Lawsuit Challenges $25 Remote Court Fee

A Vancouver law firm sued Skamania County Superior Court over a fee for appearing remotely at hearings.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Remote Work

Weathered two-story brick courthouse set against forested hills under a grey overcast sky, with an empty road leading to the building. — Skamania County Superior Court charges $25 for each party and attorney who appears remotely at a hearing, a fee a Vancouver law firm challenged in court on October 19. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should courts be allowed to charge fees for remote hearings?

Attorney Erin Bradley McAleer filed a complaint on October 19 in Clark County Superior Court challenging Skamania County Superior Court's $25 fee to appear remotely. The fee applies to criminal defendants and civil litigants and has been charged since January 1, 2024.

Why it matters

The fee affects how residents of a sparsely populated county access their court hearings, which can require long travel. The case tests whether charging for remote court appearances is permissible for residents across Washington.

Skamania County has about seven people per square mile and shares one superior court judge with Klickitat County, which charges no remote-appearance fee. Under the county's practice, a party and their attorney each pay $25 per hearing, and the complaint has not yet been resolved.

The players

Erin Bradley McAleer

An attorney with a Vancouver-based law firm who filed the complaint challenging the fee in Clark County Superior Court.

Skamania County Superior Court

The trial court in Skamania County, Washington, that set and charges the $25 remote-appearance fee.

The details

Skamania County Superior Court charges $25 to each party and their attorney for each hearing they attend remotely. Skamania County prosecuting attorneys appearing remotely pay no fee, and the county defaults to remote hearings for criminal defendants.

January 1, 2024: Skamania County began charging the remote-appearance fee.
2021: The state supreme court allowed remote criminal appearances.
October 19, 2026: Attorney Erin Bradley McAleer filed the complaint in Clark County Superior Court.

Remote Work

The fee operates within the remote-appearance framework the Washington Supreme Court allowed for criminal cases in 2021. The lawsuit asks whether a county may charge a fee for participation that the state framework made available.

Residents of Skamania County who must attend hearings currently pay $25 per hearing to appear remotely, plus $25 for their attorney. The outcome of the lawsuit could change whether that cost applies to future hearings.

The takeaway

Court access costs can shape who is able to participate in legal proceedings, particularly in rural counties. Residents facing a remote hearing should check their county's current fee schedule before scheduling.