Walla Walla County Court Records

Walla Walla County court records cover criminal, civil, domestic, probate, and juvenile cases filed at the Superior Court and District Court. You can search cases online through the Washington Courts statewide portal or request documents directly from the County Clerk. The Washington State Digital Archives also holds more than 1.4 million Walla Walla Superior Court case files going back to 1926, giving you deep access to historical records from a single source.

Walla Walla County Superior Court Clerk

The Superior Court Clerk handles all court records filed in Walla Walla County Superior Court. Clerk Kathy Martin and her staff maintain records for criminal, civil, domestic, divorce, probate, and juvenile offender cases. The office also provides passport services and manages jury selection for the county. Staff can search case files by name or case number during business hours.

The office does not accept fax filings or e-filings at this time. All new case filings must include a cover sheet. To request copies of court documents, you can email the clerk directly at clerk1@co.walla-walla.wa.us or use the Washington State Digital Archives for older cases. The clerk processes requests for both public and confidential records, though confidential materials are only available during a specific window each day.

Clerk Martin's office handles records requests via email and the digital archives portal. Confidential records, including restricted case files, are only available by contacting the office directly. Sealed or adoption records are not available online.

Note: Passport services are available Monday and Friday 9 AM to 12 PM, and Tuesday through Thursday 9 AM to 4 PM. Records public and confidential access hours run Monday through Friday from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM.

Walla Walla County Digital Archives

The Washington State Digital Archives hosts over 1.4 million Walla Walla County Superior Court case files spanning from 1926 to 2026. Case types include civil, criminal, divorce, and probate. You can order copies of full case files online. Documents are organized numerically by filing date. Case documents are not previewable online before you order.

Access to the Digital Archives is governed by Washington State Court Rule General Rule 31 (GR 31). Records involving adoptions, dependency proceedings, and mental competency hearings are restricted and cannot be accessed online. For these, contact the Walla Walla County Clerk directly. Personal identifiers may appear in archived records since redaction responsibility rests with the filing parties and their counsel, not the archives.

The Eastern Regional Branch of the State Archives can help with questions at (509) 235-7508. Original records remain at the County Clerk's office in Walla Walla. You contact the clerk before placing an order if you need to confirm a document exists or verify it is not sealed.

Note: Sealed and confidential documents are not displayed and cannot be purchased through the Digital Archives portal.

How to Search Walla Walla Court Records

There are a few ways to look up court records in Walla Walla County. The easiest starting point is the Washington Courts Name and Case Search. This free tool lets you search by name, case number, court type, and year filed. It covers Superior Court, District Court, and Municipal Court cases in the county. Data updates every day at 3 AM.

The statewide search gives you reference information only. It points you to the official court record but does not provide copies of documents. To get the actual paperwork, you need to contact the clerk's office or use the Digital Archives for older Superior Court cases. For District Court records, contact the District Court directly as they cannot provide Superior Court documents and vice versa.

To search records you typically need:

• Full name of at least one party in the case
• Case number if you have it
• Approximate year the case was filed
• Court type (Superior, District, or Municipal)

In-person searches are available at the courthouse during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can pull up case information and make copies. Fees apply for both plain and certified copies.

Walla Walla County District Court

The District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, civil matters up to $100,000, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Two judges preside over the court: Presiding Judge Kristian E. Hedine and Judge Jared N. Hawkins. The court also provides online options for ticket payment and hearing scheduling.

District Court records can be searched through the statewide Washington Courts case search portal. Some records require an in-person or written request to the clerk. Copy fees at the District Court are $5.00 per page for uncertified copies and $6.00 for the first page of certified copies, plus $1.00 for each additional page. The court is located at 317 W. Rose Street, a separate address from the Superior Court.

The District Court website offers a Washington Conviction Vacation Eligibility Calculator for people who want to clear their record. Forms for sealing and destroying court records are also provided online. For questions about owed fines, be aware that the court will never contact you by text message. Any text claiming to be from the court about owed fines is a scam.

Walla Walla County Public Records Access

Most court records filed in Walla Walla County Superior Court are public. You do not need to be a party to the case to request copies. The county responds to records requests in line with RCW 42.56, Washington's Public Records Act. However, court documents are governed by separate court rules, specifically General Rule 31, rather than the Public Records Act itself.

The county has a NextRequest portal for submitting public records requests online. You can also call the Clerk's Office at 509-524-2780 or email clerk1@co.walla-walla.wa.us. The Auditor's Office also maintains an online search for recorded documents at (509) 524-2549. Large or complex requests may take additional processing time. Appeals of denials follow the procedures set out in state law.

Records that are routinely exempt from public access include sealed court orders, adoption records, mental competency proceedings, and dependency cases involving children. Protective orders may also have restricted access in some circumstances. If your request is for one of these record types, the clerk will let you know what documentation or authorization you need to proceed.

Note: The Auditor's Office online search covers recorded documents such as deeds and liens, not court case records. For court cases, always contact the Clerk's Office or use the Washington Courts statewide case search.

Laws Governing Walla Walla Court Records

Access to court records in Walla Walla County is governed by two main frameworks. General court records access follows Washington General Rule 31 (GR 31). This rule applies to all court records statewide and sets the baseline for what is public, what is restricted, and how to request access. Administrative records at courts are handled under a related rule, GR 31.1.

The clerk's duties and record-keeping responsibilities are established under RCW 36.23, which governs county clerks across Washington. Public records for non-court county departments fall under RCW 42.56. These two frameworks work in parallel, but court records use the court rules, not the Public Records Act, as the primary authority.

The Washington Courts statewide case search at dw.courts.wa.gov provides reference information only. Results should always be verified with the local clerk's office. The Odyssey Portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov offers case details for courts using that system, though Walla Walla County should be confirmed for portal availability.

Cities in Walla Walla County

Walla Walla County includes the city of Walla Walla along with several smaller communities. All Superior Court and District Court filings for the county are handled at the main courthouse.

Other communities in Walla Walla County include College Place, Waitsburg, Prescott, and Burbank. All court cases for these areas go through the Walla Walla County courts at 315 West Main Street.

Nearby Counties

Walla Walla County borders Columbia, Franklin, and Benton counties in Washington, as well as the states of Oregon and Idaho. If you are not sure which county handles your case, check the address on your filing documents.