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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Last year, after hearing unlawful detainer (eviction) proceedings were severely delayed, with initial hearings not even occurring for up to eight months, I took several steps to help remedy the problem. Today, I am happy to report that the eviction case backlog that has persisted since the pandemic has turned a corner.
In recent months, I have taken several steps to help reduce the eviction case backlog:
- I worked with the King County Superior Court to advocate for additional judges to work on eviction cases as well as an expedited hearing process for the most urgent eviction cases. This led to new emergency rules that minimized unnecessary delays and continuances in the case of tenants who are a danger to the community;
- I worked with the King County Council to dedicate more than $1.5 million in the 2025 budget to pay for additional court commissioners to focus on unlawful detainer cases as well as support staff to triage those cases; and
- I supported state legislation that authorizes superior courts to appoint additional court commissioners to focus on unlawful detainers.
As all these investments to our court system take effect, I’m pleased to report that pending unlawful detainer cases are down to 1,499 from a peak of 2,444—a definite trend in the right direction.
A remedy to this problem is important. Small landlords’ inability to access timely court proceedings for evictions is contributing to abuses of the system, and repeatedly delayed court processes are causing devastating financial consequences for too many mom and pop landlords, who have often been forced to shoulder up to a year or more of unpaid rent, repairs for severe property damage, and escalating legal fees. In addition to the monetary costs, the delayed proceedings are contributing to safety issues when dangerous tenants are unable to be removed from communities in a timely manner.
I am very pleased to see this important progress toward clearing the eviction case backlog. King County Courts have a duty to the public to provide for the efficient resolution of cases, and I will continue working toward that end.
All my best,
 Reagan Dunn
King County Councilmember
District 9
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