Cases involving federal felonies committed in the Western District of Washington’s six “Seattle”
counties (Island, King, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom), in the absence of a court
order directing otherwise, shall be assigned equally among the Seattle district judges; and those
in the other thirteen “Tacoma” counties (Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson,
Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston, Wahkiakum) shall likewise be
assigned equally among the Tacoma district judges. In cases involving multiple felony charges
committed in both “Seattle” and “Tacoma” counties, the United States Attorney’s Office may
designate the case as a Seattle or Tacoma case, subject to reassignment upon motion of a
defendant, or upon the court’s own motion, based upon the convenience of the defendant(s) and
the witnesses, and the prompt administration of justice.
The above shall also apply to all proceedings before U.S. district judges in cases involving
misdemeanors, including petty offenses and infractions.
Assignments are subject to such changes as may be established by the chief judge for the
purposes of equitable assignments of cases to all judges of the district.
The place of trial shall be the courtroom regularly assigned to the judge handling the case, unless
otherwise ordered. A party wishing trial at some other place within the district or elsewhere shall
move for the same within the time allowed for filing pretrial motions under these rules.
Criminal Rules
