(The Center Square) – The Seattle Municipal Court is warning city officials of future impacts of jail booking restrictions that are no longer in effect, including marshal staffing challenges that could create safety issues in courtrooms.
The Seattle Municipal Court serves as the judicial branch of the city’s government structure. Judges handle misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses, as well as infractions and civil violations under the Seattle Municipal Code.
The court presented an update to its department to the Seattle Public Safety Committee on Tuesday and explained its 2024 accomplishments and some of the challenges it will face in the future.
Josh Sattler, court administrator at the Seattle Municipal Court, said the court needs more court marshals, law enforcement officials who oversee prisoners and carry out the court’s processes and procedures.
The Seattle Municipal Court has continued to struggle staffing and retaining marshals into 2025. According to Sattler, the court currently has two vacancies and the process to successfully onboard candidates can take six to nine months.
Sattler said changes to booking restrictions at the King County Jail will lead to an increased need for marshals to transport defendants.
In November, the King County jail resumed booking low-level and nonviolent crime offenders as part of an agreement with the city of Seattle after a four-year halt.
The remaining misdemeanor booking restrictions for all partner law enforcement agencies were lifted on Feb. 1.
According to Sattler, in the past year, the number of high-security defendants being transported grew by 39%. The number of ultra-security defendants grew by 200%. The ultra-security defendants require two marshals in order to be safely transported to the courthouse.
“This will put the court in a position of really great risk,” Sattler said during Tuesday’s Public Safety Committee meeting.
Last year, in response to a $268 million operating deficit facing the city, the Seattle Municipal Court made a reduction of $361,203, including cutting three administrative specialist positions.
The Seattle Municipal Court has made changes internally in recent years. Last year, the court launched its new case management system, which was a six-year, $55 million investment from the city. This system replaced its former municipal court information system, which was over 30 years old.
As part of the new case management system, the court also consolidated its 11 different service areas into four service areas: operations, administrative services, technology, and strategy.
