Municipal Court to offer Saturday hearings

Spokane officials announced today that Spokane Municipal Court will begin hearing cases on two Saturdays a month starting in December. The sessions, which will be held at 1:30 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month, will allow residents to seek reduced penalties for infractions if they can’t get to court on weekdays. The Saturday dockets, which begin Dec. 5, will be used exclusively for mitigation, meaning that residents agree they committed infractions but would like a chance to explain circumstances and seek a reduced penalty. The Saturday court is “an effort to provide better justice sooner and to be more attuned to the needs of our customers and community,” Presiding Municipal Judge Mary Logan said in a news release. Municipal Court handles misdemeanor charges brought within city limits. Similar charges brought in Spokane County are handled through Spokane County District Court, and all felonies are handled in Spokane County Superior Court.