SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5868
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Law & Justice, January 22, 2026
Title: An act relating to adding an additional superior court judge in Skagit county and in Yakima county.
Brief Description: Adding an additional superior court judge in Skagit county and in Yakima county.
Sponsors: Senators Wagoner, King, Dhingra, Lovelett and Pedersen; by request of Administrative Office of the Courts.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Law & Justice: 1/15/26, 1/22/26 [DP-WM].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Increases the number of superior court judges in Skagit County from four to five.
  • Increases the number of superior court judges in Yakima County from eight to nine.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE
Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.
Signed by Senators Dhingra, Chair; Trudeau, Vice Chair; Holy, Ranking Member; Fortunato, Lovick, Salomon, Torres, Valdez and Wagoner.
Staff: Tim Ford (786-7414)
Background:

The number of superior court judges in each county is set by statute. Any change in the number of full and part-time judges in a county's superior court is determined by the Legislature after receiving a recommendation from the Board for Judicial Administration (BJA).  The BJA recommendation is based on an objective workload analysis developed annually by the Administrative Office of the Courts.  The objective workload analysis takes into account available judicial resources and the caseload activity of the court.  Superior court judges and court commissioners hear felony and other criminal matters, civil matters, domestic relations matters, guardianship and probate matters, juvenile matters as well as child dependency cases, appeals from lower courts, and appeals from state administrative agencies. 

 

The Washington State Constitution provides that the state and county share the cost for superior court judges. A superior court judge's benefits and one-half of the salary are paid by the state. The county pays one-half of the judge's salary. For an additional judicial position to become effective, the legislative authority of the affected county must approve the position and agree to pay, out of county funds and without reimbursement from the state, expenses associated with the new position. 

 

Skagit County has four superior court judges.  Yakima County has eight superior court judges. 
Summary of Bill:

The number of superior court judges in Skagit County is increased from four to five.  The number of superior court judges in Yakima County is increased from eight to nine.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 9, 2026.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  We have struggled with backlogs in our courts, and the amount of judges is a limiting factor in the number of cases that can be heard and resolved.  Both courts are under-resourced according to the most recent judicial needs estimate.  Skagit County has a need for 7 judicial officers and they currently have 4 judges, we are asking for 5 judges.  Yakima County needs 12 full time judicial officers, they currently have 8 judges, we are asking for 9 judges.  Yakima's case filings are up, we are projecting to be over 10,000 case filings by the end of the last calendar year.  Your civil trial can be bumped by a criminal trial because criminal defendants have a right to a speedy trial.  Our case load is growing and the extra judge will support justice.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Keith Wagoner, Prime Sponsor; LaDon Linde, Yakima County Commissioner; Commissioner Ron Wesen, Skagit County; J. Lee Schultz, Administrative Office of the Courts, Board for Judicial Administration; Judge Elizabeth Neidzwski, Skagit County Superior Court; Judge Kevin Naught, Yakima County Superior Court; Jessica Humphreys, Yakima County Superior Court.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.