Anatomy of a Criminal Trial: Part 1 - a Primer

This is the first in a series of articles written to educate citizens and activists about the role of the legal system in addressing animal abuse.

We here at Seattle Animal Watch (SAW) believe that knowledge is power, and that informed citizens make a stronger Democracy. Recently, our country has learned that it is vital to understand the court system, attorney conduct and judicial ethics. While we can’t teach you everything about this branch of government, we can give you an overview about the criminal process in Washington State.

In an animal abuse case, we learn about it the same way you do - reporting and word of mouth. But here’s where we may differ - SAW knows that an arrest wasn’t the beginning of the criminal process, and the end result may not fit the severity of the crime. Understanding each step of the criminal prosecution of a case offers us an opportunity for improving the system.

Let’s start by laying the groundwork for our hypothetical case. Legal concepts listed below are established by the Washington State Constitution and fleshed out by our statutes, the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). Court actions are further defined and guided by the Washington State Court Rules and overlaid by local court rules. (Local courts refer to court systems at the county and city levels.)

Jurisdiction is crucial for citizens to understand, and it involves knowing what the crime was, where the crime was committed, who committed it, and the gravity of the crime. It will determine where the case is filed and who prosecutes it.

For example, if a crime occurs in the City of Seattle, there are three possibilities:

1. If the case involves a violation of federal law in Seattle, the case will be filed in the United States District Court, Western District of Washington. This is the trial court, or the court which can hear the matter, and receive and consider evidence. Several federal statutes prohibit animal abuse, including 18 USC § 48.
   

2. If the case is a violation of the cruelty provisions in the RCW, the case will be filed in King County Superior Court, the court responsible for hearing felonies committed in Seattle. Filing refers to delivering papers to the court clerk for adding to the official records. Many things flow from filling, including judicial assignments, deadlines and more. Prosecutors file cases to begin official criminal actions against defendants.
   

3. If the accused was arrested and charged with violating Seattle Municipal Code’s cruelty ordinance, the case will be filed in Seattle Municipal Court, but only if it is a misdemeanor. SMC is a court of limited jurisdiction and cannot hear felonies; if the crime was committed in Seattle and rises to the level of a felony, then the case will be assigned to King County as a violation of RCW.

Here is a roadmap to Federal and State Courts that could apply to a crime committed in Seattle.

Federal Court State Court

U.S. Supreme Court Washington State Supreme Court

↑ ↑

Courts of Appeal - 9th Circuit Courts of Appeal - Division 1

↑ ↑

U.S. District Court - W.D. WA Superior Courts - King County

↑

District Court, Justice of the Peace,

Municipal Courts (Seattle, Bellevue)

So now you know where a crime is committed and the seriousness of that crime helps determine the jurisdiction. Next time we’ll examine the pre-arrest process, and why alert citizens are important in stopping cruelty.