Western District of Washington

What the Western District of Washington is

The Western District of Washington is the federal trial court for the part of the state west of the Cascade Mountains. The court describes itself as the federal trial court for the portion of the State of Washington "west of the Cascade Mountain range and from the Oregon border to the Canadian border." It is one of two federal districts in the state, and the other, the Eastern District, serves the eastern part. Our Washington federal courts page covers both, and the Federal Courts hub places this district in the national system.

Congress drew the line in 28 U.S.C. § 128, which begins: "Washington is divided into two judicial districts to be known as the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington." For the western half, the statute lists the counties: "The Western District comprises the counties of Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, and Whatcom." That is 19 counties, including Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Bellingham, Olympia and Vancouver.

The power to hear criminal cases comes from 18 U.S.C. § 3231, which gives district courts "original jurisdiction, exclusive of the courts of the States, of all offenses against the laws of the United States." That is why a drug, fraud, firearms or child exploitation case that crosses a federal line is charged here and not in a county superior court.

Where court is held, and what the statute says

The statute also says where court sits. The current text reads: "Court for the Western District shall be held at Bellingham, Seattle, Tacoma, Mount Vernon, and Vancouver." Mount Vernon was added in 2024, so older printed copies of the statute list only four cities.

That list is not the same as the list of working courthouses. The court's Visitors page says it "has two courthouses, in Seattle and Tacoma." Court rule CrR 56(a) says the court is in continuous session throughout the year in Seattle and in Tacoma, and that the court may establish other locations by general order. The court has also announced that it holds hearings for federal property tickets, known as CVB tickets, at the Skagit County Community Justice Center in Mount Vernon, and says that all Mount Vernon filings must be made through the Seattle courthouse. The court's pages do not describe a courthouse in Bellingham or Vancouver, so do not assume your case will be heard in either city. The papers in your case name the courthouse.

Seattle or Tacoma: how counties are divided

The court does divide cases between its two courthouses, and it does so by county. The rule is Local Criminal Rule CrR 18, and it matches the court's About page. Felony cases from six counties are assigned among the Seattle judges: Island, King, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom. Cases from the other thirteen counties are assigned among the Tacoma judges: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston and Wahkiakum.

A few practical points follow from that list:

• A case from Bellingham (Whatcom County) or Mount Vernon (Skagit County) is in the Seattle group.
• A case from the Vancouver area (Clark County) or Cowlitz County is in the Tacoma group, even though the statute names Vancouver as a place of court.
• The same split applies to misdemeanors, petty offenses and infractions before district judges.
• If a case involves charges from both groups of counties, the United States Attorney's Office may designate it as a Seattle or Tacoma case. A defendant or the court can seek reassignment based on the convenience of the defendants and witnesses and the prompt administration of justice.
• The chief judge can change assignments to balance the workload among all the judges.

The county where the offense happened drives the assignment, not where you live or where you were arrested. If you are unsure, your indictment, complaint or summons will show it.

The two courthouses and the clerk's office

Seattle. The Seattle courthouse is at 700 Stewart Street, Seattle, WA 98101, at 7th and Stewart. The Clerk's Office is in Suite 2310, phone (206) 370-8400. The front counter and public terminal room are open weekdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and staff are available by phone weekdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Tacoma. The Tacoma courthouse is in Union Station at 1717 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402-3200. The Clerk's Office is in Room 3100, phone (253) 882-3800. The counter is open weekdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and staff are available by phone weekdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Both public lobbies are open weekdays from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM and closed on federal holidays. The court says "Official government issued photo I.D. is required for entry." Filing is electronic, and the court's electronic filing support desk is reachable at (206) 370-8440 or (866) 323-9293.

Who prosecutes: the United States Attorney's Office

Federal charges here are brought by the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington. The main office is at 700 Stewart Street, Suite 5220, Seattle, WA 98101-1271, phone (206) 553-7970. A branch office is at 1201 Pacific Avenue, Suite 700, Tacoma, WA 98402-4305, phone (253) 428-3800. The office says it has about 84 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, a Criminal Division and a Civil Division, and that it "prosecutes cases investigated by several law enforcement agencies in Western Washington."

