Court Docket

Benton County court docket information helps court users identify scheduled hearings, confirm the type of docket assigned to a case, review courtroom scheduling information, and prepare for an in-person or remote appearance. This article explains how Benton County Superior Court dockets are organized, where to check the weekly and daily schedules, how family law and civil dockets are divided, what to expect from WebEx participation, how Odyssey Portal access differs from docket information, and which county office is responsible for Superior Court calendars and case records.

How Court Dockets Work

A court docket is a schedule of matters expected to be heard by the court. Benton County publishes docket information as a public service to help attorneys, litigants, and other court users identify scheduled proceedings. The county cautions that its online dockets are intended as an aid and do not necessarily show the order in which names or cases will actually be heard.

The online docket also should not be treated as a guarantee that a hearing will occur exactly as displayed. Last-minute additions or changes may not appear immediately. Courtroom assignments can change frequently, and daily schedules may also change because of holidays or other court needs.

For that reason, users should distinguish between the recurring weekly docket pattern and the court's current daily schedule. The Benton County Court Dockets page lists the principal docket categories and their regular days and times, while the court's daily schedule provides more current assignment information.

Docket Information and Daily Schedules

Benton County Superior Court provides several scheduling resources that serve different purposes. The weekly docket schedule shows the normal recurring structure for Benton and Franklin Counties. The daily schedule is intended to reflect the specific proceedings and courtroom assignments for a particular day.

The Superior Court Daily Schedule page provides access to today's schedule, tomorrow's draft schedule, the holiday schedule, WebEx information, and live-stream information. The county states that today's daily schedule is updated after 3:00 p.m. daily. Tomorrow's schedule is identified as a draft and users should expect changes.

This distinction matters when preparing for court. A weekly schedule may tell you that a particular type of case is normally heard on Friday morning, but the daily schedule is the more appropriate place to verify the day's courtroom assignment and current calendar information.

The court specifically advises that courtroom assignments change frequently. Anyone relying on a docket should review the daily information close to the hearing date rather than assuming that a courtroom used previously will be used again.

Weekly Superior Court Dockets

The Benton and Franklin weekly docket schedule separates court calendars by county, day, time, and type of proceeding. For Benton County, regular calendars include criminal, domestic relations, child support, parentage, guardianship, probate, civil protection orders, civil motions, unlawful detainers, drug court, preliminary appearances, ex parte matters, and other proceedings.

Monday Court Calendars

Monday scheduling includes ITA hearings at 8:15 a.m. and trial readiness or trial priority at 9:00 a.m. Criminal preliminary appearances are scheduled at 1:15 p.m., with an ex parte docket at 1:30 p.m. DOC Blake hearings are shown at 3:00 p.m.

Because the actual daily calendar can vary, these regular times should be used to understand the court's standard weekly structure rather than as a substitute for the current daily docket.

Tuesday Court Calendars

Tuesday contains several family law-related calendars. The Benton Domestic Docket Over 10 Minutes is divided according to the petitioner's last name. Matters involving petitioners with last names beginning A through L are scheduled at 8:15 a.m., while those involving petitioners with last names beginning M through Z are scheduled at 1:15 p.m.

The Child Support Contempt Docket is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. The Paternity Docket is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Criminal preliminary appearances occur at 1:15 p.m., and the Pro Se Docket is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. The weekly schedule also shows an ex parte docket and DOC Blake hearings later in the day.

Wednesday Court Calendars

Wednesday includes the Domestic Under Ten docket at 8:30 a.m. and the Domestic Over 20 docket at 9:00 a.m. A criminal docket is scheduled at 8:30 a.m., criminal preliminary appearances are scheduled at 1:15 p.m., and guardianship and probate matters are shown at 1:30 p.m.

Other Wednesday proceedings include ex parte matters and DOC Blake hearings. Users should review the current docket for the specific case because some calendars may contain additional timing or assignment details.

