BILL REQ. #:  H-1776.1 

Read first time 02/13/09.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:
     THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article IV of the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a new section to read as follows:

     Article IV, section . . .. All mandatory, regulatory, licensing, and disciplinary functions regarding the practice of law and the administration of justice in this state shall reside exclusively in the supreme court. Judicial legislative policies and functions pertaining to the practice of law and the administration of justice shall be reasonably related to the following subjects: Regulating and disciplining lawyers; improving the functioning of the courts, including issues of judicial independence, fairness, efficacy, and efficiency; making legal services available to society; regulating lawyer trust accounts; the education, ethics, competence, integrity, and regulation of the legal profession; providing law improvement assistance to elected and appointed government officials; issues involving the structure, organization, and operation of federal, state, and local courts in or affecting Washington; issues involving the rules of practice, procedure, and evidence in federal, state, or local courts in or affecting Washington; or issues involving the duties and functions of judges and lawyers in federal, state, and local courts in or affecting Washington. Involuntary, mandatory bar associations are hereby prohibited.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state.