BILL REQ. #: H-0886.1
State of Washington | 62nd Legislature | 2011 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/28/11. 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.