BILL REQ. #:  S-0924.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/24/09.   

     AN ACT Relating to the judicial conduct commission; amending RCW 2.64.020; and providing a contingent effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 2.64.020 and 2005 c 15 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The commission shall consist of ((eleven)) fourteen members. One member shall be a judge selected by and from the court of appeals judges; ((one)) two members shall be ((a)) judges selected by and from the superior court judges; one member shall be a judge selected by and from the limited jurisdiction court judges; ((two)) three members shall be selected by the state bar association and be admitted to the practice of law in this state; and ((six)) seven members shall be nonlawyers appointed by the governor. The term of each member of the commission shall be four years.
     (2) No commission member or alternate who participates in an investigation or initial proceeding leading to a finding of probable cause may participate in any further proceedings on that cause, including a public hearing.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act takes effect December 3, 2009, if the proposed amendment to Article IV, section 31 of the state Constitution adding members to the judicial conduct commission is validly submitted to and is approved and ratified by the voters at the next general election. If the proposed amendment is not approved and ratified, this act is void in its entirety.