SMC Update—September 2025: What's Happening at the Court

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 09/18/2025 08:45 AM PDT

Seattle Municipal Court Anita Crawford-Willis providing testimony to the Public Safety Committee

SMC Presiding Judge & Court Administrator Testify at City Council Public Safety Committee

SMC Presiding Judge Anita Crawford-Willis and Court Administrator Josh Sattler provided testimony in front of the Public Safety Committee on Sept. 9 in support of CB 121064. This piece of legislation amends Section 3.33.140 of the Seattle Municipal Code to align with the state law change that removes the residency requirement for pro tem judges. This ordinance change is important to ensure the efficient administration of justice.

Additionally, both the presiding judge and court administrator were able to provide the committee with updates on our technology system and an added data exchange with the Seattle City Attorney's Office, added marshal staffing, and the launch of the Drug Prosecution Alternative. Watch their testimony on the Seattle Channel.

SMC Faces & Places

SMC staff volunteers at the court's annual Community Resource Day

About 30 people from the court helped community members at Community Resource Day on Sept. 12. Read more about this event below.

Anita Crawford-Willis and Josh Sattler at the NAPCO conference in August

SMC's presiding judge and court administrator attended the National Association of Presiding Judges and Court Executive Officers and Washington Court's 9th Annual Trial Court Leadership Academy in August.

Axios came to the court in early summer to learn about the important role of magistrates in the judicial system. Read more.

SMC's Director of Equity and Engagement Victoria Moreland went on the air recently to promote Community Resource Day for Seattle Medium's Rhythm & News podcast. Listen now.

SMC in the Community

SMC Hosts Annual Community Resource Day

About 100 people in need of Seattle or King County services stopped by Seattle Municipal Court (SMC)’s Community Resource Day on Sept. 12 at the Rainier Community Center in Columbia City. SMC staff were on hand to help attendees set up payment plans for Seattle traffic tickets, as well as address outstanding warrants.

This year, 45 service providers were also present offering supportive services in the areas of employment training, housing, behavioral health and medical services, legal resources, veterinary care and more.  Veterinary care was new to this year’s event—and proved to be a huge hit with the participants. “This is something I looked into adding based on feedback from previous years,” said SMC Director of Equity and Engagement Victoria Moreland.

Read more on the court's blog, For the Record.

Funding Received for Therapeutic Court Programs

Recently, the Administrative Offices of the Courts awarded SMC $317,140—a slightly larger amount of continued funding than in past years—for its therapeutic court programs. This funding helps pay for SMC's therapeutic courts coordinator and SMC's community support specialist who work in conjunction with mental health court and veterans' treatment court programs. This funding has also been used for client recovery supports and team training opportunities.