A few times per year, Whatcom County District Court holds a warrant quash day, when those with active warrants connected to misdemeanors can nullify them and restart the criminal process without being arrested.
The event is from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the District Court Clerk’s Office on the fourth floor of the Whatcom County courthouse. People with warrants connected to charges such as DUIs, trespassing and protection order violations can appear in front of a judge and have the warrant quashed, be arraigned and have new court dates set.
“We’re dealing with misdemeanors,” District Court Judge Angela Anderson said. “While they are very serious charges, they’re less serious than many felonies, and I think that makes them ripe for something like a warrant quash day.”
People with active warrants tend to live in a state of limbo — from worrying about being arrested during a traffic stop to being unable to find employment or housing.
Judge Jonathan Rands will be presiding Wednesday. The process takes about five minutes and no fees are associated with the quash.
“We’re simply going to be quashing that warrant and setting it over for another day, so they have time to talk to an attorney or their probation officer,” Anderson said.
Lawyers from the Whatcom County Public Defender’s Office will also be on hand to make sure people’s rights are maintained.
“Our concern is people coming into the courtroom and dealing with the court, dealing with the prosecutor and dealing with law enforcement without representation,” Whatcom County Public Defender Starck Follis said.
The last time district court hosted a warrant quash event in October, a handful of people appeared, Anderson said.
The quash event offers two benefits: one to the person with the warrant and the other to the community at large.
“People might think, ‘Hey, you’re just quashing these people’s warrants and letting bad guys get out,’” Anderson said. “But in reality, when they submit themselves to the jurisdiction of the court, the court can supervise and make sure they get to treatment and make sure protection orders get issued.”
Anderson added that the sooner misdemeanors are resolved, the sooner the person can have the charges vacated from their record.
However, some of the warrants people may be trying to quash could be years old. Follis said in the future he’d like to see a review of cases with active warrants issues.
“If you’ve got a 5-year-old trespass, what’s the point of bringing somebody in and quashing a warrant and getting court dates to that? Why not just dump the case or dismiss the case?” Follis said.
People with questions can reach out to the clerk’s office at 360-778-5400.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