The Criminal Division is the largest division in the office. Its units include:

• Criminal Enterprises, which goes after organized criminal groups involved in drug and non drug enterprises.
• Cyber Crimes, which handles computer intrusions, data thefts, ransomware, intellectual property violations and internet fraud.
• Economic Crimes, which prosecutes white collar and other sophisticated economic crime.
• General Crimes, a broad unit covering drug trafficking, border crimes, firearms, mail, bank and wire fraud, crimes of violence, crimes against children and offenses on federal property.
• Terrorism & Violent Crimes, which houses Indian Country, Human Trafficking, Criminal Civil Rights and Project Safe Childhood. The Indian Country program handles violent crimes and sexual assaults on the 24 Indian Reservations within the district.

The office also describes its priorities. It says "Western Washington is a tech hub, with significant cases involving cybercrime and computer hacking," and that much of its work against organized gangs is aimed at stopping the flow of fentanyl. Knowing which unit holds your case tells you how the government sees it. If your charge is in one of these areas, our pages on federal drug charges, fraud, firearms charges and sex crimes explain the charges themselves.

Appointed counsel: the Federal Public Defender and the CJA panel

If you cannot afford a lawyer, the court can appoint one. The Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Washington has offices at 1601 Fifth Ave, Suite 700, Seattle, phone 206.553.1100, and at 1331 Broadway, Suite 400, Tacoma, phone 253.593.6710. It says its work covers every stage of a case: pretrial, trial, sentencing, appeal and supervised release. It also says it is often appointed before a charge is filed and an arrest is made.

The Criminal Justice Act, or CJA, is the second route. The Federal Public Defender's site lists a CJA Administration office at the Seattle address, phone 206.553.2510, and says it trains private attorneys appointed to represent indigent clients under the Act. Local Criminal Rule CrR 5(a)(1)(A) directs the magistrate judge's staff to notify the Federal Public Defender's designated person and the CJA Administrator of a new arrest. If you ask for appointed counsel, you will likely file a financial affidavit, and under CrR 49.1(d) those affidavits are filed under seal.

Pretrial Services and Probation

The court's United States Probation and Pretrial Services office works with the judge at the start of a case and again before sentencing. Under CrR 46(a)(1), the court authorizes it to perform pretrial services. At your first hearings, a pretrial officer typically interviews you and gives the judge information on release. Under CrR 46(a)(2), your lawyer is allowed to be present at any such interview. Pretrial services reports and recommendations are filed under seal.

The office says the judge decides at the hearing whether to grant release or order the defendant to remain in custody, and that the primary considerations are "whether the defendant is a risk of nonappearance for future court proceedings or if the defendant presents a danger to the community." Release conditions "can include, but are not limited to, drug testing (urinalysis testing), reporting to the assigned officer, location monitoring (ankle bracelet), have no contact with witnesses or co-defendants". The office also states plainly that "marijuana, whether medically authorized or not, is not legal under federal law," which matters for anyone on release in a state where it is legal.

The office has locations in Seattle (700 Stewart Street, Suite 10101), Tacoma (1717 Pacific Avenue, Room 1310), Vancouver (500 West 12th Street, Suite 226), Everett and Tukwila. After a conviction or plea, the same office prepares the presentence report that the judge relies on at sentencing. Our presentence report page explains what goes into it.

The first days of a case here

For a newly arrested person, the first stop is the initial appearance before a magistrate judge. The court says these are generally held Monday through Friday at 2:00 PM. In Seattle, they are on the 12th floor in Courtroom B, and in Tacoma, in Courtroom D or F on the 3rd floor. Our federal arrest page explains what happens before then. Under CrR 5(b), if the initial appearance is not likely to be held within forty-eight hours of arrest, a complaint and affidavit are presented within forty-eight hours after the arrest.

Release or detention comes next, under 18 U.S.C. § 3142. A judge orders detention only if the judge finds that "no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the appearance of the person as required and the safety of any other person and the community." This court has a local rule that matters here: under CrR 5(g), the court can schedule or hold a detention hearing only if the case involves one of the circumstances in § 3142(f). If the record does not show one, the magistrate judge must immediately release the person under § 3142(b) or (c). Our detention hearing page goes through the process.

