.

Grant County District Court’s purpose is reflected in its mission statement.

“The goal of Grant County District Court is to ensure equal access to justice for all, provide effective and timely resolution of legal matters, and assure dignified and fair treatment for all, while promoting respect for, and the independence of, the judiciary.”

Grant County has one countywide District Court. The Court is empowered to hear all traffic cases, misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and preliminary hearings in felony cases. Civil jurisdiction is concurrent with Superior Court and extends to cases in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $100,000 exclusive of interest and costs. District Court hears small claims where the amount in controversy does not exceed $10,000 for human beings and $5,000 for businesses. The District Court does not have jurisdiction in cases involving the title to real estate and certain other limited exceptions.

 

District Court Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM

 

Civil Department Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM

Press Releases

• District Court Press Releases news release on 2020/05/15

Media Release from the District Court Office March 20, 2020 Amended Emergency Administrative Order   The following CIVIL hearings are suspended until April 24, 2020. The Court will mail notice of a new court date to any party currently scheduled for court prior to April 24, 2020. Infraction. (IRLJ 2.6(a)(b)(d)(e)(f) shall be suspended. The Court WILL continue to accept written statements submitted by mail pursuant to IRLJ 2.6(c). Small claims. Name Changes. Civil preliminary trial hearings, motion hearings, and trials. The court will consider Anti-harassment and No-contact hearings ex-parte. Good cause exists to extend ex-parte orders until a hearing can be held after April 24, 2020. The following CRIMINAL hearings are suspended until April 24, 2020. The Court will mail notice of a new court date to any party currently scheduled for court prior to April 24, 2020. All Time for Trial Rules in CrRLJ 3.3 and CrRLJ 4.1 are suspended. Arraignments where the defendant is not held in custody. This DOES NOT include individuals who are arrested and released and are instructed to appear on the following business day. Pre-trial and Motion Dockets. The Court will continue to hear in-custody matters on the Wednesday Jail docket as scheduled. Where an in-custody defendant and his/her attorney agree in advance to continue any hearing, the defendant need not be present to enter the continuance. Criminal Trials. Reviews and Probation Hearings.   The District Court Office will remain open during regular business hours 8:30 to 4:00 and will continue to address Ex-Parte Motions on any subject under its jurisdiction. If you have any questions, please call (509)754-2011 extension 3101.

Courtroom Etiquette

When coming to court, please remember the following:

• Upon your arrival, find your name on the calendar outside the courtroom and then have a seat in the proper courtroom until the session convenes. You do not need to check in with the clerk unless your name is not on the list.
• When your name is called, come forward and stand behind one of the counsel tables.
• Be polite, courteous, and remain standing until instructed otherwise by the judge.

The following is not allowed in the courtroom:

• Children under the age of 12
• Food or drink
• Shorts
• Tank tops, crop tops, halter tops
• Ripped or torn Clothing
• Hats
• Shirts with vulgar craftworth or language
• Weapons of any kind
• Backpacks

Turn off cell phones before entering the courtroom

Links

• Forms

  • Affidavit of Service

  • Affidavit of Surrender

  • Community Service Time Sheet 13KB 2019/01/02

  • Name Change Information Sheet 47KB 2019/10/31

  • Name Change Petition - Minor 2020/01/08

  • Name Change Consent of Natural Parent - Minor 2011/03/24

  • Name Change Petition - Adult 2020/01/08

  • Name Change Return of Service - Minor and/or Adult 2011/03/24

  • Note for Motion Hearing 10KB 2015/04/10

  • Instructions for Vacating Misdemeanor & Gross Misdemeanor Convictions 43KB 2019/08/05

