WSR 26-02-013
RULES OF COURT
STATE SUPREME COURT
[November 6, 2025]
IN THE MATTER OF THE SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO GR 7–LOCAL COURT RULEMAKING | ) ) ) | ORDER NO. 25700-A-1666 |
The Association of Washington Superior Court Administrators and the Superior Court Judges' Association, having recommended the suggested amendments to GR 7—Local Court Rulemaking, and the Court having approved the suggested amendments for publication;
Now, therefore, it is hereby
ordered:
(a) That pursuant to the provisions of GR 9(g), the suggested amendments as attached hereto are to be published for comment in the Washington Reports, Washington Register, Washington State Bar Association and Administrative Office of the Court's websites in January 2026.
(b) The purpose statement as required by GR 9(e) is published solely for the information of the Bench, Bar and other interested parties.
(c) Comments are to be submitted to the Clerk of the Supreme Court by either U.S. Mail or Internet E-Mail by no later than April 30, 2026. Comments may be sent to the following addresses: P.O. Box 40929, Olympia, Washington 98504-0929, or supreme@courts.wa.gov. Comments submitted by e-mail message must be limited to 1500 words.
dated at Olympia, Washington this 5th day of November, 2025.
| For the Court |
| |
| Johnson, J. |
| Acting CHIEF JUSTICE |
GR 9 COVER SHEET FOR
SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO GENERAL RULE 7 (GR 7)
A. Proponent:
Association of Washington Superior Court Administrators (AWSCA) and the Superior Court Judges' Association (SCJA)
B. Spokesperson:
Jessica Humphreys, President of AWSCA
C. Purpose:
General Rule 7 governing local court rulemaking required Courts to distribute copies of local rules adopted on an emergency basis to all county law libraries. Currently, in order to comply with GR 7 (f)(1), the Administrative Office of the Courts provides address labels for all county law libraries and Courts mail the rules adopted on an emergency basis. However, county law libraries are more reliant on the electronic version of local court rules available on courts.wa.gov or on the Court's local website and do not need to receive a hard copy via mail. The proposed amendment eliminates the need for Courts to mail rules adopted on an emergency basis to the county law libraries. Instead, Courts are directed to post the rule adopted on an emergency basis to the court website.
D. Is a Public Hearing Recommended?
No.
E. Is Expedited Consideration Requested?
No.
F. Supporting Materials:
Not Applicable.
GR 7
LOCAL COURT RULEMAKING
(a) Generally. One copy of rules of court authorized by law to be adopted or amended by courts other than the Supreme Court must be filed with the state Administrative Office of the Courts. New proposed rules and amendments must be filed on or before July 1, to be effective September 1 of the same year. Promulgation or amendment of rules that describe only the structure, internal management and organization of the court but do not affect courtroom procedures are not governed by the time limitations above.
(b) Review and Comment
(1) No court may adopt an amended or new local rule without first distributing the proposal and allowing at least 30 days for comment. The court shall distribute the proposal by posting it on the court's website and sending the proposal to the county prosecutor, the county clerk, a representative of the county public defender, and the local bar association (with a request that the association notify its members). The court may also take other actions to distribute the proposal.
(2) The court shall direct that all comments on the proposal be submitted in writing to the court by a deadline the court sets. The court shall post on its website all comments it receives.
(3) After the comment period closes and the court considers any comments, the court may adopt, amend, or reject the proposal or take such other action as the court deems appropriate.
(c) Form. All local rules shall be consistent with rules adopted by the Supreme Court, and shall conform in numbering system and in format to these rules to facilitate their use. Each rule and amendment filed shall state its effective date in brackets following the rule. Prior to adopting a local rule, the court may informally submit a copy of its local rule to the Administrative Office of the Courts for comments as to its conformity in number and format to the Official Rules of Court, and suggestions with reference thereto.
(d) Distribution. On or before September 1 of each year, the Administrator for the Courts shall distribute all local rules, and amendments thereto, to the state law library, the libraries of the three divisions of the Court of Appeals, all county law libraries, Washington law school libraries, and to such other places as are deemed appropriate by the Administrative Office of the Courts.
(e) Availability of Local Rules. The clerk of the court adopting the rules shall maintain a complete set of current local rules, which shall be available for inspection and copying.
(f) Emergency Rules.
(1) In the event a court other than the Supreme Court deems that an emergency exists which requires a change in its rules, such court shall, in addition to filing the rules or amendments as provided in section (a), distribute them to all county law libraries.post the rule adopted on an emergency basis on the local court website.
(2) A rule or amendment adopted on an emergency basis shall become effective immediately on filing with the Administrative Office of the Courts. The rule or amendment shall remain effective for a period of 90 days after filing, unless readopted in accordance with section (f)(1) or submitted as a permanent rule or amendment under section (a) within the 90-day period.
(g) Filing Local Rules Electronically. The Administrative Office of the Courts shall establish the specifications necessary for a court to file its local court rules electronically.
[Adopted effective January 1, 1981; Amended effective September 1, 1991; March 19, 1993; November 25, 2003; July 30, 2019; February 1, 2021.]