Felony charges usually come through a grand jury indictment, covered on our indictment and grand jury pages. Under CrR 11(e), magistrate judges in this district are authorized to accept waivers of indictment and guilty pleas in felony cases with the consent of the defendant, the defendant's attorney and the United States. Arraignment follows, and the court sets a date for pretrial motions at that time.

Local Criminal Rules that change what you do

This court cites its rules as "CrR," not "LCrR." They supplement the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and are numbered to match them where possible. The current edition is effective January 13, 2026. Magistrate judges also have their own rules, which contain many provisions on criminal matters. Several rules directly affect a defendant:

• Discovery (CrR 16). A discovery conference is held no later than 14 days after arraignment. Government discovery includes search warrants and supporting affidavits for evidence it intends to use, and the government must say whether the defendant was the subject of a wiretap or other interception. The parties submit a proposed scheduling order with expert disclosures within 7 days of the conference or 21 days from arraignment, whichever is earlier.
• Motions (CrR 12). The court sets a motions deadline at arraignment, and a later motion needs leave of court for good cause. A motion is noted for twelve days after filing, the opposition is due seven days after filing, and the reply five days after the opposition. Briefs are capped at 4,200 words, and replies at 2,100 words. Motions to compel discovery and motions in limine must include a certification that the movant conferred in good faith. Unless otherwise ordered, motions are decided without oral argument.
• Plea agreements (CrR 11). Without court approval, felony plea agreements must be in writing and signed by the defendant, the defendant's attorney and the government's attorney, with a factual basis. A plea without an agreement requires defense counsel to file a Notice of Intent to Enter a Guilty Plea.
• Sentencing (CrR 32). The final presentence report goes to counsel at least 14 days before sentencing. A § 5K1.1 substantial assistance motion must be filed under seal at least fourteen days before sentencing. An acceptance of responsibility statement goes to Probation and the United States Attorney at least 21 days before. Sentencing memoranda are due at least seven days before.

A person thinking about cooperating should read our pages on the proffer session, federal sentencing and mandatory minimum sentences before saying anything to agents or prosecutors.

Appeals go to the Ninth Circuit

Appeals from this court leave the district. The statute directs appeals "From a district court of the United States to the court of appeals for the circuit embracing the district;" and Washington is in the Ninth Circuit, which also covers Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Hawaii and Guam. The court states that cases from the Western District are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

The deadline is short. Under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(b)(1)(A), "In a criminal case, a defendant's notice of appeal must be filed in the district court within 14 days after the later of:" the entry of either the judgment or the order being appealed, or the filing of the government's notice of appeal. Our federal appeals page explains the process. Preserve issues during the trial court case, because that record is what the appeals court reviews.

A note on penalties

This page does not predict outcomes. Penalty figures elsewhere on the site are statutory maximums or guideline ranges, not forecasts. Drug quantity, loss amount, criminal history, role in the offense and the judge's view of the facts all move the real result in a specific case.

Talking to a lawyer about a case in this court

The first conversation goes better with paper in hand. Gather what you have, and do not create new records by discussing the case with anyone else.

• Any charging document, complaint, summons, indictment, target letter or search warrant receipt. See our pages on target letters and search warrants if you received one.
• Release paperwork, bond conditions and the name of your pretrial services officer, if you have one.
• The county where the events happened, because that decides whether the case is a Seattle or Tacoma case.
• Proof of where you live, work and who depends on you, which matters at a detention hearing.
• A written timeline of what happened and who was involved, kept for your lawyer only.
• Names and cards of any agents who contacted you, and notes on what was said.

Do not talk to agents or prosecutors without counsel, and do not discuss the case on phone calls from jail, which are recorded. If you cannot afford a lawyer, ask the court about appointment through the Federal Public Defender. Otherwise, when you are ready to talk through your situation, request a consultation.

Federal representation outside California is subject to applicable court admission requirements. Pro hac vice admission and association with local counsel may be required.