HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2315

BYRepresentatives R. Meyers, Belcher, Vekich, Brumsickle, Zellinsky, Sayan, Fraser and Pruitt

Creating additional superior court positions in Kitsap and Thurston counties.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (18)

      Signed by Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Brough, Dellwo, Forner, Hargrove, Inslee, P. King, R. Meyers, Moyer, H. Myers, Schmidt, Scott, D. Sommers, Tate and Wineberry.

House Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (26)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member, Appelwick, Belcher, Bowman, Braddock, Brekke, Dorn, Doty, Ebersole, Ferguson, Hine, Inslee, McLean, Nealey, Padden, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:      Marilyn Showalter (786-7148)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS FEBRUARY 2, 1990

BACKGROUND:

By statute, the state Legislature determines the number of superior court judges in each county.  Currently, Kitsap and Thurston Counties each has five judges.

Retirement system benefits and one half of the salary of a superior court judge are paid by the state.  The other half of the judge's salary and all other costs associated with a judicial position, such as capital and support staff costs, are borne by the county.  A statute also requires that the county hire a court reporter for each superior court judge.

Periodically, the office of the administrator for the courts conducts a "weighted caseload" study of the superior courts in the state to determine the relative need for additional judges in the counties.

SUMMARY:

The number of superior court judges in Kitsap County is increased from five to seven.  One of the new positions takes effect July 1, 1990, and the other not later than January 1, 1994.

The number of superior court judges in Thurston County is increased from five to six.  The new position takes effect July 1, 1990.

The creation of the new positions in each county is dependent upon the acceptance by the county legislative authority of the responsibility of paying for the county's share of the costs of the positions.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS (SUBSTITUTE BILL):  Language is added that deletes the requirement that the additional superior court judges hire court or stenographic reporters.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Judiciary) Mary McQueen, Office of the Administrator for the Courts; Rick Strophy, Thurston County Superior Court Judge; John Hoglund, Thurston County Bar Association.

(Appropriations)  Mary McQueen, Office of the Administrator for the Courts; Bob Freudenstein, Kitsap County Superior Court; and Judge R. Strophy, Thurston County.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Judiciary)  No one.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Judiciary)  The weighted caseload analysis shows that Thurston County needs at least one more judicial position.  The county gets a great number of cases related to state government and has experienced substantial population growth since 1979 when a new superior court position was last added.

(Appropriations)  The weighted caseload analysis indicates a need for additional judicial positions in Kitsap and Thurston Counties.  Delays in filings had severely backlogged the courts.  Counties have agreed to pay their share of the costs.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Judiciary) None.

(Appropriations)  None.