Questions About Your Criminal Charge?
How do I know if I'm being charged with a felony or a misdemeanor?
If you have been cited to appear in the Seattle Municipal Court, a King County District Court or another city court for a criminal matter, you are either being charged with a misdemeanor or a gross misdemeanor. These courts do not have jurisdiction to hear felony cases.
If you have been ordered to appear in King County Superior Court, you are being charged with one or more felonies. You should also know that at the time a King County Superior Court issues a Notice to Appear for Arraignment it also simultaneously issues a warrant and sets bail.
This means that you will be arrested if you are stopped by the police even though this may be your first offense and you have never missed a court date. If you fall into this situation, we can assist and guide you through this nerve-racking situation.
If you are charged with a misdemeanor, you are facing a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. If you are charged with a gross misdemeanor, you are facing a maximum penalty of 365 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. Most misdemeanors, with a few exceptions for charges such as DUI or Possession of Marijuana, do not carry a mandatory jail sentence. But a judge can sentence you up to the maximum if he or she believes that it is warranted.
There are several King County District Court locations. The King County District Courts are located in Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Burien, Kent, Shoreline and Vashon Island. All felony matters are heard at either the downtown Seattle courthouse or the Regional Justice Center in Kent.