Legal research for Seattle and Washington State law firms - Court of Appeals divisions and GR 14.1
By LegiMatch Research Team · Published October 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Short answer: Washington's Court of Appeals has three divisions: Division I (Seattle), Division II (Tacoma) and Division III (Spokane). The divisions don't bind each other, so check your own division first. Unpublished Court of Appeals opinions filed on or after March 1, 2013 may be cited as nonbinding authority under GR 14.1. Federal cases go to the Western or Eastern District and the Ninth Circuit.
Washington's courts
| Court | Role |
|---|---|
| Washington Supreme Court | Highest court; binds every Washington court |
| Court of Appeals, Division I (Seattle) | Appeals from King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island and San Juan counties |
| Court of Appeals, Division II (Tacoma) | Appeals from Pierce, Thurston, Clark, Kitsap and other western and southwestern counties |
| Court of Appeals, Division III (Spokane) | Appeals from eastern and central Washington |
| Superior courts | General trial courts in each county |
| District and municipal courts | Limited jurisdiction |
Divisions and binding authority
Published decisions of the Court of Appeals carry precedential weight, but one division isn't bound by another division's decisions, and the divisions sometimes split until the Supreme Court resolves the issue. For a Seattle or Bellevue matter, start with the Supreme Court and Division I, then check whether the other divisions agree.
GR 14.1: unpublished opinions
Under General Rule 14.1, unpublished Court of Appeals opinions filed on or after March 1, 2013 may be cited as nonbinding authority, and the citing party must identify them as unpublished. Courts may give them whatever weight they find appropriate. Earlier unpublished opinions generally can't be cited.
Federal courts
| District | Main cities |
|---|---|
| Western District | Seattle, Tacoma |
| Eastern District | Spokane, Yakima, Richland |
Appeals go to the Ninth Circuit, which holds court in Seattle among other places.
Citations and statutes
Washington decisions are cited to Wn.2d (Supreme Court), Wn. App. (Court of Appeals) and the Pacific Reporter (P.3d). The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) is on the Legislature's site, app.leg.wa.gov.
A fact-first workflow
Seattle-area practice includes employment (including non-competes), landlord-tenant, construction and premises cases.
- Describe the facts in plain English. Example: "A Seattle software engineer earning a salary signed a non-compete when hired. After leaving for a competitor, the former employer sent a cease-and-desist letter."
- Limit to Washington, and add Ninth Circuit and Washington federal decisions if the case is in federal court.
- Read Supreme Court and your division's decisions first, then other divisions and post-2013 unpublished opinions.
- Check treatment before relying on any decision.
- Read the statute at issue (here, chapter 49.62 RCW on noncompetition covenants) in the version in force on the relevant date.
LegiMatch returns up to 100 similar decisions for each matter, ranked by a match score that shows how much facts, legal issues, statutes, jurisdiction and recency contributed. Every result is a real decision linked to the court's text. It supports your research and doesn't give legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Which Court of Appeals division covers Seattle?
Division I, which sits in Seattle and hears appeals from King County and other northwestern counties.
Can I cite an unpublished Washington Court of Appeals opinion?
Yes, as nonbinding authority, if it was filed on or after March 1, 2013 (GR 14.1). Identify it as unpublished.
Where can I read the RCW for free?
On the Washington State Legislature's official site, app.leg.wa.gov.
Sources
- Washington General Rule 14.1
- Washington Courts (courts.wa.gov)
- Washington State Legislature, Revised Code of Washington (app.leg.wa.gov)
- United States Courts, court locator (uscourts.gov)
This article is general information about legal research, not legal advice. Verify every authority before relying on it.
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