FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6596

C 138 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Increasing the number of Spokane district court judges.

Sponsors:  Senators McCaslin, Brown, Long, Sheahan, Johnson, Kline, Roach and West.

Senate Committee on Judiciary

House Committee on Judiciary

Background:  The number of district court judges in each county is set by statute.  There is a procedure, also in statute, for changing the number of judges in a county.

The Legislature determines the number of district court judges in a county after receiving a recommendation of the Supreme Court.  The process of formulating such a recommendation involves the use of a "weighted caseload" analysis developed by the Administrative Office of the Courts.  The weighted caseload analysis includes consideration of the amount of judicial time and resources needed to process various kinds of cases.

Summary:  The number of district court judges in Spokane County is increased from nine to ten.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate480

House930

Effective:  June 13, 2002