What's Happening at SMC—March 2026

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 03/19/2026 07:30 AM PDT

SMC Presiding Judge Anita Crawford-Willis

New Laws, SMC Impact

Washington state's 2026 legislative session adjourned on March 12, and SMC now has a clearer understanding of the bills that will shape our work in the months ahead. As with every legislative session, new laws bring changes that impact court operations. Most new laws from this year’s legislative session become law in June.

Throughout the session, SMC works closely with the District and Municipal Court Managers’ and Judges’ Associations and the City’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations to monitor bills and assess how they may impact the court. SMC tracked 29 bills this session. As expected in a short, 60-day session, many did not advance. However, six bills passed that may affect court operations, including new misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses and updates to court rules and procedures that may impact multiple areas of the court.

State legislative decisions directly shape local court operations, requiring coordination across the court to ensure consistent and effective implementation. I am grateful to work alongside a highly competent team that works together to ensure state law changes are effectively implemented at SMC and that our community is well served.

SMC Faces & Places

SMC honored for its Veterans Treatment Court work

Judge Willie Gregory and Therapeutic Courts Coordinator Margaret McCurdy (furthest right) recently attended the King County Department of Community and Human Services, Behavioral Health and Recovery Division's Veteran Symposium. Judge Gregory was acknowledged for his dedication to veterans.

Seattle Youth Traffic Court co-directors attend conference

Judge Catherine McDowall (third from left) and Margaret Fisher of Seattle University School of Law—co-directors of Seattle Youth Traffic Court (SYTC)—recently attended the Washington State Association of Youth Courts’ statewide conference and will apply what they learned to strengthen SYTC.

Presiding Judge Anita Crawford Willis and newly appointed King County District Court Judge Andrea Chin

As President of the District & Municipal Court Judges’ Association, Presiding Judge Anita Crawford-Willis recently welcomed newly elected and appointed municipal court judges at Washington Courts’ Judicial College. Pictured: former SMC pro tem Judge Yvonne Chin, now appointed to King County District Court.

Seattle City Attorney's Office staff meet with SMC judges, magistrates, leadership team

Earlier this winter, SMC welcomed Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans, her Chief of Staff Dan Nolte, and her Criminal Division Chief Jenna Robert to meet with SMC judges, magistrates, and its executive leadership team—strengthening the court's partnership with the Seattle City Attorney’s Office.

In the Media

Opinion: Investment, Not Just Punishment, Is Key to Stopping Domestic Violence

Intimate partner violence affects millions of Americans each year.

The lasting harm leaves permanent marks on victim-survivors, children, families and entire communities. In Washington state alone, law enforcement recorded more than 71,000 domestic violence incidents in 2024. These numbers demand more than our attention — they demand action.

For the past year, I have served as the primary judge handling domestic violence cases in Seattle Municipal Court. From the bench, I see the devastating and repetitive nature of abuse. I see victim-survivors navigating fear and trauma, children caught in cycles of instability and families fractured by violence that too often repeats itself. My experience demonstrates that punishment alone does not stop domestic violence. If we are serious about prevention, we must invest in interventions that work.

Read Judge Catherine McDowall's op-ed in its entirety here.