AN ACT
Relating to superior courts; amending RCW 2.08.061, 2.08.062, 2.08.063,
2.08.064, 2.08.065, and 2.32.180; creating a new section; and providing
effective dates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
2.08.061 and 1989 c 328 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
There
shall be in the county of King no more than ((forty-six)) fifty-eight
judges of the superior court; in the county of Spokane ten judges of the
superior court; and in the county of Pierce nineteen judges of the superior
court. The King county legislative authority may phase in the additional
twelve judges, as authorized by the 1992 amendments to this section, over a
period of time not to extend beyond July 1, 1996. No more than two of the
additional twelve judges may take office prior to July 1, 1993.
Sec.
2. RCW
2.08.062 and 1990 c 186 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
There
shall be in the counties of Chelan and Douglas jointly, three judges of the
superior court; in the county of Clark six judges of the superior court; in the
county of Grays Harbor ((two)) three judges of the superior
court; in the county of Kitsap seven judges of the superior court; in the
county of Kittitas one judge of the superior court; in the county of Lewis two
judges of the superior court.
Sec.
3. RCW
2.08.063 and 1988 c 66 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
There
shall be in the county of Lincoln one judge of the superior court; in the
county of Skagit, ((two)) three judges of the superior court; in
the county of Walla Walla, two judges of the superior court; in the county of
Whitman, one judge of the superior court; in the county of Yakima six judges of
the superior court; in the county of Adams, one judge of the superior court; in
the county of Whatcom, three judges of the superior court.
Sec.
4. RCW
2.08.064 and 1989 c 328 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
There
shall be in the counties of Benton and Franklin jointly, five judges of the
superior court; in the county of Clallam, two judges of the superior court; in
the county of Jefferson, one judge of the superior court; in the county of
Snohomish, ((eleven)) thirteen judges of the superior court; in
the counties of Asotin, Columbia and Garfield jointly, one judge of the
superior court; in the county of Cowlitz, three judges of the superior court;
in the counties of Klickitat and Skamania jointly, one judge of the superior
court.
Sec.
5. RCW
2.08.065 and 1990 c 186 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
There
shall be in the county of Grant, two judges of the superior court; in the
county of Okanogan, one judge of the superior court; in the county of Mason, ((one))
two judges of the superior court; in the county of Thurston, six
judges of the superior court; in the counties of Pacific and Wahkiakum jointly,
one judge of the superior court; in the counties of Ferry, Pend Oreille, and
Stevens jointly, two judges of the superior court; and in the counties of San
Juan and Island jointly, two judges of the superior court.
Sec.
6. RCW
2.32.180 and 1991 c 363 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
It shall
be and is the duty of each and every superior court judge in counties or
judicial districts in the state of Washington having a population of over
thirty-five thousand inhabitants to appoint, or said judge may, in any county
or judicial district having a population of over twenty-five thousand and less
than thirty-five thousand, appoint a stenographic reporter to be attached to
the judge's court who shall have had at least three years' experience as a
skilled, practical reporter, or who upon examination shall be able to report
and transcribe accurately one hundred and seventy-five words per minute of the
judge's charge or two hundred words per minute of testimony each for five
consecutive minutes; said test of proficiency, in event of inability to meet qualifications
as to length of time of experience, to be given by an examining committee
composed of one judge of the superior court and two official reporters of the
superior court of the state of Washington, appointed by the president judge of
the superior court judges association of the state of Washington: PROVIDED,
That a stenographic reporter shall not be required to be appointed for the
seven additional judges of the superior court authorized for appointment by
section 1, chapter 323, Laws of 1987, the additional superior court judge
authorized by section 1, chapter 66, Laws of 1988, the additional superior
court judges authorized by sections 2 and 3, chapter 328, Laws of 1989, ((or))
the additional superior court judges authorized by sections 1 and 2, chapter
186, Laws of 1990, or the additional superior court judges authorized by
sections 1 through 5, chapter ..., Laws of 1992 (sections 1 through 5 of this
act). Appointment of a stenographic reporter is not required for any
additional superior court judge authorized after July 1, 1992. The initial
judicial appointee shall serve for a period of six years; the two initial
reporter appointees shall serve for a period of four years and two years,
respectively, from September 1, 1957; thereafter on expiration of the first
terms of service, each newly appointed member of said examining committee to
serve for a period of six years. In the event of death or inability of a
member to serve, the president judge shall appoint a reporter or judge, as the
case may be, to serve for the balance of the unexpired term of the member whose
inability to serve caused such vacancy. The examining committee shall grant
certificates to qualified applicants. Administrative and procedural rules and
regulations shall be promulgated by said examining committee, subject to
approval by the said president judge.
The
stenographic reporter upon appointment shall thereupon become an officer of the
court and shall be designated and known as the official reporter for the court
or judicial district for which he or she is appointed: PROVIDED, That in no
event shall there be appointed more official reporters in any one county or
judicial district than there are superior court judges in such county or
judicial district; the appointments in each county with a population of one
million or more shall be made by the majority vote of the judges in said county
acting en banc; the appointments in each county with a population of from one
hundred twenty-five thousand to less than one million may be made by each
individual judge therein or by the judges in said county acting en banc. Each
official reporter so appointed shall hold office during the term of office of
the judge or judges appointing him or her, but may be removed for incompetency,
misconduct or neglect of duty, and before entering upon the discharge of his or
her duties shall take an oath to perform faithfully the duties of his or her
office, and file a bond in the sum of two thousand dollars for the faithful
discharge of his or her duties. Such reporter in each court is hereby declared
to be a necessary part of the judicial system of the state of Washington.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 7. (1)
Sections 1, 3, and 5 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1992.
(2)
The remainder of this act shall take effect July 1, 1993.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 8. The
additional judicial positions created by sections 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of this act
shall be effective only if each county through its duly constituted legislative
authority documents its approval of any additional positions and its agreement
that it will pay out of county funds, without reimbursement from the state, the
expenses of such additional judicial positions as provided by statute.
