WSR 09-01-031

RULES OF COURT

STATE SUPREME COURT


[ December 5, 2008 ]

IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO RAP 13.4-DISCRETIONARY REVIEW OF DECISION TERMINATING REVIEW )

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 ORDER

NO. 25700-A-912
     The Supreme Court Clerk having recommended the adoption of the proposed amendment to RAP 13.4-Discretionary Review of Decision Terminating Review, and the Court having approved the proposed amendments for publication;

     Now, therefore, it is hereby

     ORDERED:

     (a) That pursuant to the provisions of GR 9(g), the proposed amendment as attached hereto is to be published for comment in the Washington Reports, Washington Register, Washington State Bar Association and Administrative Office of the Court's web sites in January, 2009.

     (b) The purpose statement as required by GR 9(e), is published solely for the information of the Bench, Bar and other interested parties.

     (c) Comments are to be submitted to the Clerk of the Supreme Court by either U.S. Mail or Internet E-Mail by no later than April 30, 2009. Comments may be sent to the following addresses: P.O. Box 40929, Olympia, Washington 98504-0929, or Camilla.Faulk@courts.wa.gov. Comments submitted by e-mail message must be limited to 1500 words.

     DATED at Olympia, Washington this 5th day of December, 2008.
For the Court
Gerry L. Alexander
CHIEF JUSTICE

GR 9 Cover Sheet


Suggested Amendment to RAP 13.4

Requiring Parties to Serve a Petition for Review, Answer, and Reply


Submitted by the Supreme Court Clerk's Office



     Purpose: The purpose of the proposed amendment is to require that the parties serve a petition for review, answer, and reply on other parties. Currently, the rule provides that these pleadings will be served by the Clerk's office. In practice, most attorneys serve the other party with their petition for review, answer, and reply. Requiring service by the party, instead of by the Clerk's office, is consistent with the requirements in the RAPs for parties to serve the opposing party with a motion (including a motion for discretionary review), answer to a motion, or reply to answer (RAP 17.4(a) and (f), see also RAP 13.5(c) and 13.5A(c)); notice of appeal or notice for discretionary review (RAP 5.4(a)); statement of grounds for direct review (RAP 4.2(b) and RAP 4.3(b)); statement of arrangements (RAP 9.2(a)); designation of clerk's papers (RAP 9.6(a)); and any brief (RAP 10.2(h) and RAP 13.7(e)).

     The only other place in the RAPs where the party does not make service is in the case of a Petitioner filing a personal restraint petition. See RAP 16.8(c). In that situation it makes sense to require the Clerk to make service because the rule also provides that the Clerk makes a determination as to who is the appropriate respondent(s). Often times the Petitioner in a personal restraint petition is mistaken as to who is the appropriate respondent.



RAP 13.4


RULE 13.4 DISCRETIONARY REVIEW OF DECISION TERMINATING REVIEW



     (a) How to Seek Review. A party seeking discretionary review by the Supreme Court of a Court of Appeals decision terminating review must serve on all other parties and file a petition for review or an answer to the petition that raises new issues. A petition for review should be filed in the Court of Appeals. If no motion to publish or motion to reconsider all or part of the Court of Appeals decision is timely made, a petition for review must be filed within 30 days after the decision is filed. If such a motion is made, the petition for review must be filed within 30 days after an order is filed denying a timely motion for reconsideration or determining a timely motion to publish. If the petition for review is filed prior to the Court of Appeals determination on the motion to reconsider or on a motion to publish, the petition will not be forwarded to the Supreme Court until the Court of Appeals files an order on all such motions. The first party to file a petition for review must, at the time the petition is filed, pay the statutory filing fee to the clerk of the Court of Appeals in which the petition is filed.

     (b) Considerations Governing Acceptance of Review. A petition for review will be accepted by the Supreme Court only: (1) If the decision of the Court of Appeals is in conflict with a decision of the Supreme Court; or (2) If the decision of the Court of Appeals is in conflict with another decision of the Court of Appeals; or (3) If a significant question of law under the Constitution of the State of Washington or of the United States is involved; or (4) If the petition involves an issue of substantial public interest that should be determined by the Supreme Court.

     (c) Content and Style of Petition. The petition for review should contain under appropriate headings and in the order here indicated: (1) Cover. A title page, which is the cover. (2) Tables. A table of contents, with page references, and a table of cases (alphabetically arranged), statutes and other authorities cited, with reference to the pages of the brief where cited. (3) Identity of Petitioner. A statement of the name and designation of the person filing the petition. (4) Citation to Court of Appeals Decision. A reference to the Court of Appeals decision which petitioner wants reviewed, the date of filing the decision, and the date of any order granting or denying a motion for reconsideration. (5) Issues Presented for Review. A concise statement of the issues presented for review. (6) Statement of the Case. A statement of the facts and procedures relevant to the issues presented for review, with appropriate references to the record. (7) Argument. A direct and concise statement of the reason why review should be accepted under one or more of the tests established in section (b), with argument. (8) Conclusion. A short conclusion stating the precise relief sought. (9) Appendix. An appendix containing a copy of the Court of Appeals decision, any order granting or denying a motion for reconsideration of the decision, and copies of statutes and constitutional provisions relevant to the issues presented for review.

     (d) Answer and Reply. A party may file an answer to a petition for review. A party filing an answer to a petition for review must serve the answer on all other parties. If the party wants to seek review of any issue that is not raised in the petition for review, including any issues that were raised by not decided in the Court of Appeals, the party must raise those new issues in an answer. Any answer should be filed within 30 days after the service on the party of the petition. A party may file a reply to an answer only if the answering party seeks review of issues not raised in the petition for review. A reply to an answer should be limited to addressing only the new issues raised in the answer. A party filing any reply to an answer must serve the reply to the answer on all other parties. A reply to an answer should be filed within 15 days after the service on the party of the answer. An answer or reply should be filed in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court may call for an answer or a reply to an answer.

     (e) Form of Petition, Answer, and Reply. The petition, answer, and reply should comply with the requirements as to form for a brief as provided in rules 10.3 and 10.4, except as otherwise provided in this rule.

     (f) Length. The petition for review, answer, or reply should not exceed 20 pages double spaced, excluding appendices.

     (g) Service and Reproduction of Petition, Answer, and Reply. The clerk will arrange for the reproduction of copies of a petition for review, an answer, or a reply, and bill the appropriate party for the copies as provided in rule 10.5. The clerk will serve the petition, answer, or reply if the party has not done so.

     (h) Amicus Curiae Memoranda. The Supreme Court may grant permission to file an amicus curiae memorandum in support of or opposition to a pending petition for review. Absent a showing of particular justification, an amicus curiae memorandum should be received by the court and counsel of record for the parties and other amicus curiae not later than 60 days from the date the petition for review is filed. Rules 10.4 and 10.6 should govern generally disposition of a motion to file an amicus curiae memorandum. An amicus curiae memorandum or answer thereto should not exceed 10 pages.

     (i) No Oral Argument. The Supreme Court will decide the petition without oral argument.

     Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above material occurred in the copy filed by the State Supreme Court and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

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