Trial Priority Hearings/Trial Readiness Dockets (combined): 

8/24/2025 NOTE:  Beginning 9/1/2025 all Trial Priority/Readiness forms must be filed with the County Clerk and uploaded on eMotion, as outlined below.

  1. Trial Priority/Readiness: 
    1. Criminal (also see Local Criminal Rule 3.4)
    2. Domestic
    3. Civil, (including Administrative Law Review) 
    4. Guardianship
  2. Date/Time Combined Trial Readiness/Trial Priority Docket is Scheduled: 
    1. Benton County on Mondays at 9:00 a.m.
    2. Franklin County on Mondays at 3:00 p.m.
      • (subject to updates as needed for court operations/holidays).
  3. Order which cases will be called in the combined Trial Readiness/Priority Docket:
    1. Criminal cases will be called first
    2. Domestic cases will follow directly thereafter
    3. Minor guardianship cases
    4. Civil cases.
  4. Start of Docket/Hearings:  
    1. Counsel for represented parties and pro se parties for all case types shall be present, via WebEx or in person, and ready to go at 9:00 a.m. (Benton) or 2:30 p.m. (Franklin).
  5. Trial Priority Status Hearing Form:  
    1. Each counsel for a represented party and each pro se party shall file and upload to eMotion a Trial Priority / Readiness Status Hearing form by: 
      1. In Benton County, that will be a Wednesday before the Monday Trial Priority Docket
      2. In Franklin County, that will be a Wednesday before the next Monday Trial Priority Docket
  6. Notice for Trial Readiness/Priority Hearings:
    1. Criminal Cases:  Notice is given in court. 
    2. Cases Not Governed by a Case Schedule Order: (e.g., Adoptions and Administrative Law Reviews) The parties will continue to file a Certificate of Readiness.
      1. A copy of the Certificate of Readiness will be provided to Court Administration.
      2. Court Administration will set trial and trial priority hearing (and send notice of both)
      3. The Trial Priority Status Hearing form is still required as stated above.
    3. Domestic Case: Notices will be provided in writing to the parties immediately after the Settlement/Pretrial Conference if the case does not resolve at the settlement conference.
    4. Civil Cases: Notices will be provided in writing to the parties immediately after the Pretrial Management Conference.
    5. Minor Guardianship Cases: Notices will be provided in writing to the parties immediately after pretrial (approximately sixty (60) days before trial).
      1. The pretrial date is provided in the Case Schedule Order which is issued by the court.
    6. Adult Guardianship Cases: Notices will be provided in writing to the parties after the hearing held pursuant to RCW 11.130.275 if the matter is going to a contested trial with or without jury.

[Updated September 1, 2024; updated 8/24/25 as to Status Form; updated 9/1/2025; Updated 1/2/2026]