SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5206

BYSenate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senator Talmadge)

Authorizing additional superior court judges.

Senate Committee on Judiciary

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 20, 1987; January 27, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5206 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Senate Staff:Lidia Mori (786-7461)

                  January 27, 1987

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 11, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5206 as recommended by Committee on Judiciary be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDermott, Chairman; Gaspard, Vice Chairman; Bluechel, Deccio, Fleming, Hayner, Kreidler, Lee, Owen, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Talmadge, Vognild, Wojahn, Zimmerman.

Senate Staff:Lynn French (786-7715)

                  April 17, 1987

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 2, 1987

BACKGROUND:

A Washington Superior Court Weighted Caseload Study was conducted in 1976 by the National Center for State Courts.  An update of the weighted caseload study was performed in 1985 and 1986.  The results of these studies have been used to help substantiate requests for additional judicial positions.  These results indicate that 55.8 judges are needed in King County at the present time and that 2.9 judges are necessary in Douglas and Chelan Counties jointly.

SUMMARY:

The maximum number of superior court judges in King County increases by 7 judges for a total of 46.  In the judicial districts of Douglas and Chelan Counties, the number of judges is increased by 1 to a total of 3.  The addition of the judicial positions is conditioned upon the documentation, by the legislative authority in each county, of its approval and agreement that the expenses of the judicial positions shall be borne by the counties, including the expenses incurred for court facilities.

The legislative authority for each county has the option of phasing in the additional judicial positions over a period of time, not to exceed January 1, 1990.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: JUDICIARY:  Janet McLane, Office of the Administrator for the Courts; Judge Cone, Chelan/Douglas Superior Court; Judge Robert Winsor, King County Superior Court; Tom Zilly, Seattle King County Bar Association; Kurt Sharar, Washington State Association of Counties; and Ronald Main, King County Council, Intergovernmental Relations officer

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  Senator Sellar, Douglas and Chelan Counties; Judge Robert Winsor, King County Superior Court; Wayne Boyer, Seattle King County Bar, Vice President; Ron Main, King County Council, Intergovernmental Relations Officer

HOUSE AMENDMENTS:

Under the supervision and direction of the Chief Justice, the Administrator for the Courts will examine the need for new superior court and district judge positions using a weighted caseload analysis which takes into account the time required and the amount of time available to hear all cases in a particular court.  The Board for Judicial Administration and the Judicial Council will review the results of the analysis and make recommendations to the Legislature by January 1, 1989.  The recommendations are to address the objective of the Legislature that weighted caseload analysis become the basis for creating additional district court positions.

A stenographic reporter is not required to be appointed for the seven additional superior court judges authorized to be appointed for King County by this 1987 act.