HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2492

BYRepresentatives Appelwick, Van Luven, Ferguson, H. Sommers, Leonard, Crane, Miller, O'Brien, Cole, May, Anderson, Betrozoff, Wineberry and P. King 

Authorizing the appointment of district court judges as pro tempore judges in cities over 400,000 population.

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, Locke, R. Meyers, Moyer, H. Myers, Schmidt, Scott, Tate and Wineberry.

House Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 6, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The law allows for the appointment of temporary ("pro tem") judges to handle excess caseloads.  Various restrictions and qualifications apply to the appointment of pro tems.  A pro tem in Seattle municipal court must be, among other things, an attorney who resides in Seattle.

There has been an ongoing effort in King County to coordinate caseloads between county courts of limited jurisdiction ("district courts") and Seattle municipal court.  One of the measures that has been suggested is the use of district court judges as pro tems in municipal court.  However, unless a King County district court judge happens to be a resident of Seattle he or she cannot serve as a pro tem in Seattle municipal court.

SUMMARY:

A full-time district court judge in a county with a city of over 400,000 population may serve as a pro tem judge in that city's municipal court, whether or not the judge resides in the city.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Ronald Kessler, Seattle Municipal Court.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The bill will allow continued cooperation between district and municipal courts.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.