Auburn Court Records Search
Auburn court records are kept by King County District Court, South Division, which handles cases filed within Auburn city limits. The courthouse sits at 340 E Main Street and handles misdemeanor crimes, traffic infractions, and civil matters. You can search Auburn court records online through the statewide Washington Courts portal at dw.courts.wa.gov, which covers municipal, district, and superior court cases across the state. For felony charges and civil cases over $100,000, records are held at King County Superior Court in Seattle. If you need a certified copy or want to review a full case file, contact the court directly.
Auburn Overview
Auburn Court Records: Which Court to Contact
Auburn does not run its own municipal court. Instead, the city has an interlocal agreement with King County District Court, which means all city ordinance violations, misdemeanor charges, and traffic cases go through the King County system. The South Division courthouse in Auburn handles these cases locally so you don't have to travel to Seattle or another county location.
Most Auburn court records you would search day-to-day, including traffic tickets, misdemeanor crimes, gross misdemeanors, and small claims up to $10,000, are filed and maintained at the District Court South Division. For more serious matters, felony charges and large civil disputes are handled by King County Superior Court at 516 Third Avenue in Seattle. Understanding which court has your case is the first step in getting the records you need.
| Office | King County District Court - South Division (Auburn) |
|---|---|
| Address | 340 E Main Street, Suite 101 Auburn, WA 98002 |
| Phone | (206) 205-9200 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Superior Court | King County Superior Court, 516 Third Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 |
The Auburn courthouse is conveniently located in downtown Auburn near public transit routes. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Free public access terminals are available at the courthouse so you can search case information at no cost during business hours.
How to Search Auburn Court Records
The fastest way to search Auburn court records is through the free statewide portal at dw.courts.wa.gov. This tool covers all court levels in Washington, including District Court cases filed in Auburn. You can search by a person's name or by case number. Results show party names, case type, filing date, hearing dates, and current case status. The portal updates every day around 3:00 a.m., so very recent filings may not appear right away.
The portal is a reference tool, not the official court record. It does not let you download full case documents. If you need the actual paperwork, you have to request it from the court that filed the case. For Auburn District Court cases, that means contacting the South Division office in Auburn. For felony and Superior Court matters, contact the King County Clerk in Seattle.
Auburn also has a separate public records request system through the city for police reports and administrative records. You can submit those requests online or call 253-931-3039. Police records and court records are different things, and each is handled by a different office. If you want records about a court case, go to the District Court. If you want a copy of a police report, use the city's records portal at auburnwa.gov.
Note: The statewide portal does not show case outcomes or dispositions. You must contact the court of record directly to confirm the final result of any case.
Find My Court Date in Auburn
If you have an upcoming hearing in Auburn, you can check the Washington Courts name search to find your court date. The tool at dw.courts.wa.gov lets you search by name to find scheduled appearances, arraignment dates, and pretrial conferences. It covers King County District Court South Division among all other courts in the state.
One thing to keep in mind: always verify your hearing date directly with the court the morning of your scheduled appearance. The portal updates daily, but scheduling changes can happen and won't always be reflected immediately. Call the Auburn courthouse at (206) 205-9200 if you're unsure about a date or time.
Arraignments, pretrial conferences, and both bench and jury trials are scheduled at the South Division courthouse in Auburn. Photo enforcement citations and school zone tickets that originate in Auburn are also processed there. If you received a citation in the mail, the case number printed on it is the fastest way to pull up your record online.
Requesting Copies of Auburn Court Records
You can request copies of court records in person, by mail, or through the statewide portal. Non-certified copies cost around $0.25 per page at the portal or $0.50 when the clerk produces them. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. These fees cover District Court records. For Superior Court records, the same fee structure applies but you'd contact the King County Clerk in Seattle.
When you request records, it helps to have as much detail as you can pull together. The case number is the most useful piece of information. If you don't have it, a full name and approximate year of filing will work. The clerk can search by name. More specific information speeds things up and reduces the chance of getting the wrong record back.
For Auburn Superior Court records, you can also use the Washington State Digital Archives, which holds electronic access to select publicly available court records from counties across the state. Non-certified copies through the Digital Archives cost $0.25 per page with a $1 service charge per document. Certified copies are $5 for the first page and $1 per additional page, also with a $1 service charge.
King County Superior Court records can also be accessed through the KC Script Portal. Research requests for staff-assisted searches cost $30 per hour. The Clerk's Office does not take records requests by phone or email, so plan to visit, mail in a form, or use the portal.
Note: The clerk cannot give legal advice or help you interpret the contents of a court file.
Washington Laws Governing Court Record Access
Court records in Washington are governed by General Rule 31, which sets the standard that records are presumptively open to the public. There are limited exceptions: sealed records, juvenile records, and certain sensitive filings are restricted. You can view GR 31 on the Washington Courts website. Under GR 31(e), courts must allow free viewing of records and can only charge for actual reproduction costs.
City administrative records, including some Auburn city records, fall under RCW 42.56, the Washington Public Records Act. Court records themselves are not subject to the Public Records Act. They're released under the court rules instead. If you request Auburn court records from city staff by mistake, they will direct you back to the court's records window.
If you need records from federal courts, such as cases filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, those are not in the state system. You access federal records through PACER, which charges $0.08 per page. Federal cases are separate from anything filed at the Auburn or King County level.
King County Court Records
Auburn is in King County, and all district court filings go through the King County District Court system. The county handles cases for Auburn and dozens of other South King County communities. For more about King County courts, clerks, and record access options, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Auburn. Each handles court cases through King County or Pierce County courts.