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The Spokane court emergency order issued during the Spokane Complex Fire has temporarily changed court schedules for criminal and civil cases in Spokane County. After an initial emergency order on August 2, 2026, Spokane County Superior Court, Spokane County District Court, and the City of Spokane Municipal Court issued an updated Emergency Order No. 2026-02 on August 4.

The updated order provides an important distinction for anyone with a pending Spokane court matter: normal court operations resumed Wednesday, August 5, 2026, but criminal and civil jury trials remain suspended until at least Monday, August 17, 2026.

People with pending cases should not assume that every hearing or deadline has automatically been postponed simply because of the wildfire emergency.

Why Did Spokane Courts Issue Emergency Orders?

The emergency orders followed state and local emergency declarations arising from the Spokane Complex Fire. According to the courts’ orders, tens of thousands of people had been displaced or evacuated, approximately 700 structures had reportedly been lost, and widespread power outages affected as many as 40,000 Spokane County residents.

Those circumstances created significant problems for jurors, litigants, witnesses, attorneys, court employees, and other members of the public trying to participate in court proceedings.

Washington General Rule 21 allows courts to alter operations when hazardous or emergency conditions threaten employee safety, prevent a court from operating, or otherwise demand immediate protective action. Washington’s rule specifically recognizes emergency conditions as a basis for modifying court operations.

The Spokane courts relied on that authority in responding to the fire.

What Does the Updated Spokane Court Emergency Order Do?

Emergency Order No. 2026-01 initially continued most civil and criminal matters scheduled for August 3 and August 4. It also stopped jury trials until at least August 10.

That schedule was subsequently changed.

Emergency Order No. 2026-02, dated August 4, states that the courts would resume normal operations beginning Wednesday, August 5, 2026. At the same time, the courts extended the suspension of jury trials.

Criminal and Civil Jury Trials Are Continued

Under Emergency Order No. 2026-02, criminal and civil jury trials scheduled to begin from August 3 through August 14, 2026, are continued until Monday, August 17, 2026, or later as rescheduled by the court.

The order also states that jurors summoned for trials scheduled for August 10 are excused.

This is particularly important for parties in cases that had been preparing for trial. A courtwide continuance changes the trial schedule, but it does not necessarily eliminate other obligations associated with a case.

Attorneys and litigants should confirm their new dates and continue monitoring communications from the appropriate court.

What Happens to Time-for-Trial Requirements?

The emergency order also addresses Washington’s time-for-trial rules in criminal cases.

CrR 3.3 governs time for trial in Washington superior courts, while CrRLJ 3.3 applies to criminal cases in courts of limited jurisdiction.

Washington’s CrR 3.3 expressly excludes certain periods when calculating time for trial, including delays resulting from continuances and “[u]navoidable or unforeseen circumstances” beyond the control of the court or the parties.

Washington court materials have specifically recognized natural disasters and events requiring courthouse evacuation or closure as examples of circumstances that may qualify under this rule.

Emergency Order No. 2026-02 finds that the danger and emergency conditions caused by the Spokane Complex Fire constitute an unavoidable circumstance. Accordingly, the order excludes the applicable period between the emergency order and the next scheduled trial date when calculating time for trial.

That does not mean defendants should ignore speedy-trial concerns. The calculation of time for trial can depend on the procedural history of an individual criminal case, including previous continuances, exclusions, waivers, and trial settings.

Anyone concerned about how the wildfire continuance affects a criminal case should discuss the specific timeline with an attorney.

Are Spokane Courts Closed?

No. This is one of the most important points in the August 4 update.

Emergency Order No. 2026-02 states that normal court operations resumed on August 5, 2026. The principal ongoing restriction announced in that order concerns jury trials, which remain suspended until at least August 17.

The situation remains subject to change. The courts expressly stated that conditions related to the Spokane Complex Fire are dynamic and will continue to be reassessed.

As a result, someone with a hearing, filing deadline, appearance, or other court obligation should not assume it has been cancelled.

What Should You Do If You Have a Spokane Court Case?

If you have a pending matter in Spokane County Superior Court, Spokane County District Court, or Spokane Municipal Court, verify your current schedule directly with the court or your attorney.

In particular, you should:

  • Check whether your hearing or trial has received a new date.
  • Review notices from the clerk or your attorney.
  • Do not assume that a filing deadline has changed unless the applicable order or court confirms it.
  • Keep documentation if evacuation, property loss, power outages, or another fire-related emergency prevents you from meeting a court obligation.
  • Contact your attorney promptly if the emergency interferes with your ability to appear, communicate, obtain records, prepare evidence, or comply with an existing order.

Washington court rules recognize emergency conditions, but the effect of those conditions on an individual case can depend on the type of proceeding and the specific orders entered by the judge.

Spokane Court Emergency Order and Existing Court Orders

The wildfire emergency also does not mean existing court orders can simply be disregarded.

For example, a protection order, parenting plan, restraining order, release condition, no-contact order, or other existing judicial order generally remains enforceable unless it expires or is modified by a court.

Similarly, people involved in family law or criminal proceedings should not assume that an emergency operations order automatically changes custody exchanges, reporting requirements, payment obligations, or other case-specific requirements.

If wildfire conditions make compliance impossible or unsafe, legal advice may be necessary to determine the appropriate next step.

Court Operations May Change Again

Emergency Order No. 2026-02 expressly states that the wildfire situation remains dynamic and that additional operational changes may be addressed through another order.

That makes current information particularly important.

Anyone involved in a Spokane court proceeding should monitor official communications from Spokane County Superior Court, Spokane County District Court, or Spokane Municipal Court and verify upcoming proceedings rather than relying solely on information issued earlier in the emergency.

The August 2 order, for example, originally anticipated jury trials potentially resuming August 10. The August 4 order superseded that schedule by extending the jury-trial suspension until at least August 17.

Court closures, emergency continuances, evacuations, and unexpected changes to hearing dates can create serious questions for people involved in criminal, family, protection-order, and other legal proceedings.

Understanding that a court has changed its general operations is only the first step. You also need to understand what the change means for the deadlines, hearings, and obligations in your individual case.

Contact Blanford Law today at ken@blanfordlaw.com or 253-720-9304 for guidance on your legal matter.

Additional Resources

For more information about Washington criminal law, court procedures, and what to expect when facing a criminal charge, explore these resources from Blanford Law: