Kitsap County Superior Court vs. District Court -- What's the Difference?

The views and opinions expressed here are my own and do not represent the position of Kitsap County, the Kitsap County Superior Court, or the Kitsap County Clerk’s office. I am speaking solely as a candidate for public office.

This is one of the most common points of confusion for Kitsap County residents navigating the court system – and it’s completely understandable, because the two courts share a building, share a county, and sound like they might do similar things.

They don’t. Here’s how to tell them apart.

Kitsap County Superior Court handles the bigger cases. Felony criminal cases. Civil disputes involving more than $100,000. Family law matters – divorce, custody, child support modifications, guardianship. Juvenile court. Appeals from District Court decisions. Probate and estate matters. If the stakes are high and the legal issues are complex, it’s probably Superior Court.

The Kitsap County Clerk’s office – the office I work in and am running to lead – is the administrative arm of Superior Court. We maintain all the records for Superior Court cases, manage jury operations for Superior Court trials, process filings, handle passport applications, and support self-represented litigants navigating the Superior Court system.

Kitsap County District Court handles the smaller cases. Misdemeanor criminal charges. Civil disputes up to $100,000. Small claims cases. Traffic infractions. Unlawful detainer (eviction) cases. If you got a speeding ticket or are dealing with a neighbor dispute under $100,000, District Court is where you’re headed.

District Court has its own clerk’s office – separate from where I work – and its own judges. The two courts operate independently even though they share a physical location at the Kitsap County Courthouse at 614 Division Street in Port Orchard.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet: Going through a divorce or custody dispute: Superior Court. Charged with a felony: Superior Court. Got a traffic ticket: District Court. Small claims dispute under $5,000: District Court. Need a protection order: Superior Court (and the Clerk’s office can help you file). Charged with a misdemeanor: District Court. Need to access a court record from a civil case or felony: Superior Court Clerk’s office.

If you’re not sure which court handles your situation, call the Superior Court Clerk’s office at (360) 337-7140 or the District Court at (360) 337-7109. Both offices can tell you where you need to go – and neither will make you feel bad for asking. One of the things I want to build as Clerk is a plain-language guide on the website that helps residents figure out which court they need before they make the trip. That question comes up constantly. The answer shouldn’t require a phone call.