SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5770

BYSenators Talmadge, Newhouse and McCaslin

Changing provisions relating to superior and district courts.

Senate Committee on Judiciary

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 12, 1987; February 16, 1987; February 17, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5770 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Senate Staff:Lidia Mori (786-7461)

                  February 17, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Currently, the salaries of part-time district court judges are set by the legislative authority in each county according to the population in each district.  Maximum and minimum amounts are set by statute for each population category.

The number of judges in each district is presently determined by the population of that district.  For example, in a district having a population of forty thousand or more but less than sixty thousand, there will be one full-time district court judge.

SUMMARY:

The salaries of part-time district court judges are set by the legislative authority in each county.

The office of the Administrator for the Courts shall examine the need for additional superior and district court judge positions using a weighted caseload analysis.  This weighted caseload analysis will consider the time required to hear all cases in a court and the amount of time existing judges have available to hear cases in that court.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The salaries of part-time district court judges continue to be set by the legislative authority in each county according to the population of each district.

The Administrator for the Courts will utilize weighted caseload analysis to determine the need for additional superior and district court judges.  The results of this analysis will be reviewed by the Board for Judicial Administration and the Judicial Council which will then make recommendations to the Legislature by January 1, 1989.

Fiscal Note:      requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Melanie Stewart-Gerla, Washington State District Court Judges Association; James Metcalf, Washington State Association of Counties