United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

9th Circuit Spokane, Washington

About This Court

Located in eastern Washington State, this district covers the eastern portion of the state, including Spokane, the Tri-Cities area, and Yakima. The district sits within the Ninth Circuit and handles federal matters arising from a geographically large, predominantly rural region that includes significant agricultural land, tribal territories, and federal public lands.

The court serves a diverse population that includes several federally recognized Native American tribes, and it regularly handles cases involving tribal sovereignty, water rights, and federal land management. Its docket also reflects the agricultural character of the region, with cases involving immigration enforcement related to farm labor and drug trafficking along Interstate 90.

With a relatively small number of active judges covering a large geographic area, the court operates divisions in Spokane and Yakima to serve litigants across the district.

Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Washington.

Divisions

Spokane Division (Spokane), Yakima Division (Yakima)

Caseload

The court handles a notable volume of cases involving tribal rights, natural resources, immigration, and drug offenses. Agricultural and water rights litigation is also prominent given the district's character.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to the Washington State Bar or admitted pro hac vice to practice before this court. Attorneys must also register for the court's CM/ECF electronic filing system.

Clerk's Office

920 West Riverside Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201

(509) 458-3400

Active Judges 9

Name	Appointed By	Confirmed	Law School
Stanley Bastian	Barack Obama	2014	University of Washington School of Law
Mary Dimke	Joseph R. Biden	2021	Vanderbilt University Law School
William Nielsen	George H.W. Bush	1991	University of Washington School of Law
Rebecca Pennell	Joseph R. Biden	2024	Stanford Law School
Rosanna Peterson	Barack Obama	2010	University of North Dakota School of Law
Thomas Rice	Barack Obama	2012	Gonzaga University School of Law
Edward Shea	William J. Clinton	1998	Georgetown University Law Center
Lonny Suko	George W. Bush	2003	University of Idaho College of Law
Robert Whaley	William J. Clinton	1995	Emory University School of Law

