Z-931                 _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1956

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Representatives Grimm, Padden and May; by request of Secretary of State

Read first time 1/24/86 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to terms of judges of the court of appeals; and amending RCW 2.06.075.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 3, chapter 49, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 2.06.075 are each amended to read as follows:

          ((The new judicial positions created pursuant to section 1 of this 1977 amendatory act shall become effective January 1, 1978 and shall be filled by gubernatorial appointment as follows:

          (1) Two shall be appointed to the first division, District 1, King county;

          (2) One shall be appointed to the second division, District 1, Pierce county; and

          (3) One shall be appointed to the third division, District 1, Ferry, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Stevens counties.

          The persons appointed by the governor shall hold office until the general election to be held in November 1978.  Upon taking office the two newly appointed judges in Division 1 shall determine by lot the length of term they will be entitled to run for in the general election of 1977.  One term will be for one year or until the second Monday in January 1980, and the other for three years or until the second Monday in January 1982, and until their successors are elected and qualified.  Thereafter judges shall be elected for a term of six years and until their successors are elected and qualified, commencing with the second Monday in January succeeding their election.  At the general election to be held in November 1978, the judges appointed in Division 2 and Division 3 shall be entitled to run for a term of six years or until the second Monday in January 1985, and until their successors are elected and qualified.)) In 1987, a judge shall be elected for a seven-year term (to commence on the second Monday in January 1988) for the position in division 1, district 1, to which a judge was elected for a six-year term at the state general election held in November 1981, and the term of this office shall expire on the second Monday in January 1995.  In 1991, a judge shall be elected for a seven-year term (to commence on the second Monday in January 1992) for the position in division 1, district 1, to which a judge was elected for a six-year term at the state general election held in November 1985, and the term of this office shall expire on the second Monday in January 1999.  Thereafter, judges of the court of appeals shall be elected for ((a)) terms of six years and until their successors are elected and qualified, commencing with the second Monday in January succeeding their election.