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S-3750.1 _______________________________________________

SENATE BILL 6066

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State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1994 Regular Session

By Senators Ludwig, Nelson, Wojahn, Snyder, Bauer and A. Smith

Read first time 01/11/94. Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

AN ACT Relating to the number of district court judges; and amending RCW 3.34.010 and 3.34.020.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 3.34.010 and 1991 c 354 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The number of district judges ((to be elected in each county shall be: Adams, three; Asotin, one; Benton, two; Chelan, one; Clallam, one; Clark, four; Columbia, one; Cowlitz, two; Douglas, one; Ferry, two; Franklin, one; Garfield, one; Grant, one; Grays Harbor, two; Island, three; Jefferson, one; King, twenty-six; Kitsap, two; Kittitas, two; Klickitat, two; Lewis, two; Lincoln, one; Mason, one; Okanogan, two; Pacific, two; Pend Oreille, two; Pierce, eleven; San Juan, one; Skagit, three; Skamania, one; Snohomish, eight; Spokane, nine; Stevens, two; Thurston, one; Wahkiakum, one; Walla Walla, three; Whatcom, two; Whitman, two; Yakima, six: PROVIDED, That this number may be increased in accordance with a resolution of the county commissioners under RCW 3.34.020)) in each county shall be the base number of full and part-time district judges that are in office as of December 31, 1992, and may only be changed under RCW 3.34.020.

Sec. 2. RCW 3.34.020 and 1991 c 313 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Any change in the number of full and part-time district judges after ((~~January 1~~)) December 31, 1992, shall be determined by the legislature after receiving a recommendation from the supreme court. The supreme court shall make its recommendations to the legislature based on a weighted caseload analysis that takes into account the following:

(a) The extent of time that existing judges have available to hear cases in that court;

(b) A measurement of the judicial time needed to process various types of cases;

(d) A determination of the amount of a judge's annual work time that can be devoted exclusively to processing cases; and

(e) An assessment of judicial resource needs, including annual case filings, and case weights and the judge year value determined under the weighted caseload method.

(2) The administrator for the courts, under the supervision of the supreme court, may consult with the board of judicial administration, the judicial council, and the district and municipal court judge's association in developing the procedures and methods of applying the weighted caseload analysis.

(3) For each recommended change from the number of full and part-time district judges in any county as of ((~~January 1~~)) December 31, 1992, the administrator for the courts, under the supervision of the supreme court, shall complete a judicial impact note detailing any local or state cost associated with such recommended change.

(4) If the legislature approves an increase in the base number of district judges in any county as of ((~~January 1~~)) December 31, 1992, such increase in the base number of district judges and all related costs may be paid for by the county from moneys provided under RCW 82.14.310, and any such costs shall be deemed to be expended for criminal justice purposes as provided in RCW 82.14.315, and such expenses shall not constitute a supplanting of existing funding.

(5)(a) A county legislative authority that desires to change the number of full or part-time district judges from the base number on ((~~January 1~~)) December 31, 1992, must first request the assistance of the supreme court. The administrator for the courts, under the supervision of the supreme court, shall conduct a weighted caseload analysis and make a recommendation of its findings to the legislature for consideration as provided in this section.

(b) The legislative authority of any county may change a part-time district judge position to a full-time position.