  • Notice, Motion, Order for Vacating Conviction 64KB 2020/04/02

  • Notice, Motion, Order for Vacating Marijuana Conviction 35KB 2019/08/05

  • Order Blank 12.42KB 2011/03/24

  • Motion Blank 11KB 2019/08/01

  • Motion Blank - Spanish 13KB 2019/08/01

  • Order of Continuance 44KB 2019/08/01

  • Petition of Deferred Prosecution 2011/03/24

  • Probation Report Form - English 75KB 2019/08/05

  • Probation Report Form - Spanish 49KB 2019/08/05

  • Request for Public Defender (English) 18KB 2019/08/01

  • Request for Public Defender (Spanish) 42KB 2019/08/01

  • Request for Information from District Court 30KB 2019/08/01

  • Statement of Defendant for Mitigation by Mail 10KB 2019/08/01

  • Statement of Defendant for Contested by Mail 12KB 2019/08/01

  • Addendum to Statement of Defendant on Plea of Guilty English & Spanish 55KB 2015/05/01

  • Subpoena

  • nCourt text reminder Opt in 112KB 2020/03/09
     

• Information

  • District Court Fee Schedule 30KB 2019/09/23

  • Appeal Instructions 24KB 2020/01/31

    • Notice of Appeal to Superior Court and Certification of Filing Status

    • Designation of Record to be Transmitted to Superior Court

    • Motion, Affidavit and Order in Forma Pauperis

  • Infractions Brochure 109KB 2018/11/30

  • Language Assistance Plan 311KB 2019/01/08

  • Jury Brochure   194KB 2018/11/30

  • Small Claims Brochure 270KB 2019/08/01

  • Small Claims Brochure Spanish 134KB 2019/08/01

  • Small Claims Order of Dismissal 17KB 2020/01/10

  • Small Claims Form 121KB 2018/12/05

  • Small Claims Instructions 15KB 2019/08/01

  • Satisfaction of Judgment 15KB 2019/08/01

  • Community Service Site List 13KB 2019/05/08

  • Protection Order Process

  • Pay Fine with Credit Card

  • Guide to Sealing & Destroying Court Records, Vacating Convictions, & Deleting Criminal History Records 89KB 2019/08/05

  • GR 31.1 Policy and Procedures

Web Links

• Jury Service Public Service Announcement
  English
  Spanish
   

• Local Court Rules
  http://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/?fa=court_rules.list&group=district&set=disgnt
   

• Check the Status of a Drivers License
  https://fortress.wa.gov/dol/dolprod/dsdDriverStatusDisplay/
   

• Find My Court Date / Attorney's Search
  http://dw.courts.wa.gov/index.cfm?fa=home.home
   

• Stalking Protection Order Website
  http://www.stalkingpo.org/

Services

The services we provide are consistent with Washington State’s “Courts of Limited Jurisdiction.” Grant County has one countywide District Court, in two locations. The judicial operation of District Court is the sole responsibility of the three District Court Judges and one full-time Court Commissioner.

 

In order to make judicial services as available as possible to the citizens of the County, the Superior Court Judges appoint the District Court Judges as Commissioners of the Superior Court. This enables the District Court Judges to sign temporary and preliminary orders in a variety of cases in Superior Court, as well as sitting in Juvenile Court and Domestic Relations Court as needed.

Staff

	Presiding Judge	Janis Whitener-Moberg
	Judge	Brian D. Barlow
	Judge	Tyson R. Hill
	Court Commissioner	Anna L. Gigliotti
	Court Administrator	Tifini Fairbanks
	Assistant Administrator	Desiree Ochocinski
	Probation Manager	Angie Hightower
	Lead Clerks	(2)
	District Court Clerks	(16)

 

Locations

The main location is on the third floor of the historical Grant County Courthouse, located in the county seat. That location is 35 C St NW Ephrata, Washington, in the heart of Sun Basin Country.

The Branch Office of Grant County District Court is located at:
1525 Wheeler Road Rd E. Moses Lake, Washington.

 

Contact Information

Mailing Address for District Court:

Grant County District Court
PO Box 37
Ephrata, WA 98823

Location for the District Courts are:

Ephrata
Address: 35 C St NW, Ephrata, WA 98823
PO BOX 37, Ephrata, WA 98823
Phone: (509) 754-2011 ext. 3101
Fax: (509) 754-6099
Email: [email protected]

 

Moses Lake
Address: 1525 Wheeler Rd E. Moses Lake, WA

To make a payment by credit card:

Grant County District Court

Make your payment by visiting www.granttix.com

or by calling 1-877-793-8935

• nCourt Informational Sheet 124KB 2011/12/12