WSR 03-23-016

RULES OF COURT

STATE SUPREME COURT


[ November 6, 2003 ]

IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO GR 7 )

)

 ORDER

NO. 25700-A-782

     The Administrative Office of the Courts having recommended the adoption of the proposed amendment to GR 7, and the Court having determined that the proposed amendment will aid in the prompt and orderly administration of justice and further determined that an emergency exists which necessitates an early adoption;

     Now, therefore, it is hereby

     ORDERED:

     (a) That the amendment as attached hereto is adopted.

     (b) That pursuant to the emergency provisions of GR 9(i), the amendment will be published expeditiously and become effective upon publication.

     DATED at Olympia, Washington this 6th day of November 2003.
     Alexander, C.J.
     Johnson, J.

      Bridge, J.
     Madsen, J.

      Chambers, J.
     Sanders, J.

      Owens, J.
     Ireland, J.

      Fairhurst, J.


GENERAL RULE 7

LOCAL RULES--FILING AND EFFECTIVE DATE



     (a) Generally. Fifty copies of rules of court authorized by law to be adopted or amended by courts other than the Supreme Court must be filed with the state Administrator for the Courts. New proposed rules and amendments must be filed on or before July 1 for comment, to be effective September 1 of the same year. Promulgation or amendment of rules that describe only the structure, internal management and organization of the court but do not affect courtroom procedures are not governed by the time limitations above.

     (b) Form. All local rules shall be consistent with rules adopted by the Supreme Court, and shall conform in numbering system and in format to these rules to facilitate their use. Each rule and amendment filed shall state its effective date in brackets following the rule. Prior to adopting a local rule, the court may informally submit a copy of its local rule to the Administrative Office of Administrator for the Courts for comments as to its conformity in number and format to the Official Rules of Court, and suggestions with reference thereto.

     (c) Distribution. On or before September 1 of each year, the Administrator for the Courts shall distribute all local rules, and amendments thereto, to the state law library, the libraries of the three divisions of the Court of Appeals, all county law libraries, Washington law school libraries, and to such other places as are deemed appropriate by the Administrative Office of Administrator for the Courts.

     (d) Availability of Local Rules; Effect Upon Existing Local Rules. The clerk of the court adopting the rules shall maintain a complete set of current local rules, which shall be available for inspection and copying. In order for local rules which are currently in effect to remain in effect they must be refiled with the Office of the Administrator for the Courts by September 15, 1991.

     (e) Emergency Rules.

     (1) In the event a court other than the Supreme Court deems that an emergency exists which requires a change in its rules, such court shall, in addition to filing the rules or amendments as provided in section (a), distribute them to all county law libraries.

     (2) A rule or amendment adopted on an emergency basis shall become effective immediately on filing with the Administrator for the Courts. The rule or amendment shall remain effective for a period of 90 days after filing, unless readopted in accordance with section (e)(1) or submitted as a permanent rule or amendment under section (a) within the 90-day period.

     (f) Filing Local Rules Electronically. The Administrator for the Courts shall establish the specifications necessary for a court to file its local court rules electronically.

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

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