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JUROR REPORTING

If you have questions about your jury service, please contact the Superior Court Clerk's Jury Administration Clerk at:
Please check their website for the latest updates.

Summary of Emergency Order - how to appear for court

Criminal Matters (Adult)

  • Out of Custody Hearings
    • Criminal Plea Hearing (Wednesday) – In person
    • Criminal Docket – Zoom
  • In Custody Hearings
    • Criminal Plea Hearing – Zoom
    • Criminal Docket – Zoom
  • Jury Trial
    • In Person
  • Criminal Bench Trial
    • In person

Criminal Matters (Juvenile)

JUVENILE OFFENDER DOCKET

Beginning Monday, April 11, 2022, all youth, attorneys for youth, prosecutors, and probation counselors are required to attend court in-person. 

SAFE AND ITC COURT

Beginning Monday, April 11, 2022, all SAFE and ITC Court participants, their attorney(s), and probation counselors will attend court in person.  Treatment providers and other SAFE Court team members may attend court hearings via Zoom.

HOPE COURT

Beginning Monday, April 11, 2022, all participants of HOPE Court will attend court hearings in person.  Treatment providers, attorneys, and other HOPE Court team members are permitted to remotely participate in pre-docket and the HOPE court docket via Zoom.

DEPENDENCY DOCKET

Beginning Monday, April 11, 2022, all attorneys (parent, AAG, and dependent children) are required to attend the dependency docket in person.  Parents, child advocates (CCCA), guardians ad litem (GAL), and interpreters involved in dependency proceedings may appear either in person or via Zoom. 

TRUANCY

All truancy proceedings shall continue to be conducted via Zoom.

AT RISK YOUTH

Beginning Monday, April 11, 2022, all youth, attorneys, and probation counselors are required to attend court in-person.  Parents may attend in-person or via Zoom.  Based on individualized circumstances, the probation officer may excuse a youth from attending in-person and participate via Zoom. 

FACT FINDINGS

Fact findings (offender and dependency/termination) will be held in-person at either the juvenile courtroom or the Hall of Justice.

  • UNIVERSAL READINESS

    All universal readiness hearings will continue to be conducted via Zoom.

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    Seating inside the courtroom will be available for attorneys, probation counselors, CCCA/GAL, and a limited number of spectators.  The lobby area will serve as a waiting/staging area.   All dockets and fact findings will continue to have a hybrid component (a Zoom option) to allow for judicial officers to participate remotely.

Protection Order Hearings

(Domestic Violence, Stalking, Sexual Assault, Harassment)

  • Hearing – Zoom
  • Weapons Surrender Compliance – Zoom

Protection Order Hearings

(Domestic Violence, Stalking, Sexual Assault, Harassment)

  • Hearing – Zoom
  • Weapons Surrender Compliance – Zoom

Therapeutic Courts

  • Adult Drug Court – In Person
  • Adult Mental Health Court – Zoom
  • Juvenile SAFE Court – In Person (see above for additional information)
  • Juvenile Mental Health Court/ITC – In Person (see above for additional information)

Family Law

  • Motion Hearing – Zoom
  • Mandatory Settlement Conference – Zoom

State Initiated Paternity and Child Support

  • Paternity Docket – Pleadings Only
  • Child Support Contempt – Zoom
  • Trial for Modification of Child Support – Pleadings Only
  • Trial for Paternity and Initial Child Support – Zoom

Trial Assignment Docket

  • Civil, Family Law, Dependency, Termination – Zoom

Civil Matters

  • Civil Bench Trial – Zoom
  • Guardianship
    • Motion/Docket – Zoom
  • Probate
    • Motion/Docket – Zoom
  • Adoption
    • Hearing – Zoom (with Court approval - In person)
  • Unlawful Detainer
    • Hearing – Zoom
    • Trial – Zoom
  • Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA)/ Mental Health
    • Hearing – Zoom
    • Trial – Zoom

Appeal from Municipal/District Court

  • RALJ Appeal – Pleadings Only (if Court allows oral argument – Zoom)

Dependency and Termination

  • Dependency and Termination Docket – In person (see abovie for additional information)
  • Fact Finding/Trial for Dependency and Termination – In Person 
  • HOPE Court – Zoom

Youth Services

  • CHINS (Child in Need of Services) – Zoom
  • ARY (At Risk Youth) – In person (see above for additional information)
  • Truancy – Zoom

Links to download all of our emergency court orders as well as related Covid-19 Information can be located at:

https://www.cowlitzsuperiorcourt.us/covid-19

Cowlitz County Superior Court remains open, and we are committed to continuing essential operations of the Court in ways that are safe, responsible and take into account the COVID infection rates in SW Washington.

Most court hearings currently are conducted via the Zoom video conferencing platorm. You can find more information and log into your hearing at: ZOOM HEARING PAGE

We provide public access to most of our court hearings via YouTube, so the public can observe our courts without placing themselves, participants, or staff in harm's way. Clicking your mouse on the picture below will take you to our courtroom streaming site index.

live court video

Continuing court operations are governed by Emergency Orders issued by our court in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The various links below will help you understand what services are continuing, and under what conditions and requirements.

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TELEPHONE: (360) 577-3085
TTY (800) 883-6388 OR 7115
Superior Court Administration Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
312 SW FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 250
KELSO, WA 98626
 
Building Hours - 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM