RULES OF COURT
| IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO GR 33-REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATION BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES | )) ) ) | ORDER NO. 25700-A-973 |
Now, therefore, it is hereby
ORDERED:
(a) That the amendment as shown below is adopted.
(b) That the amendment will be published expeditiously and become effective upon publication.
DATED at Olympia, Washington this 2nd day of December, 2010.
| Madsen, C.J. |
|
| C. Johnson, J. |
Owens, J. |
| Alexander, J. |
Fairhurst, J. |
| Sanders, J. |
J. M. Johnson, J. |
| Chambers, J. |
Stephens, J. |
Requests for Accommodation by Persons with Disabilities
(a) Definitions. The following definitions shall apply
under this rule:
(1) "Accommodation" means measures to make each court
service, program, or activity, when viewed in its entirety,
readily accessible to and usable by a qualified person with a
disability, and may include but is not limited to:
(A) making reasonable modifications in policies, practices, and procedures;
(B) furnishing, at no charge, auxiliary aids and services, including but not limited to equipment, devices, materials in alternative formats, qualified interpreters, or readers; and
(C) as to otherwise unrepresented parties to the proceedings, representation by counsel, as appropriate or necessary to making each service, program, or activity, when viewed in its entirety, readily accessible to and usable by a person with a disability.
(2) "Person with a disability" means a person with a sensory, mental or physical disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (§ 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), the Washington State Law Against Discrimination (RCW 49.60 et seq.), or other similar local, state, or federal laws.
(2) (3) "Proceedings Applicant" means any lawyer, party,
witness, juror, or any other individual who has a specific
interest in or is participating in any proceeding before any
court.
(3) "Court" means any court or other agency or body
subject to the rulemaking authority of the Supreme Court.
(4) "Public Applicant" means any other person seeking accommodation.
(4) "Person with a disability" means a person covered by
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (§ 42 U.S.C. 12101
et seq.), RCW 49.60 et seq., or other similar local, state, or
federal laws. This term includes but is not limited to an
individual who has a physical or mental impairment that limits
one or more major life activities, has a documented history of
such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an
impairment.
(5) "Qualified person with a disability" means a person with a disability who is otherwise entitled to participate in any program, service, or activity made available by any court.
(b) Process for Requesting Accommodation.
(1) Persons seeking accommodation may proceed under this rule. Local procedures not inconsistent with this rule may be adopted by courts to supplement the requirements of this rule. A disputed or denied request for accommodation is automatically subject to review under the procedures set out in subsections (d) and (e) of this rule.
(1) (2) An application requesting accommodation may be
presented ex parte in writing, or orally and reduced to
writing, on a form approved by the Administrative Office of
the Courts, to the presiding judge or officer of the court or
his or her designee.
(2) (3) An application for accommodation shall include a
description of the accommodation sought, along with a
statement of the impairment disability necessitating the
accommodation. The court may require the applicant to provide
additional information about the qualifying impairment
disability to help assess the appropriate accommodation.
Medical and other health information shall be submitted under
a cover sheet created by the Administrative Office of the
Courts for use by applicants designated "SEALED MEDICAL AND
HEALTH INFORMATION" and such information shall be sealed
automatically. The court may order that such information be
sealed if it has not previously automatically been sealed.
(4) An application for accommodation should be made as
far in advance as practical. of the proceeding for which the
accommodation is sought.
(c) Consideration. A request for accommodation shall be considered and acted upon as follows:
(1) In determining whether to grant an accommodation and what accommodation to grant, the court shall:
(A) consider, but not be limited by, the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (§ 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), RCW 49.60 et seq., and other similar local, state, and federal laws;
(B) give primary consideration to the accommodation requested by the applicant; and
(C) make its decision on an individual - and case-specific basis with due regard to the nature of the applicant's disability and the feasibility of the requested accommodation.
(2) If an application for accommodation by a proceedings
applicant is filed submitted five (5) or more court days prior
to the scheduled date of the proceeding for which the
accommodation is sought, and if the applicant otherwise is
entitled under this rule to the accommodation requested, the
accommodation shall be provided unless:
(A) it is impossible for the court to provide the requested accommodation on the date of the proceeding; and
(B) the proceeding cannot be continued without prejudice to a party to the proceeding.
(3) If an application for accommodation by a proceedings
applicant is filed submitted fewer than five (5) court days
prior to the scheduled date of the proceeding for which the
accommodation is requested, and if the applicant otherwise is
entitled under this rule to the accommodation requested, the
accommodation shall be provided unless:
(A) it is impractical for the court to provide the requested accommodation on the date of the proceeding; and
(B) the proceeding cannot be continued without prejudice to a party to the proceeding.
(4) If a requested accommodation is not provided by the court under subsection (c)(2) or (c)(3) of this rule, the court must offer the applicant an alternative accommodation.
(d) Denial: Proceedings Applicants. Except as otherwise set forth in subsection (c(2) or (c)(3) of this rule, an application for accommodation by a proceedings applicant may be denied only if the court finds that:
(1) the applicant has failed to satisfy the substantive requirements of this rule;
(2) the requested accommodation would create an undue financial or administrative burden;
(3) the requested accommodation would fundamentally alter the nature of the court service, program, or activity; or
(4) permitting the applicant to participate in the
proceeding with the requested accommodation would create a
direct threat to the health or safety or well being of the
applicant or others.
(e) Order Decision: Proceedings Applicants. The court
shall, in writing or on the record, inform the applicant and
the court personnel responsible for implementing
accommodations that the request for accommodation has been
granted or denied, in whole or in part, and the nature and
scope of the accommodation to be provided, if any. The
decision shall be entered in the proceedings file, if any, or
in the court's administrative files. The court shall issue an
order consistent with its decision. If the court denies a
requested accommodation pursuant to section (d) of this rule,
the order decision shall specify the reasons for the denial.
If a requested accommodation is not provided by the court
under subsection (c)(2) or (c)(3) of this rule, the court's
shall state order shall include a description of:
(1) the facts and/or circumstances that make the accommodation impossible under subsection (c)(2) or impractical under subsection (c)(3); and
(2) the reasons why the proceeding cannot be continued without prejudicing a party to the proceeding.
The court shall inform the applicant and the court
personnel responsible for implementing accommodations that the
request for accommodation has been granted or denied, in whole
or in part, and the nature of the accommodation to be
provided, if any.
(f) Decision: Public Applicants. A public applicant should be accommodated consistent with the ADA of 1990 (42 USC 12101 et seq) and the WLAD (RCW 49.60 et seq). The applicant shall, orally or in writing, be informed that the request for accommodation has been granted or denied. If requested, a written statement of reasons for denial shall be provided.
Duration of Accommodation. The accommodation ordered
shall commence on the date set forth in the order granting the
accommodation and shall remain in effect for the period
specified in the order, which may be extended as the court
deems appropriate. The court may grant an accommodation for
an indefinite period or for a particular proceeding or
appearance.
Comment
[1] Access to justice for all persons is a fundamental right. It is the policy of the courts of this state to assure that persons with disabilities have equal and meaningful access to the judicial system. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to limit or invalidate the remedies, rights, and procedures accorded to any person with a disability under local, state, or federal law.
[2] Supplemental informal procedures for handling accommodation requests may be less onerous for both applicants and court administration. Courts are strongly encouraged to adopt an informal grievance process for public applicants whose requested accommodation is denied.
Reviser's note: RCW 34.05.395 requires the use of underlining and deletion marks to indicate amendments to existing rules. The rule published above varies from its predecessor in certain respects not indicated by the use of these markings.
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.
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.