FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1734

                     Synopsis as Enacted

                         C 420 L 93

Brief Description:  Adding new judges to the court of appeals.

By House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Appelwick, Ludwig, Dellwo, Silver, Padden, Peery, Ogden, Mastin, Scott and Johanson; by request of Administrator for the Courts).

House Committee on Judiciary

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:  The state Court of Appeals is divided into three divisions.  The divisions are designated as 1, 2 and 3, and are respectively headquartered in Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane.  Each of the divisions is further subdivided into three districts.

There are currently 17 judges on the Court of Appeals.  Division 1 has nine judges, Divisions 2 and 3 each have four judges.

Judges of the Court of Appeals are elected by district to six-year terms.  They must be residents of the districts from which they are elected, and must have been admitted to the practice of law in this state for at least five years.

Periodically, the Office of the Administrator for the Courts analyzes the workloads of the various levels of state courts.  The office is recommending increases in the number of judges in each of the divisions of the Court of Appeals.

Summary:  The number of judicial positions on the Court of Appeals is increased by six, from 17 to 23.

The number of judges in the 1st Division is increased by three, from nine to 12.  Two of the new judges are assigned to District 1 which is King County.  These two positions take effect January 1, 1994.  The other new judge is assigned to District 3, which is Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom counties.  This new position takes effect July 1, 1996.

The number of judges in the 2nd Division is increased by two, from four to six.  One of the new judges is assigned to District 2 which is Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, and Thurston counties.  This new position takes effect July 1, 1993.  The other new judge is assigned to District 3, which is Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties.  This new position also takes effect July 1, 1993.

The number of judges in the 3rd Division is increased by one, from four to five.  The new judge is assigned to District 3 which is Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Yakima counties.  This new position takes effect July 1, 1994.

Upon its effective date, each new position is to be filled by appointment by the governor.  At the next general election following the appointment, the position will be filled by election.  Staggered six-year terms are provided.

The new positions are dependent upon funding in a biennial budget. 

Votes on Final Passage:

House  90 0

Senate 44 0 (Senate amended)

House  97 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  May 15, 1993