HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2474

BYRepresentatives Appelwick, Locke, Brough, Leonard, Anderson, Crane, Van Luven, Wineberry, May and P. King; by request of Office of Administrator for the Courts

Creating new judicial positions for the King county superior court.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (17)

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

Minority Report:  Without recommendation. (1)

      Signed by Representative Hargrove.

House Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY JANUARY 23, 1990

BACKGROUND:

By statute, the state legislature determines the number of superior court judges in each county.  Currently, King County is authorized 46 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 King County is increased from 46 to 64.  The new positions take effect not later than December 30, 1994.

The creation of the new positions 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.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 15, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Mary McQueen, Office of the Administrator for the Courts; Charles V. Johnson, King County Superior Court.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    King County Superior Court judges have done everything in their power to try to reduce the backlog of cases.  Changes in state laws, and enormous increases in drug crimes have caused severe overcrowding in King County Superior Court.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.