San Juan County Court Records

San Juan County court records are maintained by the County Clerk and District Court Administrator at the courthouse in Friday Harbor, the county seat located on San Juan Island. The Superior Court Clerk holds records for civil, criminal, family law, probate, and juvenile cases. The District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and small claims. San Juan County is unique in Washington State because all of its communities are located on islands, accessible only by ferry or small aircraft. If you need to search or request court records, you can contact the clerk by phone, email, or mail, or use statewide online tools.

San Juan County Clerk

The San Juan County Clerk manages all Superior Court records and exhibits. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a break from noon to 1:00 p.m. Electronically submitted filings received after 4:30 p.m. are processed the next court day. In addition to records, the clerk handles passport applications, credit card payments for case-related fees, jury duty information, and bail bonding company information.

The clerk's office is located at the courthouse at 350 Court Street in Friday Harbor. Phone is (360) 378-2163. Court calendars are posted on the website. The Superior Court holds hearings on a weekly schedule: Mondays include Criminal Law and Motion at 9:30 a.m., Dependency or Therapeutic Court at 1:15 p.m., Juvenile Criminal at 2:30 p.m., and Juvenile Civil at 3:15 p.m. Tuesdays include Protection Orders at 9:00 a.m. and Civil Law and Motion at 10:30 a.m.

To get official recordings of court proceedings, contact the clerk's office at (360) 378-2163. Digital recording is used for most proceedings. Transcript requests are coordinated through the clerk's office as well.

How to Request San Juan County Court Records

Court records from the San Juan County Superior Court, including case files, dockets, and calendars, are not subject to the standard Public Records Act process under RCW 42.56. Instead, you must request them directly from the County Clerk. Call (360) 378-2163 or write to the clerk at 350 Court Street #7, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. The clerk's office provides copies for a fee and certified copies upon request.

When submitting a request, include the case number and specify the exact documents you need. The office responds to requests within five business days. Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order. Sealed or confidential records require a court order before access can be granted.

The Records Request Instructions page on the San Juan County website has full details on how to submit your request. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid delays. Requests that lack a case number or are too vague may take longer to process.

Note: Requests for judicial administrative records (records about how the court is run) go to a different contact. Those are governed by GR 31.1, not GR 31.

Judicial Administrative Records

Administrative records are records about the management and operation of the court itself, not about specific cases. All requests for judicial administrative records must be made in writing using the Request for Administrative Records Form. You can submit it by email to the Superior Court Public Records Officer, by mail, or by fax to 360-370-7485.

The Public Records Officer for San Juan County Superior Court administrative records is Jane Severin, who also serves as the Superior Court Administrator. Her phone is (360) 370-7480. Mail requests to San Juan County Superior Court, 350 Court Street No. 7, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. The court will respond within five business days of receiving your request. If you disagree with a denial, there is a formal appeal process under GR 31.1.

The PRO cannot perform legal research, answer general questions, or create records that do not already exist. Be as specific as possible when submitting your request. Include the name, date, location, and type of record you are seeking. Access to these records is governed by GR 31.1, and some records are exempt under court rule, statute, or case law.

San Juan County District Court

San Juan County District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic infractions, small claims, and civil matters. It is located at 350 Court Street in Friday Harbor, the same building as the Superior Court. Phone is (360) 378-4017. Fax is (360) 378-4099. Email is dstct@sanjuanco.com. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Online fine payment is available for certain case types.

District Court records are governed by GR 31. The District Court records request page has the forms you need along with the fee schedule. Resources include court recording requests, legal financial obligation forms, small claims information, and general court forms. The court provides interpreter services and ADA accommodations to all parties.

Public Records in San Juan County

San Juan County has a public records page that explains how different types of records are accessed. Court records such as divorce decrees, child support and custody orders, probate and guardianship files, and judgments are available for public inspection and copying. These are handled by the County Clerk or District Court Administrator, not the county's general Public Records Officers.

The County Clerk's Office, as part of the judiciary, is not subject to the Washington Public Records Act under RCW 42.56. This is a common feature of court offices across Washington. Non-court county records like permits, contracts, and meeting minutes should be directed to the appropriate county department. The county provides a centralized public records request portal for those types of records. For court records specifically, always go to the clerk or district court administrator.

The statewide Washington Courts case search covers San Juan County Superior, District, and Municipal court cases. It is updated daily. You can search by name, case number, court, or case type. Basic case information is free. Full documents must be requested from the local court.

Communities in San Juan County

San Juan County consists of islands in the Salish Sea, accessible by Washington State Ferries. Friday Harbor on San Juan Island is the only incorporated town and the county seat. Other communities include Eastsound on Orcas Island, Lopez Village on Lopez Island, and Roche Harbor. All court cases for the county are handled at the courthouse in Friday Harbor. There are no qualifying cities in San Juan County above the population threshold for separate city pages.

Nearby Counties

San Juan County is an island county in northwestern Washington, accessible from the mainland by ferry. The closest mainland counties are below.