SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5206

BYSenator 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)

                  February 12, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, FEBRUARY 11, 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.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

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, King County executive

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