What is Court Watch?
Court Watch is a volunteer-based presence in courtrooms to observe legal proceedings. While court hearings are public, many community members have never witnessed the inside of a courtroom. By recording data and stories, we document the reality of our legal system, identify systemic patterns, and advance our vision of abolishing pretrial detention.
Why Court Watch?
Court watching is a transformative tool in our broader campaign toward abolition and justice. Our program focuses on building evidence to end pretrial detention and the cash bail system that disproportionately harms BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community members through systematic observation of court proceedings. We plan to focus on arraignment court to collect data that will reveal any overt or implicit bias in the bail-setting process and look for accountability in using WA CrR 3.2 and the bail affordability mandate.
2022 Seattle Municipal Court Watch Report and Analysis – One Pager
2022 Seattle Municipal Court Watch Report and Analysis – One Pager (Spanish)
What is Our Campaign?
NCBF’s overarching campaign aims to end pretrial detention and abolish cash bail as steps toward dismantling the prison-industrial complex. Court Watch serves this vision by:
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- Collecting data to reveal overt and implicit bias in the bail-setting process
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- Monitoring compliance with Washington Court Rule 3.2 (CrR 3.2) and the bail affordability mandate
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- Documenting when judicial officers fail to consider a defendant’s ability to pay
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- Holding the court system accountable to the legal requirement that pretrial release should be the norm
Through systematic observation, we build evidence for advocacy, policy change, and community education about the harmful impacts of pretrial detention.
How Will It Work?
Volunteers will watch court sessions in person or over Zoom and record significant details of each decision made by the judge (such as specific charges, racial background of the person being charged, whether they have a public defender, whether they are homeless), and that data will be moved into a spreadsheet for analysis and eventual publication.
How Can I Court Watch?
If you are interested in virtual court watching in Seattle Municipal Court or in-person monitoring at another court, please fill out our Volunteer Interest Form. NCBF will provide training on CrR 3.2, the bail affordability mandate, and documentation procedures. By participating, you directly contribute to our vision of a society where pretrial detention is abolished and systems of accountability prioritize community care.
Join us in building a more just, compassionate, and equitable society where no one’s freedom depends on their ability to pay.
Preparing for Court Watch
Forms for Court Watch
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- Court Watch Shift Details Form– print one per shift
- Court Watch Data Collection Form – print 30 per shift (1 hearing per page)
- Post-shift observations Form print one per shift
Court Calendars
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- King County Superior Court
- In-Custody Arraignment Calendar (Seattle)– updated at 3 PM each day for the following court day.
- In-Custody Arraignment Calendar (Kent)– updated at 3 PM each day for the following court day.
- Seattle Municipal Court
- All courtrooms calendar– [Updated Link]
- Pierce County Superior Court
- In-custody Arraignment Calendar(CR 270 – 1:30 PM) – updated at 11:30 AM each working day with the schedule for the current day.
- King County Superior Court
Virtual Courtrooms
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- King County Jail Virtual Courtroom(SMC cases) [Updated Link]
After Court Watch
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- Post-shift Court Watch Online Data Entry Form (enter hearing data here)
- Post-shift Observations Online Data Entry Form
More Information on the Court Process and Court Watching:
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