WSR 20-09-088
RULES OF COURT
STATE SUPREME COURT
[April 1, 2020]
IN THE MATTER OF THE TECHNICAL CORRECTION TO GR 34—WAIVER OF COURT AND CLERK'S FEES AND CHARGES IN CIVIL MATTERS ON THE BASIS OF INDIGENCY
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ORDER
NO. 25700-A-1293
The Washington State Supreme Court, having recommended the adoption of the proposed technical correction to GR 34—Waiver of Court and Clerk's Fees and Charges in Civil Matters on the Basis of Indigency, and the Court having considered the technical correction, and having determined that the proposed technical correction will aid in the prompt and orderly administration of justice;
Now, therefore, it is hereby
ordered:
(a) That the technical correction as shown below is expeditiously adopted.
(b) That pursuant to the emergency provisions of GR 9 (j)(1), the technical correction will be published in the Washington Reports and will become effective upon publication.
dated at Olympia, Washington this 1st day of April, 2020.
 
 
Stephens, C.J.
Johnson, J.
 
Gonzalez, J.
Madsen, J.
 
Gordon McCloud, J.
Owens, J.
 
Yu, J.
 
 
Montoya-Lewis, J.
GR 34
WAIVER OF COURT AND CLERK'S FEES AND CHARGES IN
CIVIL MATTERS ON THE BASIS OF INDIGENCY
(a) Any individual, on the basis of indigent status as defined herein, may seek a waiver of filing fees or surcharges the payment of which is a condition precedent to a litigant's ability to secure access to judicial relief from a judicial officer in the applicable trial court.
(1) – (4) [Unchanged.]
(5) As used in this rule, "qualified legal services provider" means those legal services providers that meet the definition of APR 1 (e)(8)(e).
COMMENT
The adoption of this rule is rooted in the constitutional premise that every level of court has the inherent authority to waive payment of filing fees and surcharges on a case by case basis. Each court is responsible for the proper and impartial administration of justice which includes ensuring that meaningful access to judicial review is available to the poor as well as to those who can afford to pay.
(b) [Unchanged.]