WSR 10-13-032

RULES OF COURT

STATE SUPREME COURT


[ June 3, 2010 ]

IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS TO IRLJ 3.1(b)-CONTESTED HEARINGS PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS; CrRLJ 4.1-ARRAIGNMENT; IRLJ 2.1(b)-NOTICE OF INFRACTION-CONTENT AND IRLJ 3.1(d)-CONTESTED HEARINGS-PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS )

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 ORDER

NO. 25700-A-952

     The District and Municipal Court Judges' Association having recommended the adoption of the proposed amendments to IRLJ 3.1(b)-Contested Hearings Preliminary Proceedings; CrRLJ 4.1-Arraignment; IRLJ 2.1(b)-Notice of Infraction -- Content and IRLJ 3.1(d)-Contested Hearings-Preliminary Proceedings, and the Court having considered the amendments and comments submitted thereto, and having determined that the proposed amendments will aid in the prompt and orderly administration of justice;

     Now, therefore, it is hereby

     ORDERED:

     (a) That the amendments as shown below are adopted.

     (b) That the amendments will be published in the Washington Reports and will become effective September 1, 2010.

     DATED at Olympia, Washington this 3rd day of June, 2010.
     Madsen, C.J.
     C. Johnson, J.

      Owens, J.
     Alexander, J.

      Fairhurst, J.
     Sanders, J.

      J. M. Johnson, J.
     Chambers, J.

      Stephens, J.


RULE IRLJ 3.1

CONTESTED HEARINGS--PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS



     (a) Subpoena. The defendant and the plaintiff prosecuting authority may subpoena witnesses necessary for the presentation of their respective cases. Witnesses should be served at least 7 days before the hearing. The subpoena may be issued by a judge, court commissioner, or clerk of the court or by a party's lawyer. If a party's lawyer issues a subpoena, a copy shall be filed with the court and with the office of the prosecuting authority assigned to the court in which the infraction is filed on the same day it is sent out for service. A request that an officer appear at a contested hearing pursuant to rule 3.3(c) shall be filed on a separate pleading. A subpoena may be directed for service within their jurisdiction to the sheriff of any county or any peace officer of any municipality in the state in which the witness may be or it may be served as provided in CR 45(c), or it may be served by first-class mail, postage prepaid, sent to the witnesses' last known address. Service by mail shall be deemed complete upon the third day following the day upon which the subpoena was placed in the mail. If the subpoena is for a witness outside the county, a judge must approve of the subpoena.

     (b) Discovery. Upon written demand of the defendant at least 14 days before a contested hearing, filed with the court and served on the office of the prosecuting authority assigned to the court in which the infraction is filed, the plaintiff's lawyer prosecuting authority shall at least 7 days before the hearing provide the defendant or the defendant's lawyer with: (1) a copy of the citing officer's sworn statement; (2) a copy of video or photographic evidence the prosecutor proposes to introduce at trial, unless in reply to the discovery request the prosecutor provides the address to a website where such evidence is accessible to the defendant; and (3) and with the names of any witnesses not identified in the citing officer's sworn statement. No other discovery shall be required. If the prosecuting authority provides the citing officer's sworn statement any portion of the discovery less than 7 days before the hearing but not later than one day before the hearing, such untimely discovery the citing officer's sworn statement _shall be suppressed only upon a showing of prejudice in the presentation of the defendant's case. If the prosecuting authority, without reasonable excuse or justification, fails to provide the citing officer's sworn statement any portion of the discovery prior to the day of the hearing, the statement shall portion of discovery not provided shall be suppressed. _No other discovery shall be required. Neither party is precluded from investigating the case, and neither party shall impede another party's investigation. A request for discovery pursuant to this section shall be filed on a separate pleading.

     (c) Amendment of Notice. The court may permit a notice of infraction to be amended at any time before judgment if no additional or different infraction is charged, and if substantial rights of the defendant are not thereby prejudiced. A continuance shall be granted if the defendant satisfies the court that the additional time is needed to defend against the amended notice of infraction.

     (d) Sufficiency. No notice of infraction shall be deemed insufficient for failure to contain a definite statement of the essential facts constituting the specific infraction which the defendant is alleged to have committed, nor by reason of defects or imperfections which do not tend to prejudice substantial rights of the defendant.

Adopted as JTIR effective January 1, 1981. Changed from JTIR to IRLJ effective September 1, 1992; amended effective January 2, 1997; amended effective January 3, 2006; January 2, 2007.]



