Clark County Superior Court changes civil protection processFree

Clark County Superior Court issued a general order on Monday modifying its civil protection order process to increase the safety of court participants and staff during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Beginning today, all in-person Tuesday domestic violence protection order and Thursday nondomestic violence protection order dockets have been canceled, according to a court news release.

All currently scheduled matters are canceled, and petitions will instead be reviewed ex parte.

Going forward, all civil protection petitions received in the Clark County Clerk’s Office by 11 a.m. will be reviewed the same day by a judicial officer ex parte. Petitions received after 11 a.m. will be reviewed the next court business day.

Granted orders will be available at the clerk’s office after 3:30 p.m. on the day they are reviewed. People may make other arrangements with the clerk’s office to obtain orders.

The clerk’s office is also still accepting requests for filing civil protection orders.

A review hearing of all temporary orders entered will be held April 28.

Requests for a hearing prior to April 28 will be considered for emergent matters, such as child safety and welfare, medical issues or use of a weapon that would require a protection order. Contact the commissioner’s judicial assistant at 564-397-4037.

For more on the general order or for the latest court changes, visit www.clark.wa.gov/superior-court.