Thursday Court Calendars

Thursday's schedule includes ITA hearings at 8:15 a.m., a criminal docket at 8:30 a.m., and a Civil Protection Order docket at 8:30 a.m. Drug Court staffing is listed at 9:00 a.m. Criminal preliminary appearances occur at 1:15 p.m., followed by additional criminal, protection-order, Drug Court, ex parte, and DOC Blake matters during the afternoon.

The court's WebEx rules are particularly relevant to Civil Protection Order proceedings because separate remote-appearance deadlines and live-stream restrictions apply to these matters.

Friday Court Calendars

Friday includes several calendars that are especially important for civil litigants. The weekly schedule lists a criminal motion docket at 8:30 a.m., Minor Guardianship at 9:00 a.m., criminal preliminary appearances at 1:15 p.m., and additional criminal and other scheduled matters.

Friday is also the regular day for several Benton County civil calendars. Users should pay particular attention to the current civil docket schedule because the court implemented changes beginning June 26, 2026.

Current Civil Docket Times

Effective with the June 26, 2026 Benton County civil docket, the court changed the times for two categories of civil motions while leaving the unlawful detainer time unchanged.

Civil Under Ten Motions are scheduled Fridays at 8:30 a.m.
Civil Motions for Summary Judgment and Motions Over 10 Minutes are scheduled Fridays at 10:00 a.m.
Civil Unlawful Detainers remain scheduled Fridays at 1:30 p.m.

The weekly schedule specifically flags these changes, so parties working from an older calendar should verify that they are using the current time. The court also warns that daily dockets may change because of holidays or other scheduling needs.

The broader Superior Court schedules and calendars section also provides access to calendar-related categories such as criminal trial calendars, ex parte matters, settlement and pretrial conferences, holiday schedules, and special set requests.

Family Law Docket Categories

Benton County separates family law matters according to several factors, including estimated hearing length and whether either party is represented by an attorney. Selecting the wrong docket can create scheduling problems, so users should compare their matter with the court's published family law categories.

Over Ten Minute Motions

Family law motions expected to require more than 10 minutes are divided by the petitioner's last name. The A-L docket is Tuesday at 8:15 a.m., and the M-Z docket is Tuesday at 1:15 p.m.

The petitioner's last name, rather than the respondent's last name, determines which of these two Benton County calendars applies under the published schedule.

Self-Represented Cases

The Pro Se Docket is for cases in which neither party has an attorney. Benton County schedules this docket on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. A party should not assume that every family law case involving one self-represented person belongs on this calendar; the county describes the docket specifically as cases with no attorneys for either party.

Under Ten Minute Motions

Family law motions requiring less than 10 minutes are scheduled on the Domestic Under Ten docket on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.

Longer Domestic Motions

The Domestic Over 20 docket is scheduled Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. The court identifies relocation motions, post-secondary support matters, and motions requiring more than 20 minutes as matters associated with this calendar.

Relocation trials are treated differently. The court states that relocation trials must be scheduled through the Special Set Process rather than placed on a regular domestic docket.

Finding the Correct Courtroom

The weekly docket tells users when categories of cases are ordinarily heard, but it is not the primary source for a current courtroom assignment. Benton County directs users to the court's Daily Schedule for courtroom assignments.

Before appearing, compare the hearing date and docket type with the daily schedule. This is especially useful when several calendars operate on the same day or when an assignment has changed. The county expressly warns that courtroom assignments change frequently.

Users should also account for holidays. The daily schedule section includes a Holiday Schedule, and the weekly calendar notes that daily dockets may change because of holidays or as otherwise needed.

Remote Hearings Through WebEx

Some attorneys and litigants with matters on the docket may participate through WebEx, subject to Superior Court rules. Public observers use different access methods: they may attend in person or use a live stream when one is available.

The court's WebEx participation instructions contain specific entry, identification, timing, and courtroom-decorum requirements. Failure to follow those requirements may result in a participant being denied entry.

