Brief Description: Changing travel reimbursement provisions affecting judges of the court of appeals.

Sponsors: Senators Kline and Spanel; by request of Court Of Appeals.

Senate Committee on Judiciary
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Appropriations

Background: The state Court of Appeals contains three divisions, each serving a defined geographic area of the state, headquartered in Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane. Each of the divisions contains three distinct geographic districts, and a specific number of judges must be elected from each district. At the time of election, the judge must reside from that specific district and have lived there for at least a year.

Statute prevents Court of Appeals judges from receiving per diem or mileage for services performed at the judge's legal residence or the headquarters of the division of the court the judge serves.

Superior court judges serving a district comprising more than one county receive reimbursement for travel expenses in connection with business of the court. The travel includes going from the residence of the judge to the other county or counties in his or her district and the return trip.

District court judges, judges pro tempore, court commissioners, and district court employees receive reimbursement for reasonable traveling expenses when engaged in the business of the court.

A judge of the Court of Appeals or of the Superior Court serving as a judge pro tempore of the Supreme Court is entitled to receive reimbursement for travel required by the position.

Summary: Rules may be adopted by the Court of Appeals to provide reimbursement to a judge of the Court of Appeals for work-related travel expenses from the judge's customary residence to the division headquarters of the court and back. If the judge is elected from or residing in the county in which the division is headquartered, he or she is not eligible for reimbursement for work-related travel expenses.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      49   0
House      97   0

Effective:   July 22, 2007