About the Court
Kirkland Municipal Court Mission Statement
Welcome to Kirkland Municipal Court. Our mission is to provide the community access to justice with respect and integrity. The Court proudly serves the citizens of Kirkland, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Medina, Woodinville, and Yarrow Point.
Coming to Kirkland Municipal Court
The Kirkland Municipal Court is open to the public during the hours of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM), Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
You may park on site and on NE 118th Street. Parking is free.
Street Address
11740 NE 118th Street
Kirkland WA 98034
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Background
Established in 1995, Kirkland Municipal Court hears all criminal misdemeanor cases and processes all non-criminal traffic citations and parking citations for violations occurring within the city limits of Kirkland.
Kirkland Municipal Court also provides court services for the Cities of Clyde Hill, Medina, Hunts Point, Yarrow Point and beginning in 2017, the City of Woodinville. Court operations for the City of Woodinville will be limited to charges issued January 1, 2017 and beyond. Prior cases will continue to be managed by the Redmond Division of King County District Court.
To better serve the needs of Kirkland’s burgeoning population of 80,000 residents, the City developed a site to house both the Municipal Court and the Police Department. The Kirkland Justice Center functions as a base for court, police, and corrections services and is centrally located in the Totem Lake Business District. The 102,000 square foot building was transformed from a furniture store into an essential public safety facility. The City purchased the building in 2010 and it was determined that renovating the building was less expensive than designing and constructing a new one.
The Kirkland Municipal Court occupies the south facing portion of the complex and includes two large courtrooms, one small courtroom, a spacious lobby, Judge’s chambers, and staff offices. The physical address for the Kirkland Municipal Court is 11740 NE 118th Street with the entrance on the east side facing I-405.
Limited Jurisdiction
As a court of limited jurisdiction, the Kirkland Municipal Court is authorized under the laws of the State of Washington to hear and adjudicate criminal misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses, as well as traffic, non-traffic, and parking infractions arising within the jurisdictions of Kirkland, Medina, Clyde Hill, Woodinville, Hunts Point and Yarrow Point.
The court processes and adjudicates all cases in accordance with applicable state law and local court rules under the authority and direction of the presiding Judge.
Meet the Judge
Judge John Olson was unanimously appointed to the Kirkland Municipal Court by the Kirkland City Council in December 2019 and was elected for a full term in November 2021. Judge Olson was raised in Shoreline and graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in 1977 and a master’s degree in 1981. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Puget Sound in 1987.
Prior to practicing law, Judge Olson was a teacher and coach in the Auburn School District from 1979 to 1987. He began his legal career over 30 years ago as a Prosecutor with the King County Prosecutor’s Office, and then as a Prosecutor and Assistant City Attorney with the City of Bellevue. In 1990, Judge Olson joined the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) as an Associate Executive Director and Legal Counsel, and he remained there until 2019. He also served as Judge Pro Tempore in Kirkland, Mercer Island, Issaquah and Seattle beginning in 2004, and was appointed Commissioner of Kirkland Municipal Court in 2006. Judge Olson has also served as an adjunct professor at Seattle Pacific University and Seattle University, where he taught Legal Issues in Sport and Recreation.
In addition, Judge Olson has served his community in many capacities. He has served as a board of directors member for the Seattle King County Humane Society, Woodinville Little League, the Woodinville Baseball Club, and as Board President for the FC Alliance Premier Soccer Club. He was a Cub Scout Den Leader for the Boy Scouts of America, and also served as a coach with Northshore Youth Soccer, Northshore Youth Basketball, Woodinville Little League, and Woodinville Baseball Club. He currently is a Nationally Certified Track and Field Official with the United States Track and Field Association. Judge Olson is a proud member of the Kirkland Kiwanis He has lived in East King and Snohomish Counties with his wife of 37 years, where they have raised three adult children.