H-1921.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2116
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State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Representatives Scott, Riley, Tate, Wineberry, R. Meyers, Padden and Mielke.
Read first time February 26, 1991. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
AN ACT Relating to assignment of judges in juvenile dependency proceedings; and adding a new section to chapter 13.34 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 13.34 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The presiding judge for the superior court shall assign one or more judges to handle proceedings under this chapter. The judges assigned to handle proceedings under this chapter shall not be rotated for a minimum of one year after being assigned to handle proceedings under this chapter.
(2) To the extent feasible, judges assigned to hear proceedings under this chapter shall be those who (a) desire to be assigned; and (b) have special experience or training in juvenile issues and the problems of children likely to come before the court.
(3) Once a proceeding under this chapter has been assigned to a judge, further motions and hearings related to that proceeding shall be made before the same judge until that judge retires or dies, regardless of that judge's rotation.