FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2471

C 83 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Changing the methodology of determining the number of district court judges.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Esser, Lantz and Casada; by request of Administrator for the Courts.

House Committee on Judiciary

Senate Committee on Judiciary

Background:

The number of district court judges in each county is set by statute.  A change in the number of full or part‑time judges in a county must be made by the Legislature after receiving a recommendation from the Washington Supreme Court.  The recommendation must be based on a weighted caseload analysis conducted by the Office of the Administrator for the Courts (OAC).  The weighted caseload analysis must take into account a number of factors, including:  the time that existing judges have available to hear cases; the judicial time needed to process various types of cases; and a determination of the amount of a judge's time that can be devoted exclusively to process cases.

Summary:

The weighted caseload analysis used by the Washington Supreme Court to make recommendations regarding a change in the number of district court judges in a county is changed to an "objective workload analysis."  The objective workload analysis must take into account available judicial resources and the caseload activity of the court.

Votes on Final Passage:

House970

Senate470

Effective:  June 13, 2002