The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington has two courthouses, in Seattle and Tacoma.
The public lobbies of the Clerk's Offices in both courthouses are open weekdays from 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Court staff are available in person weekdays from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM and by telephone weekdays from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.
The Seattle Courthouse and Tacoma Courthouse pages contain additional information including mailing address, directions and parking.
Please note that official government photo I.D. is required for entry into both buildings. No liquids are allowed through security.
For more information on access and accommodations, please visit our Disability Access and Accommodations page.
Prohibited Items Policy and List
Per the District's Facility Security Committees, certain items are prohibited in the Seattle Courthouse and Tacoma Courthouse. Please review the Prohibited Items Policy and List before visiting the courthouses.
Electronic Device Policy
The court also has special instructions regarding electronic equipment, including cell phones, cameras, and laptops.
- Anyone may bring electronic devices such as phones, laptops, tablet computers or similarly functioning devices having wireless capability into the courthouse.
- Except for courtrooms, persons may use such devices in the public areas of the courthouse to make telephone calls and to transmit and receive data communications, such as email or text messages, or to access the Internet. For reasons of privacy, safety, and security, use of these devices to take photographs or for audio or video recording or transmission is prohibited in the courthouse (with exceptions for court staff, authorized vendors or for educational or ceremonial events).
- In courtrooms, persons may use such devices to take notes, transmit and receive data communications and access the Internet. This includes media members who are transmitting written accounts of the proceeding to a wider audience using various means. Persons may not use these devices for telephone calls, photographs or audio or video recording or transmission. Telephone ring tones and other functional sounds produced by devices must be disabled while in the courtroom. Only silent keyboards may be used in the courtrooms.
- A presiding judge may prohibit or further restrict use of such devices by all persons prior to or during a proceeding when necessary to protect the rights of the parties or to assure the orderly conduct of the proceedings.