Find Court Docket Records in Longview
Longview court docket records are kept by Longview Municipal Court for city-level cases, and by Cowlitz County courts for district and superior court matters. If you need to find a case, check a hearing date, or request copies of filed documents, this guide covers all three court levels that handle cases from Longview, Washington.
Longview Overview
Longview Municipal Court Dockets
Longview Municipal Court sits at 1525 Broadway Street, Longview, WA 98632. Phone: (360) 442-5800. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The court handles violations of Longview city ordinances, traffic infractions, and misdemeanor offenses that occur within Longview city limits. If you received a citation from a Longview police officer, your case is likely filed in this court.
Municipal court handles the narrower range of cases. It does not hear felony charges, large civil disputes, or family law matters. Those go to Cowlitz County Superior Court. The municipal court is also not the place for small claims or civil complaints that exceed minor thresholds. Knowing which court has your case is the first step before you contact anyone or pay any fees.
Use the free Washington Courts statewide case search to find Longview Municipal Court cases by name or case number. The system pulls from participating municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts across Washington. Results include case type, current status, and scheduled hearing dates. The portal is free to use and does not require an account.
Note: Statewide case search results are for reference only. Verify details directly with the court before relying on them for legal purposes.
Cowlitz County Court Records
Cowlitz County has two main courts that handle cases above the municipal level. The Cowlitz County Superior Court is at 312 SW 1st Avenue, 2nd Floor, Kelso, WA 98626, phone (360) 577-3085. This court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters over $100,000, family law, probate, juvenile matters, and appeals from lower courts. The Cowlitz County District Court is one floor down at 312 SW 1st Avenue, 1st Floor, Kelso, phone (360) 577-3102. District Court covers misdemeanor criminal cases, civil claims under $100,000, small claims up to $10,000, traffic infractions not handled by the city, and domestic violence protection orders.
The screenshot below shows the Cowlitz County court records system, which covers all courts serving the Longview area.
Court records in Cowlitz County are generally open under Washington's Open Courts Provision (Article I, Section 10) and the Public Records Act. General Rule 31 presumes records are public unless a specific exemption applies.
Restricted or sealed records include juvenile proceedings, adoption cases, mental health commitments, sealed criminal matters, and documents containing sensitive personal identifiers. Requests for records in these categories require a court order or specific legal authorization before access is granted.
Online Case Search for Longview
The Washington State Courts Name and Case Search portal at courts.wa.gov lets you search by case number, party name, attorney name, or filing date range. It covers Superior, District, and Municipal courts statewide, which means you can search for both Cowlitz County court records and Longview Municipal Court records through one tool.
For federal court cases involving Longview area parties, the system you need is PACER. Federal District Court for the Western District of Washington handles federal criminal and civil cases. PACER requires registration and charges a small per-page fee to view documents. State court tools will not show federal cases.
When you search by name, results may include multiple people with the same name. Always check date of birth, case type, and filing date to make sure you have the right record. If results are unclear, contact the specific court clerk directly to confirm.
How Court Record Access Works in Cowlitz County
Court records in Cowlitz County are maintained by the Clerk of each court and are generally accessible to the public. You can request copies in person at the courthouse, by mail, or through online tools where available. Requests for certified copies typically involve a fee. Standard copy rates and certified copy rates differ, so ask about both options when contacting the clerk.
Certain records are restricted. Juvenile court records, mental health commitments, and sealed criminal matters are not open to general public access. If you believe a record exists but cannot access it, the court clerk can tell you whether a restriction applies and what steps you could take to request review by a judge.
For records that are publicly available, you do not need a lawyer or a formal court order to request them. Walk up to the clerk's window during business hours with the case number if you have it, or provide the party name and approximate case year to assist with the search. Copies may be provided the same day for simple requests, or within several business days for older or more complex files.
Note: Federal court cases from the Longview area are handled by the Western District of Washington federal court and accessed through PACER, not the county system.
Cowlitz County Superior Court Appeals
If a case heard in Longview Municipal Court or Cowlitz County District Court is appealed, the appeal is filed in Cowlitz County Superior Court. The superior court reviews lower court decisions and may hold new hearings or decide the appeal on the existing record. Appeals must be filed within specific time limits, typically 30 days from the entry of judgment in the lower court. Missing that deadline can result in losing the right to appeal.
Superior court appeal records are public under the same rules as original case records. You can request them from the Superior Court Clerk at 312 SW 1st Avenue, Kelso. The clerk maintains all case files including appeal briefs, orders, and judgments. If the superior court decision is then appealed further, it moves to the Washington Court of Appeals, Division Two, which covers Cowlitz County cases.
Cowlitz County Court Docket Records
Cowlitz County handles district and superior court cases that cover Longview and surrounding communities. Visit the county page for courthouse addresses, clerk contacts, and filing information.
Nearby Cities
Other southwest Washington cities also have court docket information available through local and county systems.