Spokane Courts Halt Jury Trials, Continue Monday and Tuesday Dockets as Fires Burn

Spokane County Superior Court, Spokane County District Court and the City of Spokane Municipal Court have continued nearly all civil and criminal matters set for Monday and Tuesday and called off summoned jurors, under an emergency order signed Sunday as the Spokane Complex fire burned into neighborhoods of Washington's second-largest city.

Emergency Order 2026-01, effective immediately, was signed by Presiding Judge Tony Hazel of the Superior Court, Presiding Judge Jeffrey R. Smith of the District Court and Presiding Judge Kristin O'Sullivan of the Municipal Court.

The courts will review the need for further continuances by 8 a.m. Tuesday and issue a new order if necessary.

Jury trials off until at least Aug. 10

Jury personnel at all three courts were directed to call off summoned jurors immediately. Jurors summoned for trials set for Aug. 3 are excused, and no criminal jury trials will be conducted until at least Aug. 10. 

Criminal jury trials scheduled to begin Aug. 3 through Aug. 7 are continued to Monday, Aug. 10. The courts will hold no civil jury trials until at least that same date.

In its announcement Sunday, the state Administrative Office of the Courts said anyone called for service Aug. 3 through Aug. 7 is excused from jury duty. 

The order itself excuses jurors summoned for trials set for Aug. 3, so jurors unsure which applies to them can call the court that summoned them.

The trial clock stops

Acting on their own motion, the courts found that the danger posed by the fire is good cause to continue criminal jury trials and an unavoidable circumstance under CrR 3.3(e)(8) and CrRLJ 3.3(e)(8), the time-for-trial rules for superior courts and courts of limited jurisdiction.

On that finding, the time between Sunday's order and the next trial date is excluded when time for trial is calculated, so the delay does not count against the deadline for bringing those cases to trial.

What still goes forward

In-custody first appearances, including juvenile appearances, will be conducted as normally set, and Involuntary Treatment Act hearings as regularly set, in superior court only.

The courts will also hear ex parte motions that are emergency in nature. 

The order names two: civil protection orders, and in forma pauperis requests, which let a person proceed without paying filing fees, connected with the emergency motion.

The authority, and the conditions behind it

The order relies on General Rule 21, which allows a court to close when hazardous or emergency conditions threaten the safety and welfare of employees or leave the court unable to operate. 

The courts said the measures are necessary to protect jurors, litigants, attorneys, staff and the public while essential functions continue.

The order cites the statewide wildfire emergency and burn ban Governor Bob Ferguson declared Saturday and the emergency declarations by the Spokane County commissioners and Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown. 

It records tens of thousands displaced or evacuated, reports of roughly 700 structures lost, and up to 40,000 county residents without power.

The Spokane Complex, which combines the Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane fires, had burned more than 5,300 acres with no containment as of Sunday, according to the federal incident management team coordinating the response. 

The state Emergency Operations Center estimated Sunday morning that about 700 structures had been destroyed and that more than 65,000 people were under evacuation orders. Those figures reflect Sunday reports, and conditions are changing quickly.

Where to check

Anyone with a case, hearing or jury summons in Spokane can call Spokane County Superior Court Administration at 509-477-5790, Spokane County District Court Operations at 509-477-4770, or Spokane Municipal Court Operations at 509-625-4400.

The courts encouraged residents to watch the Spokane County and Spokane Municipal Court websites for updates, and said the order may be extended or modified as conditions require.