Brief Description: Providing a uniform method of transferring a municipal court judgment into district court.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Williams, Warnick, Rodne, Campbell, O'Brien, Lantz, Goodman and Moeller).

House Committee on Judiciary
Senate Committee on Judiciary

Background:

Municipal courts and municipal departments of district courts have jurisdiction to process civil and criminal violations of city ordinances, many of which can result in monetary penalties. Municipal courts and municipal departments do not have jurisdiction to issue orders of attachment and garnishment, which may be used to enforce monetary judgments. Municipal courts and municipal departments often assign unpaid money judgments to collection agencies.

District courts have jurisdiction over civil actions where the amount at issue is not more than $50,000. District courts may use garnishment and attachment to enforce judgments. They do not have authority to issue liens on real property.

The filing fee for civil actions in district court is $43.

Summary:

District courts are granted jurisdiction over proceedings to civilly enforce any money judgment from a municipal court or municipal department of a district court. The proceeding may be brought in the district where the municipal court or municipal department is located. Once transferred, the municipal judgment is recognized as a judgment of the district court. The district court may not vacate or amend the judgment. The district court filing fee to transfer the judgment is $43.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   97   0
Senate   44   4

Effective: July 22, 2007