SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1954

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Judiciary, March 27, 2003

Title: An act relating to compensation of a retired justice or judge acting as a judge pro tempore.

Brief Description: Permitting a retired judge acting as a judge pro tempore to decline compensation.

Sponsors: Representatives Moeller and McMahan.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Judiciary: 3/26/03, 3/27/03 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chair; Esser, Vice Chair; Brandland, Hargrove, Haugen, Johnson and Thibaudeau.

Staff: Lidia Mori (786-7755)

Background: If no judge is available from among a county's elected superior court judges, a judge pro tempore may be assigned to a case. Pursuant to court rule, an elected judge from another court may serve as a judge pro tem. Otherwise, the parties to the case may, with court approval, agree to any member of the bar as a judge pro tem.

Pay for a judge pro tem is as follows:

      •          A sitting judge who is acting as a judge pro tem receives no extra pay.

      •          A member of the bar who is not a retired judge and who is acting as a judge pro tem receives 1/250th of a superior court judge's annual salary for each day of trial.

      •          A retired judge who is acting as a judge pro tem receives 60 percent of 1/250th of a superior court judge's annual salary for each day of trial.

Summary of Bill: A retired judge is authorized to decline compensation for serving as a judge pro tem in superior court.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: No one.