CRIMINAL RULES FOR COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION (CrRLJ)

RULE 4.1 ARRAIGNMENT



     (a) Procedures. After the complaint or the citation and notice has been filed, the defendant shall be arraigned thereon in open court.

     (1) Time.

     (1) Defendant Detained in Jail. (i) The defendant shall be arraigned not later than 15 14 days after the date the complaint or citation and notice is filed in court, if the defendant is (A) (i) detained in a county or city jail in the county where the charges are pending, or (B) (ii) subject to conditions of release imposed in connection with the same charges.

     (ii) (2) Defendant Not Detained in Jail. The defendant shall be arraigned not later than 15 14 days after that appearance which next follows the filing of the complaint or citation and notice, if the defendant is not detained in such jail or subject to such conditions of release. Any delay in bringing the defendant before the court shall not affect the allowable time for arraignment, regardless of the reason for the delay. For purposes of this rule, "appearance" has the meaning defined in CrRLJ 3.3 (a)(3)(iii).

     (2) Reading and Plea. Arraignment shall consist of reading the complaint or the citation and notice to the defendant or stating to him or her the substance of the charge and calling on the defendant to plead thereto. The defendant shall be given a copy of the complaint or the citation and notice before being called upon to plead, unless a copy has previously been supplied. The defendant shall not be required to plead to the complaint or the citation and notice until he or she shall have had a reasonable time to examine it and to consult with a lawyer, if requested.

     (3) Advisement. At arraignment, unless the defendant appears with a lawyer, the court shall advise the defendant on the record:

     (i) of the right to trial by jury if applicable; and

     (ii) of the right to be represented by a lawyer at arraignment and to have an appointed lawyer for arraignment if the defendant cannot afford one.

     (b) Objection to Arraignment Date -- Loss of Right to Object. A party who objects to the date of arraignment on the ground that it is not within the time limits prescribed by this rule must state the objection to the court at the time of the arraignment. If the court rules that the objection is correct, it shall establish and announce the proper date of arraignment. That date shall constitute the arraignment date for purposes of CrRLJ 3.3. A party who fails to object as required shall lose the right to object, and the arraignment date shall be conclusively established as the date upon which the defendant was actually arraigned.

     (c) Waiver. Counsel.

     (1) Jury trial. A waiver of jury trial at arraignment must be in writing and signed by the defendant. If the defendant waives a jury trial at arraignment, he or she must be advised of the right to withdraw the waiver and request a jury trial within 10 days of arraignment. If the defendant appears without counsel, the court shall inform the defendant of his or her right to have counsel before being arraigned. The court shall inquire if the defendant has counsel. If the defendant is not represented and is unable to obtain counsel due to indigence, counsel shall be assigned to the defendant by the court, unless the defendant makes a knowing, voluntary and intelligent waiver of counsel.

     (2) Lawyer. If the defendant chooses to proceed without a lawyer, the court shall determine on the record that the waiver is made voluntarily, competently and with knowledge of the consequences. The defendant must be advised that waiver of a lawyer at arraignment does not preclude the defendant from asserting the right to a lawyer later in the proceedings.

     (d) Name. At arraignment, the court shall ask the defendant his or her true name. If the defendant's name has been incorrectly stated in the complaint or citation and notice, the court shall order the complaint or citation and notice to be corrected accordingly. Waiver of Counsel. If the defendant chooses to proceed without counsel, the court shall determine on the record whether the waiver is made voluntarily, competently and with knowledge of the consequences. The court shall make a thorough inquiry of the defendant's understanding before accepting the waiver. If the court finds the waiver valid, an appropriate finding shall be entered in the record. Unless the waiver is valid, the court shall not proceed with the arraignment until counsel is provided. Waiver of counsel at arraignment shall not preclude the defendant from claiming the right to counsel in subsequent proceedings in the cause, and the defendant shall be so informed.

     (e) Appearance by Defendant's Lawyer. Except as otherwise provided by statute or by local court rule, a lawyer may enter an appearance or a plea of not guilty on behalf of a client for any offense. Such appearance or plea may be entered only after a complaint or citation and notice has been filed. Name. Defendant shall be asked his or her true name. If the defendant alleges that their true name is one other than that by which he or she is charged, it must be entered in the record, and subsequent proceedings shall be had against him or her by that name or other names relevant to the proceedings.

     (1) The appearance or the plea of not guilty shall be made only in writing or in open court, and eliminates the need for a further arraignment.