WebEx Display Names

Litigants and parties must display their first and last name along with their case number in the WebEx title. The court gives the example format of a party's name followed by a case number.

Attorneys must display their first and last name and include the word “Attorney.” The court states that entry will not be granted when a participant's name does not match the docket, when the name is incomplete, or when a nickname is used.

This makes the case number particularly useful for remote participation. A litigant should have the correct case number available before attempting to enter the WebEx session so the required display information can be entered accurately.

Phone-Only Appearance Requests

Phone-only participation requires advance permission through the court's Request for Exception to Appear Remotely or Telephonically form. The standard deadline is seven calendar days before the hearing.

For Civil Protection Orders and Unlawful Detainers, the published deadline is three calendar days before the hearing. These deadlines apply to the request for permission and should not be confused with the hearing's docket time.

Late WebEx Entry

The court states that no one will be admitted after roll call or once the docket starts. Judicial assistants do not monitor the WebEx lobby after proceedings begin because they must focus on courtroom duties.

Attorneys also should not rely on WebEx to solve scheduling conflicts. The court states that there are no exceptions for double-booking and that attorneys with conflicts must appear in person or reschedule.

Required In-Person Proceedings

Certain proceedings require in-person appearances unless prior approval for remote participation is granted. The court identifies the following:

Settlement conferences.
Evidentiary hearings and trials.
Special sets.
Other proceedings when directed by the court.

A remote appearance for these proceedings requires prior approval using the same exception request process, with a minimum seven-day advance request under the published instructions.

Live Streams and Public Viewing

Members of the public may attend court proceedings in person. Live streaming is available for many hearings, but the court excludes several proceeding types.

Live stream is not available for ITA hearings, ex parte dockets, DOC Blake hearings, Civil Protection Order dockets, specified Civil Protection Order hearings appearing on family law dockets, adoptions, juvenile matters, and trials. Special Sets may also be excluded depending on the type of hearing and the judicial officer's discretion.

This distinction is important because WebEx participation and live-stream viewing serve different purposes. Attorneys and litigants with matters on a docket may be eligible to appear through WebEx under the court's rules. A public observer generally attends in person or watches through an available live stream rather than joining the proceeding as a WebEx participant.

Clerk and Superior Court Roles

The Benton County Clerk supports the local judiciary and is responsible for managing court documents, maintaining case files, and providing calendars and dockets for hearings and trials. The Clerk also performs other Superior Court functions, including safekeeping court documents, issuing writs and bench warrants ordered by the court, and managing certain funds held by court order.

The Benton County Clerk's Office page is therefore relevant when a docket question involves Superior Court case records or calendar information.

The Clerk's Office does not handle District Court cases such as traffic infractions, misdemeanors, and gross misdemeanors. Users searching for one of those case types should not assume that a Superior Court docket or Clerk system is the correct source.

Benton and Franklin Counties Superior Court separately provides court administration, schedules and calendars, local rules, court processes, WebEx information, jury information, interpreter requests, ADA accommodation information, and other judicial services. Court Administration operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Court hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., although times may vary depending on court needs, and courts close for a one-hour lunch period.

Odyssey Portal Access Limits

The Odyssey Portal should not be confused with the public court docket pages. Benton County offers registration for Odyssey Portal access, but the county states that Odyssey Portal access does not provide access to view documents because Benton County is not currently using Odyssey's document management system.

According to the Benton County Odyssey Portal information, registration requires completion of a Portal Master Registration Form and a Portal Confidentiality Agreement. A separate confidentiality agreement is required for each person requesting portal access.

Completed registration forms are sent to the Benton County Clerk's Office. The county also provides a Portal Modification Form for changes to a master registration, such as adding or deleting staff access.

The most significant limitation for users searching for docket-related records is that Odyssey access does not currently include document viewing. A person should therefore avoid assuming that registering for the portal will provide online copies of documents associated with a hearing shown on the court docket.

