FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6292

 

C 136 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

 

Brief Description:  Authorizing lay judicial officers.

 

Sponsors:  Senators Kline and Johnson.

 

Senate Committee on Judiciary

House Committee on Judiciary

 

Background:  A candidate for district court judge, in addition to residency requirements,  must meet one of three criteria:  (1) be admitted to the practice of law in this state, or (2) be a previously elected judge of a district or municipal court, or (3) for candidates residing in districts with a population less than 5,000 persons, the candidate must have passed a qualifying examination for a district court judge.  To be appointed or elected as a municipal judge, in addition to citizenship and residency requirements, a person must be admitted to the practice of law in this state or reside in a municipality of less than 5,000 population.

 

The Municipal and District Court Judges Association is recommending that all candidates for district and municipal court judge should be attorneys admitted to the practice of law in this state, unless the candidate resides in a district with less than 5,000 population and passes a qualifying examination.

 

Summary:  A candidate for district or municipal court judge must be an attorney admitted to the practice of law in the state of Washington unless the candidate resides in a district or municipality with a population less than 5,000.  In districts or cities with less than 5,000 population, a candidate is eligible to run for district or municipal court judge if the person has passed by January 1, 2003, the qualifying examination for a lay judicial officer.

 

Statutory provisions allowing non-attorney but previously elected judges of district and municipal court to be a district court judge are deleted.

 

Votes on Final Passage:

 

Senate2719

House7322

 

Effective:  June 13, 2002