Mason County Court Docket Records

Mason County court docket records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk and District Court in Shelton, Washington. The Mason County court system has clear rules about which hearings can be held virtually and which must happen in person. Requesting court docket records involves separate procedures for District Court and Superior Court. This guide covers both courts, the fee schedule, how to submit a records request, and the virtual appearance rules in place for Mason County proceedings.

Mason County Superior Court

The Mason County Superior Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction with both original and appellate authority. Court Administration is at 419 N 4th Street, PO Box X, Shelton, WA 98584, phone (360) 427-9670 extension 348. The court handles criminal matters, civil and domestic cases, probate and guardianship proceedings, dependency hearings, and protection order hearings. Mason County Superior Court has established specific rules about which proceedings may be attended virtually versus in person.

Criminal matters are held in person, with limited exceptions for defendants who appear virtually through jail video booths or Department of Corrections (DOC). Virtual appearances in criminal cases are only allowed by prior court approval, not by party choice. Civil, domestic, probate, and guardianship proceedings may be attended in person or virtually at the party's discretion, unless the court orders in-person attendance for a specific hearing.

All protection order hearings are held in person, subject to RCW 7.105.205, which permits virtual proceedings upon request and court approval in limited circumstances. Dependency hearings default to in-person, with virtual attendance permitted unless the court requires physical presence. Shelter care and fact-finding/disposition hearings within dependency cases are always in person. Ex parte dockets run Monday through Thursday at 3:30 p.m. and Friday at 3:00 p.m. Paperwork for ex parte matters must be in the Clerk's hands by 2:00 p.m. on the same day.

Mason County Superior Court Clerk

The Mason County Superior Court Clerk is Charles Rhodes, elected January 1, 2023. The Clerk is the administrative and financial officer of the Superior Court. The Clerk's duties are mandated by the Washington State Constitution, state statute, and court rules. The office preserves the integrity of the judiciary by maintaining an independent official record separate from judicial decision-making.

Under the ruling in Nast v. Michels, Mason County's Clerk of Court, District Court, Probation, and Superior Court are not "agencies" as defined in the Public Disclosure Act. This means RCW 42.56 requests do not apply to court records. For public records regarding court matters, use the Mason County Public Records page to identify the correct path: click "District Court Records" or "Superior Court Administrative Records" as appropriate to your request type.

The Mason County Superior Court main page screenshot below shows the court's official resource for hearing schedules, virtual appearance rules, and clerk contact information for all Superior Court docket matters.

The Superior Court page at masoncountywa.gov is where parties find current hearing schedules, ex parte docket times, and court contact information for Mason County proceedings.

Mason County District Court Records

Requesting court records from the Mason County District Court follows a specific process. Fill out a Court Records Request form and deliver, email, or fax it to the District Court. Access to records is governed by GR 31, GR 15, and GR 22. After the form is received, a clerk reviews the request to determine access eligibility and copy costs. Payment must be received before copies are provided. The District Court's response with fee information is mailed within 5 business days.

Current District Court copy fees: electronic-to-paper copies are $0.25 per page; paper copies are $0.50 per page; certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page; duplication of court proceedings on CD is $20.00 per disc. Administrative records fees are different: research and preparation charges run $30.00 per hour (no charge for the first hour) billed in 15-minute increments, with copies at the same rates as court records.

The Mason County District Court public records page screenshot below, from the county's official website, shows the records request process and fee schedule applicable to all District Court docket records in Mason County.

The District Court public records page at masoncountywa.gov outlines the three submission methods for record requests, the governing court rules, and the full fee schedule for copies and administrative records in Mason County.

Online Search and Access Tools

Mason County Superior Court cases can be searched through the Odyssey Portal. Enter a case number or party name to find non-confidential case information. The Odyssey Portal shows case type, party names, and the register of actions for open records. Confidential case types, sealed records, and juvenile dependency matters will not appear in public searches.

For Mason County District Court and municipal court cases, the statewide Washington Courts Case Search is available at no cost and updates daily. It covers traffic infractions, misdemeanor criminal matters, small claims, and civil filings below the Superior Court threshold. If a case cannot be found through either online system, contact the relevant court directly; the record may be older, sealed, or in a case type not visible to anonymous users.

Phone inquiries for public records can be directed to (360) 275-4467. For court-specific records, the District Court and Superior Court Clerk each handle their own records separately. Always identify the court where your case was filed before requesting records, as records requests sent to the wrong office will be redirected, adding time to the process.

The Mason County Superior Court Clerk page at masoncountywa.gov/departments/superior_court_clerk/ provides contact information for Clerk Charles Rhodes and links to court records, filing procedures, and public access tools for all Superior Court docket matters in Shelton.

Cities in Mason County

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

Nearby Counties

Mason County sits on the south end of the Kitsap Peninsula and shares borders with several other western Washington counties.