Presiding judge: Superior Court backlog down from pandemic peak but homicides and juror safety remain challenges

King County Presiding Judge Ketu Shaw told the Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee on July 22 that the Superior Court’s work remains broad and that access and safety around the courthouse are central to the court’s ability to function.

Shaw said the court filed nearly 60,000 cases last year and that civil matters — family law and guardianships — make up roughly 70% of its workload. She noted a pandemic-era spike in pending criminal cases in 2020–21 and said the backlog has been reduced but that criminal caseloads remain above pre-pandemic levels: pending criminal cases are about 10% higher than in 2019. She reported the number of pending homicide cases has roughly doubled since before the pandemic, with “over 200 homicide cases pending” as of early 2025, compared with about 100 pending before the pandemic.

Why it matters: Shaw framed courts as a cornerstone of civil society and said public access — including jurors willing to come in to serve — is essential. She said courthouse safety incidents and threats affect juror recruitment and that coordinated security across city, county and transit agencies is required for reliable access.

Shaw described the court’s physical-security and access activity during and after COVID: the court continued operating (including remote and in-person trials) and now sees about 1,400 people enter the courthouse per day, down from 3,000–4,000 pre-pandemic numbers. She said the court has added protection escorts (about 1,500) to help staff and jurors reach transit stops and parking safely, and that third-party partners such as the sheriff’s office, Seattle Police Department and Metro Transit security coordinate responses near the courthouse.

Shaw told councilmembers that serious criminal cases take time to investigate and try; average homicide cases take about two years to reach trial, she said. She described the court’s interest in early interventions for youth — the court supports continuums of services ranging from truancy interventions through community-based resources and emphasized that state funding cuts have constrained some services.

Councilmembers asked what Seattle and other cities can do to help the Superior Court. Shaw said better coordination among city, county and transit safety partners and clear, verified information about repeat offenders in local districts would help judges evaluate cases and fashion remedies. She cited Judge Leroy McCullough’s long-running youth program in Renton as an example of local prevention work and asked continued rhetorical and policy support for courts as a forum for dispute resolution.

Shaw urged continued investment in courthouse safety and coordination of resources across jurisdictions so jurors, staff and litigants can safely access the campus. She also asked the council to sustain investments that improved safety since 2021; she said the environment near the courthouse has improved but occasional incidents persist.