SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5001

BYSenate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Talmadge and Halsan)

Revising the judicial council.

Senate Committee on Judiciary

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 21, 1987; January 28, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5001 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Talmadge, Chairman; Halsan, Vice Chairman; Nelson, Newhouse.

Senate Staff:Lidia Mori (786-7461)

                  April 17, 1987

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 10, 1987

BACKGROUND:

A main function of the Judicial Council is to coordinate the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Bar Association with regards to administrative issues.  Some of its duties include reporting annually to the Governor and the Legislature with recommendations from the Council as to organizational changes in the judicial department, the courts or in judicial procedure.

It has been suggested that the efficacy of the Judicial Council has been diminished due in part to its cumbersome size.

SUMMARY:

The composition of the Judicial Council is lowered from 37 members to 13 members.  Staff from the Committees on Judiciary of the Senate and House of Representatives will be available to assist the Council as well as the Administrator for the Courts.

The duties of the Judicial Council are clarified such that it will receive recommendations from justices, judges, public officials, lawyers and the public to amend current law as to those amendments which affect the administration of justice.  In considering the recommendations, the Judicial Council will examine the common law and statutes of the state and relevant judicial decisions.  Changes in current law may be proposed by the Judicial Council as the changes affect the administration of justice.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Justice Vernon Pearson

HOUSE AMENDMENTS:

The dean of each recognized school of law in the state of Washington is included in the membership of the Judicial Council.

The requirement that staff from the Committees on Judiciary of the Senate and House of Representatives be made available to the Council as necessary has been deleted.

Chapter 43.131.308 RCW is repealed by this act.