Page 29 - 2026 January February Magazine

Family Court Moves
to the 7th Floor
BY JUDGE MATTHEW H. THOMAS,
PIERCE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
The Pierce County Superior Court
Judges voted in 2025 to assign
a third judge to family court to
better meet the needs of family law cases.
Starting in early 2026, all three of the
family court judges and the Family Court
Services staff will be located on the 7th
floor.
Family Court will fill space that the
County Executive formerly occupied. The
County Executive and County Council
have moved their offices to 1501 Market
Street allowing the County-City Building
to become a dedicated Justice Center.
The Superior Court courtrooms on the 7th
floor will not have jury rooms. However,
there will be separate rooms for attorneys
to meet with their clients. In addition,
there will be a Family Law Court front
counter and foyer area for the public.
District Court has courtrooms on the 7th
Floor as well.
Below is one of the new courtrooms:
Pierce County Superior Court Administrator Chris Gaddis
explained the purpose of having a floor devoted to family court:
The Superior Court’s goal in establishing a dedicated
family court floor is to make the process of handling family
law matters more accessible, efficient, and supportive for
families. By creating a one-stop shop, the court reduces
the need for families to navigate multiple offices and
floors. Moving Family Court Services staff closer to judges
and their teams fosters stronger collaboration, quicker
communication, and more consistent decision-making.
This streamlined approach not only helps cases move
forward more smoothly but also creates a supportive
environment that acknowledges the sensitive nature of
family disputes. Ultimately, the Superior Court hopes to
transform the family law experience from a fragmented
and stressful process into a coordinated system that better
serves families during challenging times.
So, stop by for a visit.
Judge Matthew
Thomas
Pierce County
Superior Court,
Department 13
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