Find Court Records in Shoreline
Shoreline court records are handled by King County courts. The city does not operate its own municipal court, so cases originating in Shoreline are filed in King County District Court West Division at the Shoreline Facility. If you need to search for a case, check a hearing date, or get copies of court documents in Shoreline, this page explains where to look, what courts handle which case types, and how to submit a records request.
Shoreline Overview
King County District Court West Division - Shoreline
Shoreline does not have its own municipal court. Cases filed within the city go to King County District Court West Division at the Shoreline Facility. The Shoreline courthouse is at 18050 Meridian Ave. N., Shoreline, WA 98133. Phone is 206-205-9200. Fax is 206-296-0594. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is the primary court for Shoreline residents dealing with traffic tickets, misdemeanor charges, civil disputes, and small claims.
The court is presided over by Judge Marcine S. Anderson (206-477-2711) and Judge Joseph Campagna (206-477-2722). Patrick Wells serves as Director and can be reached at 206-205-9200. All criminal cases filed for Shoreline are prosecuted by the Shoreline City Attorney's Office. The City Prosecutor is Sarah Roberts. The Prosecutor's office is at 8701 160th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98052; Phone: 425-556-2108; Email: smckee@Shoreline.gov.
The King County District Court handles misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, traffic infractions, civil cases up to $100,000, and small claims up to $10,000. In a recent year, the court received over 3,800 civil traffic infractions, 260 non-traffic misdemeanors, and more than 75 DUI or physical control charges from Shoreline alone. This gives a sense of the volume of Shoreline cases that move through the District Court.
Note: Confirm your case location before visiting, as King County District Court West Division has multiple courthouses serving different parts of the county.
Shoreline City Public Records Requests
The City of Shoreline handles public records requests under RCW 42.56. City policy is to give full access to public records with timely action and full assistance. Records commonly available online through the city include building permit searches, land use permits, city council meeting records, ordinances, resolutions, zoning maps, budget documents, and capital improvement plans. These are not court records, but they are useful for related research.
For public records from the City of Shoreline that are not court records, submit a request through the city's public records portal at shorelinewa.gov. The city responds to requests under the Public Records Act. Keep in mind that personally identifiable information you include in a request may itself be subject to disclosure under the same law.
Court records for Shoreline cases, such as case files, dockets, and orders, are not part of the city's public records process. Those records must be requested from the King County District Court or King County Superior Court clerk directly, depending on the case type.
King County Superior Court for Shoreline Cases
Felony cases, family law matters, civil cases over $100,000, and probate cases involving Shoreline residents go to King County Superior Court. The court is at 516 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104. Phone is 206-296-9300. Online case access is through the King County Superior Court records portal. Registered users can view and download case documents. In-person access to records is free. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.
Research requests for unusual or older cases may be subject to a $30 per hour research fee. Standard requests for current court records do not usually trigger this charge. If you are not sure whether a research fee applies, call the Clerk's Office before you submit your request. The Clerk does not process phone or email requests for sealed or confidential records.
Searching Shoreline Court Cases Online
The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search at courts.wa.gov covers district and municipal court cases filed in Shoreline. You can search by person name, case number, or use advanced search filters. The database updates every 24 hours at 3:00 a.m., so recent filings may not be visible right away. Results provide reference material pointing to the official court record; they do not replace the actual case file.
For Superior Court cases, the Odyssey Portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov provides online case index access without a login. This is a good starting point if you are not sure which court has the case you are looking for. Both tools search across Washington courts and cover the Shoreline area.
You can also use the Washington Courts court directory at courts.wa.gov/court_dir to find direct contact information for the King County courts that serve Shoreline. This is useful when you need to call ahead to confirm a hearing location or ask a clerk about a specific file.
Note: Case search results are reference material only. Copies of case documents must be ordered from the court clerk.
Court Record Access Rules in Shoreline
Washington's public records law under RCW 42.56 sets the general standard for government records access. Court records are also governed by General Rule 31 (GR 31), which defines what is public and what can be restricted. GR 31 applies to all courts in King County, including the District Court facility that serves Shoreline. Administrative court records fall under GR 31.1 and require a separate written request to the court's administrative records officer.
Not all records are public. Sealed cases, juvenile files, and records restricted by court order or statute are not available through standard requests. If you need access to a sealed or confidential record, you may need to file a motion in the appropriate court. The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds historical court records and older Superior Court files that are not in the standard online portals. Non-certified copies are available at low cost. Certified copies must come from the Clerk's Office.
King County Court Records
Shoreline is in King County. All cases from Shoreline, from traffic tickets to felony charges, move through the King County court system. For more on King County courts, records access, and contact information, see the King County court records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Shoreline also have court records pages. Each is served by King County courts, with some variation in local court facilities and procedures.