Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Judiciary Committee |
HB 2681
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Title: An act relating to allowing compensation for part-time judges' judicial services.
Brief Description: Allowing compensation for part-time judges' judicial services.
Sponsors: Representatives Goodman, Rodne and Kelley.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/28/10
Staff: Edie Adams (786-7180).
Background:
District courts are county courts that have jurisdiction over misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases and most civil actions involving claims of $75,000 or less. District court judges are elected to four-year terms. In order to serve as a district court judge, a person must be a registered voter of the district court district and an attorney admitted to practice law in Washington. In a district with a population of less than 5,000, the person does not have to be an attorney if the person has passed the qualifying exam for lay judges by January 1, 2003. There are currently 88 full-time district judges and 24 part-time district judges serving in the district courts.
When a district judge is unable to serve due to an absence, disqualification, or other reason, the district court may appoint a judge pro tempore to temporarily serve in place of the district judge, or the district court may "borrow" a district judge from another district court on a temporary basis.
A judge pro tempore must meet the same requirements as a district judge, except that a judge pro tempore need not be a registered voter of the district, but only of the state. Compensation for a district judge pro tempore is determined by the local legislative authority.
A district judge may temporarily provide judicial services in another district court if the judge is able to be absent from the judge's own district and the county legislative authority approves the absence of the judge. A visiting district judge is entitled to reimbursement for subsistence, lodging, and travel expenses. These expenses are paid by the visited district and must be approved in advance by the county legislative authority for the visited district.
Summary of Bill:
A visiting part-time district judge may receive compensation for judicial services if the county legislative authority in the visited district approves the payment in advance.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.