Title: An act relating to requirements for issuing salary warrants for judges.

Brief Description: Changing requirements for issuing salary warrants for judges.

Sponsors: Representatives Kirby and Campbell; by request of Board For Judicial Administration.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/04/05, 96-0.

Committee Activity: Judiciary: 3/17/05, 3/29/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kline, Chair; Weinstein, Vice Chair; Johnson, Ranking Minority Member; Carrell, Esser, McCaslin, Rasmussen and Thibaudeau.

Staff: Cindy Fazio (786-7405)

Background: The Administrator for the Courts (Administrator), among other things, is charged with making recommendations to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court regarding assignments of judges where courts are in need of assistance. The Chief Justice may direct any judge to hold court in any county or district where there is a need.

Before a salary warrant may be issued to a judge, the judge must provide an affidavit stating that he or she has complied with the Chief Justice's direction regarding assignments in other counties or districts and that he or she has complied with the Administrator's requests for information and statistical data regarding the court dockets.

Summary of Bill: Judges are no longer required to submit, as a prerequisite to payment, an affidavit stating that he or she has complied with the Chief Justice's direction regarding assignments to different counties or districts and the Administrator's requests for information and statistical data on the judge's court docket.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This is a technical bill that does away with an old requirement that no longer serves any purpose.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Jeff Hall, Administrative Office of the Courts.