Shoreline Court Docket Records
Shoreline court docket records are maintained through King County District Court's Shoreline Division, which handles all city ordinance violations and traffic matters under an interlocal agreement with the City of Shoreline. There is no standalone Shoreline Municipal Court. This guide explains how to find Shoreline case dockets, request records, and access King County Superior Court filings for residents of this north King County city.
Shoreline Overview
King County District Court Shoreline Division
The City of Shoreline adjudicates misdemeanor offenses and infractions including traffic violations through an interlocal agreement with King County District Court. The Shoreline Division is physically located at 18050 Meridian Avenue N, Shoreline, WA 98133. The phone number for hearings, cases, and general questions is (206) 205-9200 or toll-free (800) 325-6165.
Cases handled by the Shoreline Division include traffic infractions, misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal matters involving Shoreline ordinance violations, anti-harassment orders, and small claims. The Shoreline Division also handles probation and fines related to its cases. For any of these matters, contact the Shoreline Division directly at the number above rather than calling King County District Court's general line.
Weekly case calendars and hearing schedules for the Shoreline Division are viewable online on the King County District Court website. This is useful if you need to know when a specific hearing is scheduled or want to confirm a court date before appearing.
Note: Shoreline court docket cases filed through King County District Court appear in the statewide case search system but will show under King County rather than under a Shoreline-specific identifier.
Shoreline Community Court
Shoreline hosts a King County Community Court that operates as an alternative problem-solving court. It is held at Shoreline City Hall rather than a traditional courtroom. The setting is intentionally less formal, with the judge at eye level rather than elevated on a bench. This approach is designed to make court less intimidating for participants and to focus on problem-solving rather than punishment alone.
Shoreline Community Court addresses low-level offenses like theft, shoplifting, and trespassing. Participants can sign up at the community resource center in the lobby for drug and alcohol treatment programs, financial assistance, housing help, and employment services. Community service is often a component of the resolution. Not every case qualifies; the court determines eligibility based on the nature of the offense and the participant's situation.
If you believe a case might be eligible for Community Court, contact the Shoreline Division of King County District Court at (206) 205-9200 to ask about the process. Community Court can result in reduced charges or dismissal if the participant completes the required programs.
Searching Shoreline Court Records Online
The Washington Courts statewide DW case search is the best starting point for finding Shoreline cases. Enter a party name or case number and the system returns results from municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts. Shoreline cases at the district court level will show under King County. Felony and major civil matters will show under King County Superior Court.
King County Superior Court cases are searchable through the KC Script Portal at dja-prd-ecexap1.kingcounty.gov. You can search by party name, case number, or date range. Public access shows basic case information and docket entries. Downloading documents or accessing full case files requires free registration. The King County Superior Court Clerk's Office is at 516 Third Avenue, Room E-609, Seattle.
For small claims matters in Shoreline, responsibility falls to the Shoreline Division of King County District Court. Contact (206) 205-9200 for small claims procedures, forms, and scheduling information. Small claims in Washington handle disputes up to $10,000.
Shoreline Public Records and City Documents
City-held public records in Shoreline are handled separately from court records. The Shoreline public records request page covers city documents including bids and RFPs, building and land use permit searches, city council meeting records, ordinances, resolutions, the comprehensive plan, hearing examiner decisions, and the zoning map. These are administrative and legislative records, not court case records.
Shoreline responds to public records requests under the Washington State Public Records Act, RCW 42.56. The city's policy is to provide the fullest assistance and most timely action in responding to requests. Keep in mind that personally identifiable information you submit with a records request may itself be subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act.
Frequently requested records from the city include permit records, zoning information, and meeting minutes. For police department records, check with the applicable law enforcement agency. For court case records, use King County District Court or King County Superior Court systems rather than the city's public records portal.
Statewide Case Search and Background Checks
The Washington Courts statewide DW case search is a useful tool for finding Shoreline cases when you are not sure whether a matter is at the district court or superior court level. Enter a party name or case number and the system returns results across all participating courts in Washington, identifying which court holds each case. This covers municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts.
For statewide criminal history background checks, the WATCH system run by the Washington State Patrol charges $11 per search and returns results for convictions and pending dispositions statewide. WATCH is a background check service, not a court docket tool. Use it when you need a full criminal history for a person rather than details on a single case. The two tools serve different purposes and it is worth knowing which one fits your need.
Juvenile records, sealed cases, and certain domestic relations matters are restricted and will not appear in standard public searches regardless of which tool you use. If you believe a case should appear but does not, contact the court clerk to confirm whether access restrictions apply.
Note: King County Superior Court Clerk photocopies cost $0.25 per page; certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 per additional page. Staff assistance beyond one hour is billed at $30 per hour.
King County Court Docket Records
Shoreline is part of King County. All district court and superior court cases for Shoreline residents are filed and maintained at the county level through King County's court systems.
Nearby Cities
Other King County cities near Shoreline also handle court matters through King County District Court and Superior Court systems.