HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5206

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senator Talmadge)

Authorizing additional superior court judges.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Armstrong, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Hargrove, Heavey, P. King, Locke, Moyer, Niemi, Padden, Patrick, Scott, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:Harry Reinert (786-7110)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment by Committee on Judiciary as further amended by Committee on Ways & Means.  (28)

      Signed by Representatives Grimm, Chair; Bristow, Vice Chair; Allen, Appelwick, Basich, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Hine, Holland, Locke, Madsen, McLean, Nealey, Niemi, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Schoon, Silver, L. Smith, H. Sommers, Sprenkle, Valle and Winsley.

House Staff:      Nancy Stevenson (786-7137)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 16, 1987

BACKGROUND:

King County Superior Court is currently authorized to have 39 judges.  Chelan and Douglas counties are authorized to have two superior court judges which they share.  Each superior court judge in counties of over 35,000 population is required to appoint a court reporter.  The administrator for the courts has general responsibility to review the operation of the court system.

SUMMARY:

The maximum number of superior court judges in King County increases by seven judges for a total of forty-six.  In the judicial districts of Douglas and Chelan Counties, the number of judges is increased by one to a total of three.  The addition of judicial positions is conditioned upon the approval by the legislative authority in each county and agreement that the expenses of any judicial positions shall be borne by the counties, including the expenses incurred for court facilities.

The legislative authority for each county has the option of phasing in the additional judicial positions over a period of time, but not later than January 1, 1990.

The current statutory requirement that a court reporter be employed for each of the seven new judgeships for King County is waived.

The administrator for the courts is directed to conduct a weighted caseload analysis to be the basis for new superior court and district court positions.  The analysis shall be reviewed by the Judicial Council and the Board of Judicial Administration who shall make recommendations to the legislature by January 1, 1989.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Judiciary)  Judge Robert Windsor, King County Superior Court; Judge Fred Van Sickle, Chelan-Douglas Superior Court.

(Ways & Means)  Fred Van Sickle, Superior Court Judge, Chelan/Douglas Superior Court; Ron Main, King County.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Judiciary)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Judiciary)  A weighted caseload study in 1986 suggests that King County Superior Court needs an additional six to seven judges.  This is due to an increase in filings, new types of cases which the legislature has authorized, and more complex litigation.  Chelan-Douglas County Superior Court has also seen an increase in cases and needs one additional judge.

(Ways & Means)  King County and Chelan/Douglas court jurisdictions need additional judges.  The King County Council appreciates the fact the bill does not mandate the increased judges.  King County agrees to three judges for the next year and supports an amendment to waive the court reporter per year per judge requirement for the new judges in King County.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Judiciary)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means)  None Presented.