SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2407

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Judiciary, February 25, 2000

Title:  An act relating to judges pro tempore.

Brief Description:  Authorizing judges pro tempore whenever a judge serves on a commission, board, or committee.

Sponsors:  Representatives Lantz, Esser and Haigh; by request of Board for Judicial Administration.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Judiciary:  2/18/2000, 2/25/2000 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Heavey, Chair; Kline, Vice Chair; Costa, Goings, Hargrove, Haugen, Johnson, Long, McCaslin and Thibaudeau.

Staff:  Dick Armstrong (786-7460)

Background:  The courts of the state are authorized to appoint judges pro tempore to temporarily serve in the absence of a regular judge, or if necessary for the administration of justice or to deal with an excess caseload.  Pro tempore judges are usually attorneys or retired judges.  Compensation for pro tempore judges appointed for the Supreme Court, Court of  Appeals, and superior courts is established in statute.  Compensation for district and municipal court judges pro tempore are determined by the local legislative authority.

Currently, only district courts are specifically authorized to appoint, without reduction in salary, judges pro tempore while a regular judge is serving on a judicial commission established by the Legislature or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  Each district court judge is authorized up to 15 days for service on such commissions without reduction in salary.

Summary of Bill:  A judge pro tempore may be appointed when a Court of Appeals, superior court, or municipal court judge serves on a judicial commission, board, or committee established by the Legislature or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill is the same as SB 6191 which passed out of this committee.  If judges are serving on a judicial board or commission, then it should be the policy of the state to allow for a pro tem judge to be appointed.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Lantz, prime sponsor; Judge Lukovich, District and Municipal Court Judges Assn.; Chuck Foster, AFC.