Auburn sues King County District Court over case transfers

The city of Auburn is initiating legal action against King County District Court regarding the transfer of pending legal cases to the new Auburn Municipal Court. The city anticipates that more than 130,000 cases could be transferred to the new court upon its scheduled opening on January 1, 2027.

Auburn officials stated that while the city intended to transition to its own court, existing cases filed with the King County District Court were expected to remain there until resolved, a practice consistent with previous transitions in Woodinville and Duvall. However, King County District Court recently informed Auburn of its intent to transfer all open cases to the new municipal court at once.

Mayor Nancy Backus noted that the city is prepared to handle new cases but expressed concern that absorbing a massive existing caseload immediately would place “significant unplanned demands” on the new court. The city also cited concerns regarding the efficient use of public tax dollars, noting that Auburn has already paid for the adjudication of cases currently held by the District Court.