Description:

Position Description:
The Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) is one of the highest volume Courts of Limited Jurisdiction in the State of Washington with seven elected judges, five appointed magistrates and over 200 employees. SMC is the judicial branch of government for the City of Seattle and is authorized by the State of Washington. The Court adjudicates all misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor crimes, infractions, and civil violations authorized under the Seattle Municipal Code and certain Revised Code of Washington Statutes.

SMC is seeking an experienced attorney to join the Court as a Pro Tempore Judge/Magistrate to fill in during the absences of regular Judges and Magistrates, this is a Temp On- Call position. A Pro Tempore Judge/Magistrate will serve in formal court as a judge pro tempore when an elected judge is unavailable. A Pro Tempore Judge/Magistrate rules on legal motions, decides the merits of cases, hears, and evaluates evidence and witness credibility and makes findings of facts and conclusions of law and may also conduct mitigation hearings and civil trials on contested infractions and settlement conferences. The Pro Tempore Judge/Magistrate directly interacts with citizens and must ensure that each person is afforded a full and fair hearing.

You will be most successful in this role if you:

Have completed Pro Tempore trainings provided by WSBA/DMCJA or King County
Are able to maintain decorum in a courtroom
Are a member of the Washington State Bar Association in good standing
Are available to work an occasional Saturday/holiday and intermittently after-hours
Are available on short notice to support judicial absences, including during peak scheduling periods or unexpected vacancies
Are able to apply fair and equitable administration of the law while abiding by the Code of Judicial Conduct and applicable RCWs

Job Responsibilities:

Conduct hearings on a wide variety of Seattle Municipal Code traffic violations, including those involving automobiles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Conduct hearings involving the public's health and safety including animal control violations, zoning, fire and building code violations.
Impose appropriate sanctions for violations.
Serve in formal court as a judge pro tempore when needed. In such situations, the Pro Tempore Judge may preside over in-custody arraignments, pre-trial hearings, motions, criminal trials, and review hearings, as well as presiding over Mental Health and Veterans Treatment Courts.
Provide occasional Saturday and holiday coverage as well as some after-hour issuance of search warrants

Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:

Must be an elector of the State of Washington and an attorney admitted to practice law before the courts of record in Washington State
Graduate of law with a Bachelor of Law (LLB) or Juris Doctorate (JD) degree
Five (5) years in the practice of law, including substantial criminal law experience
Knowledge of the Rules of Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (CrRLJ)
Knowledge of the Rules of Evidence (ER)
Knowledge of the Infraction Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (IRLJ)
Residency Note
In accordance with HB 1112, effective July 27, 2025, the Seattle Municipal Code residency requirement has been removed. Judges pro tempore are no longer required to reside within the City of Seattle. Applicants must still be Washington State electors and licensed attorneys in good standing. The Court remains committed to equity and inclusion and encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of city of residence.

Desired Qualifications:

Possess diplomacy and objectivity in the fulfillment of all job duties.
Ability to maintain decorum in a courtroom.
Ability to apply fair and equitable administration of the law while providing good customer service.
Ability to conduct court business in a manner that brings honor and respect to the organization.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of staff.
Demonstrate a willingness to promote and explain court programs through speaking engagements at community and school events.

A Successful Candidate Has the Following:

Will have a Juris Doctorate (JD)
Be a licensed attorney.
Be a member of the Washington State Bar Association in good standing.
Will have practiced law for at least five years.
Available to work an occasional Saturday/holiday and intermittently after-hours

Additional Information:
Work Environment:
This position will primarily be onsite at the Seattle Justice enter at 600 5th Ave, Seattle. Hybrid work may be considered and will be based on operational needs.

Why Work at the City
The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services. If you share these values and meet the qualifications for this position, we invite you to apply.

Benefits:
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Compensation:
This position is part of the 5-Step Compensation program; Full salary range for this position is $67.96 (Step 1) - $79.43 (Step 5).

Hiring Process

Completed NEOGOV online application and supplemental questions.
A PDF of your resume.
A PDF of a letter of interest describing how your skills and experience align with stated job responsibilities and qualifications.

A job offer is contingent upon successfully passing the court's background check. The background check includes a criminal history background review, fingerprinting, and reference checks.
For more information about the Seattle Municipal Court, visit www.seattle.gov/courts.