HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1136

BYRepresentatives R. Meyers, Winsley, Wang, Ebersole, Pruitt, Walker, R. Fisher, Dorn, Tate and Walk

Creating superior court judge positions in Pierce county.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (17)

      Signed by Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Brough, Dellwo, Hargrove, Inslee, P. King, Locke, R. Meyers, Moyer, H. Myers, Patrick, Tate, Van Luven and Wineberry.

House Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Judiciary be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (24)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Appelwick, Belcher, Bowman, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Dorn, Ebersole, Ferguson, Hine, May, Nealey, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle and Wineberry.

House Staff:      Susan Nakagawa (786-7136)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS FEBRUARY 24, 1989

BACKGROUND:

By statute, the state legislature determines the number of superior court judges in each county.  (Smaller counties may share judges jointly.)  Currently, Pierce County has 15 superior court judges.

One half of the salary of a superior court judge is paid by the state, and the other half is paid by the county.  The employer's contribution to a judge's retirement benefits are also paid by the state.  All other costs associated with a judicial position, such as capital and support staff costs, are borne by the county.

A statute requires the hiring of a stenographic court reporter for each superior court judge.

Periodically, the Office of the Administrator for the Courts conducts a "weighted caseload" study of the superior courts in the state to determine if more judges are needed in a particular county.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The number of superior court judges in Pierce County is increased from 15 to 19.

The new positions are conditional upon their acceptance by the Pierce County legislative authority.  The legislative authority must also agree to pay out of county funds for the county's share of the costs of the new positions.

The new judicial positions in Pierce County are exempted from the requirement that a court reporter be provided for each judge.

Three of the new positions take effect on January 1, 1990.  The fourth position takes effect not later than June 30, 1991.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The substitute adds the provisions that exempt the new positions from the court reporter hiring requirement and that provide for the effective dates for the new positions.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS:  None.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Judiciary)  Judge Donald Thompson, Pierce County Superior Court.

(Appropriations)  Judge Donald Thompson, Pierce County Superior Court.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Judiciary)  None Presented.

(Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Judiciary)  Pierce County currently has the highest ratio of case filings per judge in the state.  The weighted caseload analysis shows a need for even more judges than the four authorized by the bill.

(Appropriations)  Pierce County currently has the highest ratio of case filings per judge in the state.  The weighted caseload analysis shows a need for even more judges than the four authorized by the bill.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Judiciary)  None Presented.

(Appropriations)  None Presented.