WSR 99-20-072

RULES OF COURT

STATE SUPREME COURT


[ October 1, 1999 ]

IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENTS TO GR 3 AND NEW GR 21 )

)

)

 ORDER

NO. 25700-A-668

The JIS Committee having recommended the adoption of the proposed amendments to GR 3 and New GR 21, and the Court having determined that the proposed amendments will aid in the prompt and orderly administration of justice and further determined that an emergency exists which necessitates an early adoption;

Now, therefore, it is hereby

ORDERED:

(a) That the amendments as attached hereto are adopted.

(b) That pursuant to the emergency provisions of GR 9(i), the amendments will be published expeditiously and become effective upon publication.

DATED at Olympia, Washington this 1st day of October, 1999.
Guy, C. J.
Smith, J.

Madsen, J

 Alexander, J.
Johnson, J.

 Sanders, J.
Talmadge, J.

 Ireland, J.


GR 3

Filings and Hearings--Time Extended



In event the last day for filing any document, having any hearing or for doing any other thing or matter in the office of any clerk of any court shall fall upon a day when such court clerk's office shall be closed according to rule 2 or rule 21, then and in that event the time for such filing, hearing or other thing or matter shall be extended until the end of the next business day upon which such office court shall be open for business. Notwithstanding this rule, extensions of time for trial are governed by CrR 3.3 (d)(8) and CrRLJ 3.3 (d)(8).

Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above material occurred in the copy filed by the State Supreme Court and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

NEW GR 21

EMERGENCY COURT CLOSURE



(a). Generally. A court may be closed if weather, technological failure or other hazardous or emergency conditions or events are or become such that the safety and welfare of the employees are threatened or the court is unable to operate or demands immediate action to protect the court, its employees or property. Closure may be ordered by the chief justice, the presiding chief judge, presiding judge or other judge so designated by the affected court in his or her discretion during the pendency of such conditions or events.

(b). Order and Notification. Whenever a court is closed in accordance with section (a), the chief justice, presiding chief judge, presiding judge or other judge directing the closure of the court shall enter an administrative order closing the court which shall be filed with the clerk of the affected court. It shall also be the responsibility of the chief justice, the presiding chief judge, the presiding judge or other judge so designated by the affected court to notify the Office of the Administrator for the Courts of any decision to close a court. All oral notifications to the Office of the Administrator for the Courts shall be followed as soon as practicable with a written statement outlining the condition or event necessitating such action and the length of such closure.

(c). Filings and Hearings--Time Extended. Reserved. See GR 3.

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