Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
Judiciary Committee |
|
HB 1583
Title: An act relating to requirements for issuing salary warrants for judges.
Brief Description: Changing requirements for issuing salary warrants for judges.
Sponsors: Representatives Kirby and Campbell.
Brief Summary of Bill |
• Removes the requirement that a judge provide a particular affidavit before the judge can be paid. |
Hearing Date: 2/11/03
Staff: Trudes Tango Hutcheson (786-7384).
Background:
The Administrator for the Courts (Administrator) is charged with administering various aspects of the state court system. Among other duties, the Administrator must collect and compile statistical data on business transacted by the courts. In addition, the Administrator must make recommendations to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court regarding assignments of judges where courts are in need of assistance.
For the purposes of having the courts function at maximum efficiency and ensuring the equitable distribution of work, the Chief Justice may direct any judge to hold court in any county or district where there is a need. A judge must obey the direction of the Chief Justice unless excused by the Chief Justice for sufficient cause.
Before a salary warrant may be issued to a judge, the judge must provide an affidavit stating that he or she has complied with the Chief Justice's direction regarding assignments in other counties or districts and that he or she has complied with the Administrator's requests for information and statistical data regarding the dockets.
Prior to 1997 the superior court judges were paid only once a month and the judge's salary warrant would not be issued by the county until the judge made an affidavit stating that no cause of action remained pending and undecided in the judge's court. Today, the county pays superior court judges in the same manner as it pays other elected officials. The superior court judge no longer is required to submit an affidavit.
Summary of Bill:
A judge no longer is required to submit, as a prerequisite to payment, an affidavit stating that he or she has complied with the Chief Justice's direction regarding assignments to different counties or districts and the Administrator's requests for information and statistical data on the judge's court docket.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not Requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.