     (2) An appearance that waives arraignment but fails to state a plea shall be deemed to constitute entry of a plea of not guilty.

     (3) An appearance under this rule constitutes a waiver of any defect in the complaint or the citation and notice except for failure to charge a crime which may be raised at any time and except for any other defect that is specifically stated in writing or on the record at the time the appearance is entered.

     (4) A written appearance shall commence the running of the time periods established in rule 3.3 from the date of its receipt by the court, unless the time periods have previously been commenced by an appearance in open court.

     (5) Telephonic requests or notices by either the defendant or the defendant's lawyer shall not constitute an arraignment or an appearance or entry of a plea, and shall not commence the running of the time periods under rule 3.3.

     (6) The appearance by a lawyer authorized by this rule shall be construed as an "arraignment" under the other provisions of these rules.

     (f) Reading. The complaint or citation and notice or the substance of the charge, shall be read to the defendant, unless the reading is waived, and a copy shall be given to the defendant.

     (g) Appearance by Defendant's Lawyer. Except as otherwise provided by statute or by local court rule, a lawyer may enter an appearance or a plea of not guilty on behalf of a client for any offense. Such appearance or plea may be entered only after a complaint or citation and notice has been filed.

     (1) The appearance or the plea of not guilty shall be made only in writing or in open court, and eliminates the need for a further arraignment.

     (2) An appearance that waives arraignment but fails to state a plea shall be deemed to constitute entry of a plea of not guilty.

     (3) An appearance under this rule constitutes a waiver of any defect in the complaint or the citation and notice except for failure to charge a crime which may be raised at any time and except for any other defect that is specifically stated in writing or on the record at the time the appearance is entered.

     (4) A written appearance shall commence the running of the time periods established in rule 3.3 from the date of its receipt by the court, unless the time periods have previously been commenced by an appearance in open court.

     (5) Telephonic requests or notices by either the defendant or the defendant's lawyer shall not constitute an arraignment or an appearance or entry of a plea, and shall not commence the running of the time periods under rule 3.3.

     (6) The appearance by a lawyer authorized by this rule shall be construed as an "arraignment" under the other provisions of these rules.



IRLJ 2.1 NOTICE OF INFRACTION


     (a) Infraction Form Prescribed or approved by the Administrative Office of the Courts. Infraction cases shall be filed on a form entitled "Notice of Infraction" prescribed by the Administrative Office of the Courts; except that the form used to file cases alleging the commission of a parking, standing or stopping infraction shall be approved by the Administrative Office of the Courts. Notice of Infraction forms prescribed or approved by the Administrative Office of the Courts are presumed valid and shall not be deemed insufficient by reason of defects or imperfections which do not prejudice substantial rights of the defendant.

     (b) Contents. Subject to IRLJ 3.1 (d), The the notice of infraction shall contain the following information on the copy given to the defendant, except the information required by subsections (2) is not required on a notice of infraction alleging the commission of a parking, standing, or stopping infraction:

     (1) The name, address, and phone number of the court where the notice of infraction is to be filed;

     (2) The name, address, date of birth, sex, physical characteristics, and, for a notice of traffic infraction, the operator's license number of the defendant;

     (3) For a notice of traffic infraction, the vehicle make, year, model, style, license number, and state in which licensed;

     (4) The infraction which the defendant is alleged to have committed and the accompanying statutory citation or ordinance number, the date, time, and place the infraction occurred, the date the notice of infraction was issued, and the name and, if applicable, the number of the citing officer;

     (5) A statement that the defendant must respond to the notice of infraction within 15 days of issuance;

     (6) A space for entry of the monetary penalty which respondent may pay in lieu of appearing in court;

     (7) A statement that a mailed response must be mailed not later than midnight on the day the response is due;

     (8) The statements required by RCW 46.63.060 or other applicable statute; and

     (9) Any additional information determined necessary by the Administrator for the Courts.


IRLJ 3.1 CONTESTED HEARINGS -- PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS


     (a) Subpoena. [No change.]

     (b) Discovery. [No change.]

     (c) Amendment of Notice. [No change.]

     (d) Sufficiency. No notice of infraction shall be deemed insufficient for failure to contain a definite statement of the essential facts constituting the specific infraction which the defendant is alleged to have committed, nor by reason of defects, or imperfections, or omissions which do not tend to prejudice substantial rights of the defendant.

     Reviser's note: The brackets and enclosed material in the text of the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

     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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