JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS REQUEST POLICY




Policy Statement
The Court will respond promptly to administrative records requests in compliance with GR 31.1 and applicable case law.

Overview
This policy outlines the process for requesting and managing access to administrative judicial records, consistent with GR 31.1.

Public Records Officer
A designated public records officer (and, when possible, a backup) manages all administrative records requests and reports to the Presiding Judge or designee.

Processing Requests
  • The public records officer distributes requests to relevant staff, sets response timelines, and ensures preservation of potentially responsive records.
  • Staff must confirm whether they hold responsive documents, provide them, request additional time, or identify needed clarification. Any claimed exemptions must reference GR 31.1 or applicable law.
  • The public records officer will issue a response within five business days of receiving request. The response will acknowledge your request with one or more of the following:
    • Requested records provided
    • Anticipated date records will be available
    • Expected costs required to proceed with request
    • Request further clarification
    • Extension of deadline
    • Court orders affecting disclosure must be immediately communicated to the public records officer.
  • Requests received by staff must be forwarded to the public records officer.
  • Electronic records will be provided in an appropriate format, including native format when metadata is requested.
  • The public records officer will track all requests, responses, exemptions, and communications.
  • Requests will be closed if a requestor does not inspect records or pay required fees within 30 days.
  • Records created before January 1, 2016, are governed by applicable rules, statutes, and the common‑law balancing test; the Public Records Act does not apply.
Denials and Review

Requests may be denied if unreasonably large or harassing. Denials will include justification and instructions for internal review within 90 days.

External review may be requested through a visiting judge or civil action in superior court.

Fees

There may be costs for copying or scanning records, and the court or judicial agency may charge a fee for the time it takes to complete the necessary research and prepare the records for inspection or copying if the request requires more than one hour of staff time. Additionally, there may be actual costs of copying or scanning the records.
[Updated September 2, 2026]

Photocopying

$0.15 per page

Scanning

$0.10 per page

Staff Time

$30.00 per hour after the first free hour

Materials (DVDs, USB drives, etc.)

At cost

Mailing

At cost

 


SUPERIOR COURT
Email Tiffany Runge, Superior Court Administrator, for judicial administrative records request for SUPERIOR COURT, attach completed Judicial Administrative Records Request Form.


JUVENILE COURT
Email Gordon Thomasson, Superior Court Administrator, for judicial administrative records request for JUVENILE COURT, attach completed Judicial Administrative Records Request Form.

Public Records Act Request.  Superior Court is not an "agency" under the Public Records Act (RCW Chapter 42.56), and, therefore the Public Records Act is not applicable to requests for judicial records.  As of January 1, 2016, judicial administrative records may be available under GR 31.1. 

Case Records Request. If you are seeking documents filed in court cases, most are available through the respective court clerks' offices.  Contact either the Benton County Clerk or the Franklin County Clerk depending on the county in which the case was filed.  Access to records is subject to GR 31.

Electronic Case Records Access. Certain records are available online.  Franklin & Benton Counties has adopted Odyssey as its case management system. You can access case summary information ODYSSEY PUBLIC PORTAL. Attorneys and litigants can register for enhanced access. 

Please visit the FRANKLIN COUNTY CLERK'S WEBSITE for more information on how to review the court documents. 

Please visit the BENTON COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE REQUEST SITE for more information on how to review the court documents.  

Judicial Administrative Records Request Under GR 31.1. If you are seeking judicial administrative records, please complete JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS REQQUEST FORM to assist you in your request from Benton and Franklin Counties Superior Court. 

Information Regarding Other Record Types. Click HERE to be directed to Administrative Office of the Courts general information page, which will assist in locating a variety of court-related records.