Wash. Rev. Code » Title 13 · Chapter 13.04
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 13.04.021 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) The juvenile court shall be a division of the superior court. In judicial districts having more than one judge of the superior court, the judges of such court shall annually assign one or more of their number to the juvenile court division. In any judicial district having a court commissioner, the court commissioner shall have the power, authority, and jurisdiction, concurrent with a juvenile court judge, to hear all cases under this chapter and to enter judgment and make orders with the same power, force, and effect as any judge of the juvenile court, subject to motion or demand by any party within ten days from the entry of the order or judgment by the court commissioner as provided in RCW 2.24.050. In any judicial district having a family law commissioner appointed pursuant to chapter 26.12 RCW, the family law commissioner shall have the power, authority, and jurisdiction, concurrent with a juvenile court judge, to hear cases under Title 13 RCW and chapter 28A.225 RCW as provided in RCW 26.12.010, and to enter judgment and make orders with the same power, force, and effect as any judge of the juvenile court, subject to motion or demand by any party within ten days from the entry of the order or judgment by the court commissioner as provided in RCW 2.24.050.
(2) Cases in the juvenile court shall be tried without a jury.
[ 1999 c 397 s 5; 1994 sp.s. c 7 s 538; 1988 c 232 s 3; 1979 c 155 s 2; 1977 ex.s. c 291 s 3.]

Notes:

Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following RCW 43.70.540.
Effective date—Severability—1979 c 155: See notes following RCW 13.04.011.
Effective dates—Severability—1977 ex.s. c 291: See notes following RCW 13.04.005.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 64 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1979–2025 · leading case: State v. Smith, 814 P.2d 652 (Wash. 1991).
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State v. Smith, 814 P.2d 652 (Wash. 1991). · cites it 24× “[4] The juvenile defendant argues that the State's right of revision, as described in RCW 13.04.021 and RCW 2.24.050, is limited to seeking review of dispositive orders only, or of orders that effectively terminate prosecution in a given case.”
State v. Schaaf, 743 P.2d 240 (Wash. 1987). · cites it 13× “" [5] Then in 1979 we upheld RCW 13.04.021(2), which provides that juvenile court cases shall be tried without a jury.”
State v. Watkins, 423 P.3d 830 (Wash. 2018). · cites it 7× “RCW 13.04.021. The BJCA provides that the juvenile court -7- State V.”
State v. Lawley, 591 P.2d 772 (Wash. 1979). · cites it 8× “RCW 13.04.021(2) provides: "Cases in the juvenile court shall be tried without a jury.”
State v. Espinoza, 774 P.2d 1177 (Wash. 1989). · cites it 11× “Citing RCW 13.04.021, he held that a commissioner is authorized to hear all juvenile cases, subject only to a motion for revision as provided in RCW 2.”
State v. JH, 978 P.2d 1121 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 4× “[2] Juvenile offender cases, however, are tried without a jury under RCW 13.04.021(2). Because of the differences between the juvenile justice system and the adult criminal system, the denial of a jury trial to juveniles has been repeatedly held constitutional.”
State v. J.H., 96 Wash. App. 167 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 4× “2 Juvenile offender cases, however, are tried without a jury under RCW 13.04.021(2). Because of the differences between the juvenile justice system and the adult criminal system, the denial of a jury trial to juveniles has been repeatedly held constitutional.”
State v. Sutherby, 204 P.3d 916 (Wash. 2009). “(quoting former RCW 13.04.021(1) (1979)). "`All of the acts and proceedings of court commissioners hereunder shall be subject to revision by the superior court.”
State v. Sutherby, 165 Wash. 2d 870 (Wash. 2009). “(quoting former RCW 13.04.021(1) (1979)). “ ‘All of the acts and proceedings of court commissioners hereunder shall be subject to revision by the superior court.”
State v. Wicker, 105 Wash. App. 428 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 3× “Cronic, 17 and mirrors the prejudice inquiry applied in Hill v. Lockhart 18 and Rodriquez v. United States.”
State v. Wicker, 20 P.3d 1007 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 3× “This standard follows the pattern established in Strickland and Cronic, and mirrors the prejudice inquiry applied in Hill v.”
State v. Posey, 272 P.3d 840 (Wash. 2012). · cites it 2× “Const. art. IV, § 6. The legislature cannot rescind this constitutional jurisdiction or vest it exclusively in another court.”
Show all 64 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 13.04.021(1) — 22 cases
State v. Smith, 814 P.2d 652 (Wash. 1991). “[4] The juvenile defendant argues that the State's right of revision, as described in RCW 13.04.021 and RCW 2.24.050, is limited to seeking review of dispositive orders only, or of orders that effectively terminate prosecution in a given case.”
State v. Watkins, 423 P.3d 830 (Wash. 2018). “RCW 13.04.021. The BJCA provides that the juvenile court -7- State V.”
State v. Sutherby, 204 P.3d 916 (Wash. 2009). “(quoting former RCW 13.04.021(1) (1979)). "`All of the acts and proceedings of court commissioners hereunder shall be subject to revision by the superior court.”
State v. Sutherby, 165 Wash. 2d 870 (Wash. 2009). “(quoting former RCW 13.04.021(1) (1979)). “ ‘All of the acts and proceedings of court commissioners hereunder shall be subject to revision by the superior court.”
State v. Posey, 272 P.3d 840 (Wash. 2012). “Const. art. IV, § 6. The legislature cannot rescind this constitutional jurisdiction or vest it exclusively in another court.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 13.04.021(2) — 27 cases
State v. Schaaf, 743 P.2d 240 (Wash. 1987). “" [5] Then in 1979 we upheld RCW 13.04.021(2), which provides that juvenile court cases shall be tried without a jury.”
State v. Lawley, 591 P.2d 772 (Wash. 1979). “RCW 13.04.021(2) provides: "Cases in the juvenile court shall be tried without a jury.”
State v. JH, 978 P.2d 1121 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “[2] Juvenile offender cases, however, are tried without a jury under RCW 13.04.021(2). Because of the differences between the juvenile justice system and the adult criminal system, the denial of a jury trial to juveniles has been repeatedly held constitutional.”
State v. J.H., 96 Wash. App. 167 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “2 Juvenile offender cases, however, are tried without a jury under RCW 13.04.021(2). Because of the differences between the juvenile justice system and the adult criminal system, the denial of a jury trial to juveniles has been repeatedly held constitutional.”
State v. Hatfield, 754 P.2d 136 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988).
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