City of LakewoodServing the Cities of Lakewood & University Place
General Description
The Municipal Court is a Court of Limited Jurisdiction that hears criminal misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, infractions, parking and photo infraction violations that occur in the Cities of Lakewood and University Place.
The Municipal Court does not hear small claims cases or civil cases, change names or issue marriage licenses. Please contact Pierce County District Court at (253) 798-7474 for more information.
Court proceedings are open to the public and accessible to individuals using wheelchairs. Parties interested in viewing hearings should contact the court to verify session times. Please be aware that the courtroom is not an appropriate place for children.
University Place
The City of University Place contracts with the Lakewood Municipal Court for court services to include prosecution and public defender services. All infractions and misdemeanors filed after 01/01/2011 are being routed to the Municipal Court at the City of Lakewood. For all University Place Municipal Court cases that were filed prior to 01/01/2011, please contact Pierce County District Court at (253) 798-7474.
For additional information visit the University Place website .
Judge Ernest Heller
In December 2001, the Lakewood City Council confirmed the appointment of Ernest Heller as Lakewood’s Presiding Judge for a four year term and has been continuously re-appointed since then. His current term expires December 2013.
On December 13, 2010 Judge Heller was appointed to serve as University Place Municipal Court’s Judge through December 2013.
Judge Heller graduated from UW Law School in 1973 and has specialized in administrative law for 26 years. In June 2001, he retired as a Senior Administrative Law Judge for the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings.