Chapter 2.20
DISTRICT COURT

Sections:

2.20.010    Entire county is one district.

2.20.020    Name of district.

2.20.030    Judge defined – Number of judges – Compensation.

2.20.040    Location of the central office, courtrooms and records.

2.20.050    Other places where court may sit.

2.20.060    Appointment of administrator and commissioners – Number.

2.20.070    Presiding judge – Election – Term – Duties.

2.20.080    District court departments designated – Jurisdiction.

2.20.090    (Repealed)

2.20.100    (Repealed)

2.20.110    Small claims department established.

2.20.010 Entire county is one district.

The entire county of Kitsap shall be established as one court district pursuant to the districting plan adopted pursuant to Chapter 3.38 RCW.

(Ord. 560 (2018) § 1, 2018: Ord. 35-C (1991) § 2 (part), 1991: Ord. 35-A (1982) § 1, 1982)

2.20.020 Name of district.

The court district shall be known as the “Kitsap County District Court.”

(Ord. 35-C (1991) § 2 (part), 1991: Ord. 35-A (1982) § 2, 1982)

2.20.030 Judge defined – Number of judges – Compensation.

(a)    There shall be four full-time Kitsap County district court judicial positions. The judges shall be elected from the county at large to serve the entire county.

(b)    Each Kitsap County district court judge shall receive an annual salary as provided by state law in equal, biweekly installments.

(c)    The term “judge,” as used in this chapter, is interchangeable with “justice of the peace,” as used in RCW 3.30.015 and Const. Art. IV, Section 10.

(Ord. 560 (2018) § 2, 2018: Ord. 35-D (1991) §§ 1 and 2, 1991: Ord. 35-B (1982) § 1, 1982: Ord. 35-A (1982) § 3, 1982)

2.20.040 Location of the central office, courtrooms and records.

(a)    The central office of the Kitsap County district court shall be located at the Kitsap County Courthouse in Port Orchard, Washington.

(b)    Courtrooms of the Kitsap County district court shall be located in Port Orchard, Washington, and may be located (i) within the boundaries of the North Kitsap School District, also known as Poulsbo, Washington, and (ii) within the boundaries of the Central Kitsap School District, also known as Silverdale, Washington.

(c)    The records of the Kitsap County district court shall be kept in such places as deemed appropriate in keeping with statutes and rules governing the court.

(Ord. 560 (2018) § 3, 2018: Ord. 347 (2005) § 1, 2005: Ord. 35-D (1991) § 3, 1991: Ord. 35-C (1991) § 1, 1991: Ord. 35-B (1982) § 2, 1982: Ord. 35-A (1982) § 4, 1982)

2.20.050 Other places where court may sit.

The Kitsap County district court shall sit at Port Orchard, Washington, and at any other place in the county which the Kitsap County district court shall determine is necessary to best serve the public.

(Ord. 560 (2018) § 4, 2018: Ord. 35-A (1982) § 5, 1982)

2.20.060 Appointment of administrator and commissioners – Number.

(a)    A Kitsap County district court administrator shall be appointed by the Kitsap County district court judges to serve at the pleasure of the court. This position shall also be known as “clerk of the court.”

(b)    The Kitsap County district court judges are authorized to appoint one court commissioner who shall serve at the pleasure of the judges, and shall serve the entire county.

(Ord. 560 (2018) § 5, 2018: Ord. 347 (2005) § 2, 2005: Ord. 35-A (1982) § 6, 1982)

2.20.070 Presiding judge – Election – Term – Duties.

(a)    Pursuant to General Rule 29, the presiding judge shall be elected from among the Kitsap County district court judges.

(b)    General responsibilities, duties and authority of the presiding judge are set forth in General Rule 29.

(Ord. 560 (2018) § 6 2018: Ord. 35-A (1982) § 7, 1982)

2.20.080 District court departments designated – Jurisdiction.

The Kitsap County district court shall be divided into four departments, known as “Department No. 1,” “Department No. 2,” “Department No. 3,” and “Department No. 4.” Each department shall have general jurisdiction over all matters brought in the Kitsap County district court. Further, each department may sit at any location in the county as authorized by this chapter.

(Ord. 560 (2018) § 7, 2018: Ord. 347 (2005) § 3, 2005: Ord. 35-A (1982) § 8(a), 1982)

2.20.090 (Repealed)*

*    Editor’s Note: Former Section 2.20.090, “Municipal court of Bremerton – Established,” was repealed by Ordinance 560 (2018). Section 8(b) of Ordinance 35-A (1982) was formerly codified in this section.

2.20.100 (Repealed)*

*    Editor’s Note: Former Section 2.20.100, “Municipal court of Bremerton – Jurisdiction – Judge appointment and compensation,” was repealed by Ordinance 560 (2018). Section 9 of Ordinance 35-A (1982) and § 3 of Ordinance 35-B (1982) were formerly codified in this section.

2.20.110 Small claims department established.

There shall be established a “small claims department of the district court” pursuant to RCW 12.40.010.

(Ord. 560 (2018) § 10, 2018: Ord. 35-A (1982) § 8(c), 1982)