Columbia County Court Docket Search

Columbia County court docket records are held at the County Clerk's office in Dayton, Washington. You can search case filings online through the Odyssey Portal, or contact the Clerk directly for certified copies and records requests. This guide covers Superior Court jurisdiction, District Court cases, how to get records, and the Odyssey subscription system used in Columbia County.

Columbia County Superior Court

The Columbia County Superior Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction with both original and appellate authority. The Honorable Brooke J. Burns serves as Judge, assisted by Court Administrator Adrianne Krull. One distinctive feature of Columbia County's court system is that the Superior Court Judge is shared with Asotin and Garfield Counties. The judge rotates between the three county seats, so hearing schedules in Dayton depend on when the judge is assigned here.

The court hears major criminal matters including felony charges, civil cases involving real property, domestic relations, probate and guardianship, appeals from lower courts, and appeals from state administrative agencies. Juvenile Court operates as a department of Superior Court and handles both juvenile offender matters and child dependency cases.

The Columbia County courthouse photo below is sourced from the county's official document repository and gives a visual reference for the building at 341 E. Main Street in Dayton.

The courthouse in Dayton is the central hub for all Superior Court and District Court proceedings in Columbia County, including Juvenile Court sessions.

Searching Columbia County Court Docket Records

You can search Columbia County court docket entries through the Odyssey Portal. Public access shows basic case information for criminal, civil, domestic, probate/guardianship, and juvenile offender cases that are not sealed. To search, enter the case number or party name. Case numbers in Columbia County follow the standard Washington format: two digits, one letter, five digits, two digits.

Frequent users such as attorneys, bail agents, or legal researchers can subscribe to the Columbia County Odyssey Portal for elevated access to non-confidential documents. The subscription is tiered by firm size: 1 to 3 employees pay $100 per year, 4 to 6 employees pay $250, 7 to 10 pay $500, and firms with more than 10 employees pay $600. Subscriptions require original signatures on the registration form; emailed or faxed contracts are not accepted. Send completed paperwork to Kriston Chapman, Columbia County Clerk, 341 E. Main Street Suite 2, Dayton, WA 99328.

Columbia County Clerk and Records Requests

The Columbia County Clerk is an elected position. Kriston Chapman currently serves as Clerk, with Deputy Clerks Mackena Culley and Felice Wiens. All three can be reached at 509-382-4321. The Clerk is the administrative and financial officer of Superior Court and the custodian of all court records in Columbia County.

To request copies, you can visit the Clerk's office at 341 E. Main Street Suite 2, Dayton, or call ahead to confirm document availability. The Access to Court Records page on the county website lists which record types are publicly available. Certified copies carry the court's official seal and a deputy clerk's signature; non-certified copies are less expensive but not suitable for legal proceedings requiring authentication.

The county services image below is from the Columbia County official document portal and shows the administrative hub that oversees court operations.

All Columbia County court records requests pass through this administrative center, whether submitted in person, by phone, or through the county's online portal.

Columbia County District Court

The Columbia County District Court includes the Dayton Municipal Court and handles criminal, civil, infraction, and parking cases. Misdemeanor cases carry a maximum penalty of 90 days jail and a $1,000 fine. Gross misdemeanors can result in up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. Civil cases go up to $100,000 in damages, and small claims are capped at $5,000.

Language access is available through the District Court; contact 509-382-4812 for interpreter requests or accommodation needs. Infractions include traffic and non-traffic violations plus code violations issued by local enforcement agencies. If you received a citation in the Dayton area and are unsure which court handles it, check with the District Court first since it absorbs the municipal caseload for Dayton.

The historic courthouse image below, sourced from the Columbia County document repository, shows the older building that has housed the county's judicial records for generations.

Even as digital systems have modernized record-keeping, the original courthouse architecture remains an anchor for Columbia County's legal community.

Court Access Rules in Columbia County

Columbia County court records are governed by GR 31, the Washington State General Rule covering access to court records. The Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) does not apply to court documents. This means you cannot submit a standard public records request to the county and receive court filings in return. You must go directly to the Clerk's office or use the Odyssey Portal.

The Columbia County court system is small by state standards. The shared-judge arrangement with Asotin and Garfield Counties means the Superior Court docket here runs on a rotation schedule. If you have a pending hearing, confirm the exact date with the Clerk's office at 509-382-4321 before traveling to Dayton. Changes in the rotating schedule can occasionally shift hearing dates.

The Columbia County website is the primary source for docket updates, judge rotation schedules, and contact information for the Clerk's office in Dayton.

Cities in Columbia County

Communities in Columbia County file court cases at the Columbia County Superior Court in Dayton. Browse all Washington cities for local court docket information.

Nearby Counties

Columbia County is bordered by several eastern Washington counties, each with their own court docket systems and Superior Court locations.