Schwab Law defends criminal and DUI charges in Seattle through the firm’s Western Division. Misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors filed by the City are heard in Seattle Municipal Court, one of the busiest courts in the state. Felony charges are prosecuted by King County and heard in King County Superior Court at the King County Courthouse.
How we help Seattle clients
Volume is the defining feature of criminal practice in Seattle. A heavy calendar can mean a case moves quickly whether or not it has been examined properly, so the useful work usually happens early — getting the discovery, reading the reports against the body-worn video, and identifying the problem before the case is simply processed.
Seattle Municipal Court or King County Superior Court?
The split is by charge level and by who filed it. The Seattle City Attorney prosecutes misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors in Seattle Municipal Court — DUI, driving while license suspended, assault in the fourth degree, theft in the third degree, and most domestic violence allegations start there. The King County Prosecuting Attorney files felonies in King County Superior Court.
King County Superior Court operates from two locations: the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. Where a felony is heard depends on where in the county it arose, which is a practical matter of travel and calendar as much as anything else.
What criminal charges does Schwab Law defend in Seattle?
- DUI and physical control, including the Department of Licensing case
- Domestic violence allegations and no-contact orders
- Assault, from fourth degree through felony charges
- Theft, shoplifting and property crimes
- Drug possession and distribution charges
- Driving while license suspended or revoked
- Protection order petitions and responses
Why does a Seattle DUI need attention immediately?
Because two cases open at once and only one of them waits for you. The criminal case proceeds in Seattle Municipal Court on the court’s schedule. The Department of Licensing action against your license runs on a statutory deadline measured from the date of arrest, and it is lost by default if no hearing is requested in time.
A Washington DUI conviction also cannot later be vacated. It stays on your record permanently and counts as a prior offense if there is ever a next one, which is a large part of why a first offense is worth defending rather than disposing of.
Questions from Seattle clients
Where is a Seattle DUI heard?
In Seattle Municipal Court, if the City filed the charge. A DUI that rises to a felony — because of prior offenses or a serious injury — is filed by King County and heard in King County Superior Court.
Does Schwab Law appear in King County courts?
Yes. Our Western Division covers criminal defense and DUI across Western Washington, including King County. Consultations can be handled by phone or video, and appearances are made in the court that has your case.
