HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6518

As Passed House:

March 2, 2004

Title: An act relating to the general election ballot for the office of judge of the district court.

Brief Description: Changing the general election ballot for the office of judge of the district court.

Sponsors: By Senator McCaslin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

State Government: 2/24/04, 2/26/04 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/2/04, 95-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Haigh, Chair; Miloscia, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Ranking Minority Member; Shabro, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hunt, McDermott, Nixon, Tom and Wallace.

Staff: Katie Blinn (786-7114).

Background:

If only one or two candidates for District Court Judge file for office, the position does not appear on the primary election ballot and only appears on the general election ballot. For the other judicial races, if a candidate receives a majority of the votes cast at the primary, only that candidate's name appears on the general election ballot.

Summary of Bill:

If a candidate for District Court Judge receives a majority of the votes cast at the primary, only that candidate's name will appear on the general election ballot.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2004.

Testimony For: The District and Municipal Court Judges' Association did not bring this bill to Senator McCaslin, but the Association welcomes the parity the bill provides with other judicial elections.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Melanie Stewart, Washington District and Municipal Court Judges Association.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.