Brief Description: Addressing judicial district population estimates.

Sponsors: Senator Fairley; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections
House Committee on Judiciary

Background: District court population estimates were previously used to determine the number of Judges per District Court, and to determine the salaries of part-time judges. Currently, the Supreme Court determines the number of District Court judges. The Washington Citizens' Commission of Salaries sets part-time judges' salaries.

Population is defined as the latest population of the judicial district of each county as estimated and certified by the Office of Financial Management (OFM). Currently, OFM is required to estimate and certify to the county legislative authority the population of each judicial district of each county.

Summary: The requirement that OFM estimate and certify to the county legislative authority the population of each judicial district is removed.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      48   0
House      95   0

Effective: June 12, 2008