Preparing to Review a Docket

A few pieces of information can help a user distinguish the correct calendar and avoid mixing different court systems. The relevant details depend on the case, but the published Benton County systems make several items particularly useful.

The hearing date.

The type of proceeding, such as criminal, domestic, probate, guardianship, protection order, civil motion, or unlawful detainer.

The case number, especially for WebEx participation.

The petitioner's last name when identifying certain family law Over Ten dockets.

Whether either party has an attorney when deciding whether the Pro Se Docket applies.

The expected motion length for family law or civil motion calendars.

After identifying the likely docket category, compare it with the current daily schedule and courtroom assignment. For remote participation, review the WebEx requirements separately rather than assuming that appearing on the docket automatically guarantees remote access.

Common Docket Mistakes

One common error is treating the weekly calendar as a fixed schedule for every date. The court states that courtroom assignments change frequently and that daily dockets may change for holidays or other needs.

Another mistake is using an outdated civil calendar. For Benton County civil hearings on or after June 26, 2026, Under Ten Motions are scheduled at 8:30 a.m. and Summary Judgment or Over Ten Motions are scheduled at 10:00 a.m. Unlawful Detainers remain at 1:30 p.m.

Family law users can also select the wrong docket if they overlook the court's distinctions. Over Ten motions are divided by the petitioner's last name, while the Pro Se Docket applies when neither party has an attorney. Motions under 10 minutes and matters over 20 minutes have separate Wednesday calendars.

Remote participants can encounter problems when their WebEx display name does not match the docket, when they use a nickname, omit required identification, or enter after roll call. The court warns that these issues can result in denied entry.

Another source of confusion is assuming that Odyssey Portal registration provides online document access. Benton County specifically states that document access is not currently available through Odyssey Portal.

Finally, users should confirm that they are dealing with a Superior Court matter before relying on the Clerk's docket information. The Benton County Clerk does not handle District Court traffic infractions, misdemeanors, or gross misdemeanors.

Relevant Court Offices

Benton County Clerk's Office
7122 W. Okanogan Place, Suite A210
Kennewick, WA 99336
509-786-5624
509-735-8388

Benton County Justice Center
7122 W. Okanogan Place, Bldg. A, Suite A130
Kennewick, WA 99336

Benton County Courthouse
620 Market Street
Prosser, WA 99350
509-786-5710
509-783-1310

Court Docket FAQs

Where do I check a special-set hearing?

Special-set matters may not fit the court’s ordinary weekly docket pattern. Benton and Franklin Counties Superior Court maintains a separate Schedules and Calendars section that includes the Special Set Request process. This is particularly important for proceedings the court requires to be specially scheduled rather than placed on a routine motion calendar. After a special-set date has been established, check the court’s current scheduling information for the applicable hearing date rather than trying to match the case to a standard weekly docket.

Where are settlement and pretrial conferences listed?

The regular Benton County docket page is not the only calendar source maintained by Superior Court. The court’s schedules section separately identifies domestic settlement and pretrial conferences, civil settlement and pretrial conferences, and the criminal trial calendar. If your notice identifies one of these proceedings, use the corresponding court calendar rather than assuming it will appear under a routine Friday civil, Tuesday family law, or weekday criminal docket.

What should I do if two court schedules differ?

Use the information closest to the actual hearing date and verify the specific proceeding shown for that day. The county warns that scheduling information can change without notice and that last-minute changes may not immediately appear online. The Superior Court Daily Schedule provides the current day's schedule, while the following day's version is expressly marked as a draft. If you review the draft in advance, check again when the final daily information becomes available.

Can I join WebEx just to watch court?

Generally, no. Superior Court states that WebEx is for attorneys and litigants who have matters on the docket and who qualify to appear remotely under court rules. Members of the public should attend in person or use an available live stream. The court's WebEx participation instructions also identify proceedings for which live streaming is unavailable, so public viewing options can depend on the type of hearing.