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1. I have a complaint about my attorney. Who do I contact?

Our office cannot help you. Please contact the Washington State Bar Association at 800-945-WSBA (9722).

2. Is there a warrant out for me?

If you think that the Snohomish County Superior Court, Juvenile Court, or District Court has issued a warrant for your arrest, first contact your attorney. If you do not have an attorney, someone in one of our criminal divisions can tell you if there is a warrant. However, we will not be able to confirm whether any other court has issued a warrant for you. You must contact a sheriff’s office or police department for that information. You can also visit the Washington State Courts' website.

3. Can I get my warrant quashed?

It is best that you contact your attorney to set a court date to get your warrant quashed. If you do not have an attorney, contact our office and we can set a court hearing to quash the warrant. We advise you to get an attorney prior to the quash hearing date.

4. Who is my attorney?

If you have not hired or been appointed an attorney we are not going to have this information. If you need an attorney you can contact the Office of Public Defense at 425-388-3500 or you can call the Snohomish County Bar Association at 425-388-3018.

5. What happens at arraignment?

Arraignments are the hearings that basically start a criminal case. It depends on the court and the case, but these are things that generally happen at arraignment:

1. The judge tells the defendant about his or her rights in court.
2. Either the judge or the prosecutor will read the charge or charges to the defendant.
3. The judge asks whether the defendant has an attorney, and appoints one to represent the defendant if requested and appropriate.
4. The judge sets conditions of release from custody - the conditions may include bail, periodic check-ins with a court-designated monitor, no contact with certain persons, not leaving Snohomish County, not possessing or using alcohol or controlled substances, not possessing weapons, not committing new offenses, and more.
5. The judge will set a new court date or dates for pretrial hearings and/or trial.

6. Can I just pay my fine(s) and not have a court date?

You cannot just pay a fine on a felony. You must make all court appearances.

You can pay a fine on misdemeanors, but this may depend on the type of misdemeanor. It is best to contact the District Court or Municipal Court that has jurisdiction over the crime to determine if they will accept a payment of a fine in lieu of a court appearance.

7. How do I take a conviction or adjudication off of my record?

Normally, you cannot have a conviction or adjudication removed (also called "expunged") from your record. However, if you want to try, you should contact a private attorney. If you do not have a lawyer, you can call CLEAR (Coordinated Legal Education, Advice and Referral) at 888-201-1014 for a referral to a local attorney.

8. What is going on with my case?

Defendants should contact their own attorneys regarding the status of the case.