FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1954

C 247 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Permitting a retired judge acting as a judge pro tempore to decline compensation.

Sponsors: By Representatives Moeller and McMahan.

House Committee on Judiciary

Senate Committee on Judiciary

Background:

If no judge is available from among a county's elected superior court judges, a judge pro tem may be assigned to a case. Pursuant to court rule, an elected judge from another court may serve as a judge pro tem. Otherwise, the parties to the case may, with court approval, agree to any member of the Washington State Bar Association serving as a judge pro tem.

Pay for a judge pro tem is as follows:

•          A sitting judge who is acting as a judge pro tem receives no extra pay.

•          A member of the bar who is not a retired judge and who is acting as a judge pro tem receives 1/250th of a superior court judge's annual salary for each day of trial.

•          A retired judge who is acting as a judge pro tem receives 60 percent of 1/250th of a superior court judge's annual salary for each day of trial.

In at least one county a retired judge has offered to serve as a judge pro tem without pay. However, the statute on pro tem pay has been interpreted to require payment.

Summary:

A retired judge is authorized to decline compensation for serving as a judge pro tem in superior court.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 92  0

Senate 46  0

Effective: July 27, 2003