Job description
District courts have jurisdiction over both criminal and civil cases. They have criminal jurisdiction over misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and criminal traffic cases. Jurisdiction in civil cases includes those with damages up to $100,000 for injury to individuals or personal property, as well as penalty and contract disputes up to $100,000. District courts also have jurisdiction over traffic and non-traffic infractions. District courts may also issue domestic violence and anti-harassment protection orders and no-contact orders. They have jurisdiction to hear name change petitions and certain lien foreclosures. Small claims are limited to money claims of up to $5,000 in which each party is generally self represented.
Eligibility requirements
Candidate must be a registered voter of the district court district and electoral district, if any; and be either: (a) A lawyer admitted to practice law in the state of Washington; or (b) In those districts having a population of less than five thousand persons, a person who has taken and passed by January 1, 2003, the qualifying examination for a lay candidate for judicial officer as provided by rule of the supreme court.
Filing instructions
Filing office address: 149 3rd Avenue North, Room 104, Okanogan, WA 98840
Filing phone number: 509-422-7240
Paperwork instructions: Submit paperwork to the County Auditor's office.
Filing requirements: Filing fee is 1% of the salary of the position. A candidate who lacks sufficient assets or income at the time of filing to pay the filing fee required by this section shall submit with his or her declaration of candidacy a filing fee petition. The petition shall contain not less than a number of signatures of registered voters equal to the number of dollars of the filing fee. The signatures shall be of voters registered to vote within the jurisdiction of the office for which the candidate is filing.