Local Rules

102 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 95

Rule	Title
LCivR 1	SCOPE AND PURPOSE
LCivR 10	FORM OF PLEADINGS
LCivR 11	SIGNING PLEADINGS, MOTIONS, AND OTHER PAPERS; REPRESENTATIONS TO THE COURT; SANCTIONS
LCivR 12	DEFENSES AND OBJECTIONS: WHEN AND HOW PRESENTED; MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS; CONSOLIDATING MOTIONS; WAIVING DEFENSES; PRETRIAL HEARING
LCivR 13	COUNTERCLAIM AND CROSSCLAIM
LCivR 14	THIRD-PARTY PRACTICE
LCivR 15	AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTAL PLEADINGS
LCivR 16	PRETRIAL CONFERENCES; SCHEDULING; MANAGEMENT
LCivR 17	PLAINTIFF AND DEFENDANT; CAPACITY; PUBLIC OFFICERS
LCivR 18	JOINDER OF CLAIMS
LCivR 19	REQUIRED JOINDER OF PARTIES
LCivR 2	ONE FORM OF ACTION
LCivR 20	PERMISSIVE JOINDER OF PARTIES
LCivR 21	MISJOINDER AND NONJOINDER OF PARTIES
LCivR 22	INTERPLEADER
LCivR 23	CLASS ACTIONS
LCivR 23.1	DERIVATIVE ACTIONS
LCivR 23.2	ACTIONS RELATING TO UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS
LCivR 24	INTERVENTION
LCivR 25	SUBSTITUTION OF PARTIES
LCivR 26	DUTY TO DISCLOSE; GENERAL PROVISIONS GOVERNING DISCOVERY
LCivR 27	DEPOSITIONS TO PERPETUATE TESTIMONY
LCivR 28	PERSONS BEFORE WHOM DEPOSITIONS MAY BE TAKEN
LCivR 29	STIPULATIONS ABOUT DISCOVERY PROCEDURE
LCivR 3	COMMENCING AN ACTION
LCivR 30	DEPOSITIONS BY ORAL EXAMINATION
LCivR 31	DEPOSITIONS BY WRITTEN QUESTIONS
LCivR 32	USING DEPOSITIONS IN COURT PROCEEDINGS
LCivR 33	INTERROGATORIES TO PARTIES
LCivR 34	PRODUCING DOCUMENTS, ELECTRONICALLY STORED INFORMATION, AND TANGIBLE THINGS, OR ENTERING ONTO LAND, FOR INSPECTION AND OTHER PURPOSES
LCivR 35	PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EXAMINATIONS
LCivR 36	REQUESTS FOR ADMISSION
LCivR 37	FAILURE TO MAKE DISCLOSURES OR TO COOPERATE IN DISCOVERY; SANCTIONS
LCivR 38	RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL; DEMAND
LCivR 39	TRIAL BY JURY OR BY THE COURT
LCivR 4	SUMMONS
LCivR 40	SCHEDULING CASES FOR TRIAL
LCivR 4.1	SERVING OTHER PROCESS
LCivR 41	DISMISSAL OF ACTIONS
LCivR 42	CONSOLIDATION; SEPARATE TRIALS
LCivR 43	TAKING TESTIMONY
LCivR 44	PROVING AN OFFICIAL RECORD
LCivR 44.1	DETERMINING FOREIGN LAW
LCivR 45	SUBPOENA
LCivR 46	OBJECTING TO A RULING OR ORDER
LCivR 47	SELECTING JURORS
LCivR 48	NUMBER OF JURORS; VERDICT; POLLING
LCivR 49	SPECIAL VERDICT; GENERAL VERDICT AND QUESTIONS
LCivR 5	SERVING AND FILING PLEADINGS AND OTHER PAPERS
LCivR 50	JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW IN A JURY TRIAL; RELATED MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL; CONDITIONAL RULING
LCivR 5.1	CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE TO A STATUTE—NOTICE, CERTIFICATION, AND INTERVENTION
LCivR 51	INSTRUCTIONS TO THE JURY; OBJECTIONS; PRESERVING A CLAIM OF ERROR
LCivR 5.2	PRIVACY PROTECTION FOR FILINGS MADE WITH THE COURT
LCivR 52	FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS BY THE COURT; JUDGMENT ON PARTIAL FINDINGS
LCivR 53	MASTERS
LCivR 54	JUDGMENT; COSTS
LCivR 55	DEFAULT; DEFAULT JUDGMENT
LCivR 56	SUMMARY JUDGMENT
LCivR 57	DECLARATORY JUDGMENT
LCivR 58	ENTERING JUDGMENT
LCivR 59	NEW TRIAL; ALTERING OR AMENDING A JUDGMENT
LCivR 6	COMPUTING AND EXTENDING TIME; TIME FOR MOTION PAPERS
LCivR 60	RELIEF FROM A JUDGMENT OR ORDER
LCivR 61	HARMLESS ERROR
LCivR 62	STAY OF PROCEEDINGS TO ENFORCE A JUDGMENT
LCivR 62.1	INDICATIVE RULING ON A MOTION FOR RELIEF THAT IS BARRED BY A PENDING APPEAL
LCivR 63	JUDGE'S INABILITY TO PROCEED
LCivR 64	SEIZING A PERSON OR PROPERTY
LCivR 65	INJUNCTIONS AND RESTRAINING ORDERS
LCivR 65.1	PROCEEDINGS AGAINST A SURETY
LCivR 66	RECEIVERS
LCivR 67	DEPOSIT INTO COURT
LCivR 68	OFFER OF JUDGMENT
LCivR 69	EXECUTION
LCivR 7	PLEADINGS ALLOWED; FORM OF MOTIONS AND OTHER PAPERS
LCivR 70	ENFORCING A JUDGMENT FOR A SPECIFIC ACT
LCivR 7.1	DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
LCivR 71	ENFORCING RELIEF FOR OR AGAINST A NONPARTY
LCivR 71.1	CONDEMNING REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY
LCivR 72	MAGISTRATE JUDGES: PRETRIAL ORDER
LCivR 73	MAGISTRATE JUDGES: TRIAL BY CONSENT; APPEAL
LCivR 74	[ABROGATED.]
LCivR 75	[ABROGATED.]
LCivR 76	[ABROGATED.]
LCivR 77	CONDUCTING BUSINESS; CLERK'S AUTHORITY; NOTICE OF AN ORDER OR JUDGMENT
LCivR 78	HEARING MOTIONS; SUBMISSION ON BRIEFS
LCivR 79	RECORDS KEPT BY THE CLERK
LCivR 8	GENERAL RULES OF PLEADING
LCivR 80	STENOGRAPHIC TRANSCRIPT AS EVIDENCE
LCivR 81	APPLICABILITY OF THE RULES IN GENERAL; REMOVED ACTIONS
LCivR 82	JURISDICTION AND VENUE UNAFFECTED
LCivR 84	FORMS
LCivR 85	TITLE
LCivR 86	EFFECTIVE DATES
LCivR 9	PLEADING SPECIAL MATTERS

General Rules 5

Rule	Title
LCivR 83	RULES BY DISTRICT COURTS; JUDGE'S DIRECTIVES
LCivR 83.1	COURTROOM PRACTICE AND CIVILITY
LCivR 83.4	COURT POLICY AGAINST DISCRIMINATION
LCivR 83.5	BANKRUPTCY CASES, PROCEEDINGS AND APPEALS
LCivR 83.6	NO ENTITY MAY APPEAR PRO SE

Attorney Rules 2

Rule	Title
LCivR 83.2	BAR ADMISSION AND APPEARANCE IN A CASE
LCivR 83.3	ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 9th Circuit

Central District of California Los Angeles, California District of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska District of Arizona Phoenix, Arizona District of Guam Hagatna, Guam District of Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii District of Idaho Boise, Idaho District of Montana Missoula, Montana District of Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada District of Oregon Portland, Oregon District of the Northern Mariana Islands Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands Eastern District of California Sacramento, California Northern District of California San Francisco, California Southern District of California San Diego, California Western District of Washington Seattle, Washington