RCW 2.14.030 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 14 / Section 030
RCW 2.14.030: Judicial retirement account plan established.
Status: in_force

The judicial retirement account plan is established for judges appointed or elected under chapter 2.04 , 2.06, or 2.08 RCW and who are members of the public employees' retirement system for their service as a judge.
RCW 2.04.110 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 04 / Section 110
RCW 2.04.110: Justices, judges to wear gowns.
Status: in_force

Each of the justices of the supreme court, judges of the court of appeals, and the judges of the superior courts shall in open court during the presentation of causes, before them, appear in and wear gowns, made of black silk, of the usual style of judicial gowns.
RCW 2.32.200 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 32 / Section 200
RCW 2.32.200: Duties of official reporter.
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of each official reporter appointed under RCW 2.32.180 through 2.32.310 to attend every term of the superior court in the county or judicial district for which he or she is appointed, at such times as the judge presiding may direct; and upon the trial of any cause in any court, if either party to the suit or action, or his or her attorney, request the services of the official reporter, the presiding judge shall grant such request, or upon his or her own motion such presiding judge may order a full report of the testimony, exceptions taken, and all other oral proceedings; in which case the official reporter shall cause accurate shorthand notes of the oral testimony, exceptions taken, and other oral proceedings had, to be taken, except when the judge and attorneys dispense with his or her services with respect to any portion of the proceedings therein, which notes shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the superior court where such trial is had.
RCW 2.28.320 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 28 / Section 320
RCW 2.28.320: Law enforcement actions in court facilities—Completion of information form—Notice to court staff.
Status: in_force

(1) The governmental entity responsible for the security of a court facility, using the form described in subsection (2) of this section, shall collect the name of the law enforcement officer, agency, date, time, specific law enforcement purpose, and the proposed law enforcement action to be taken by all on-duty state and federal law enforcement officers, including plain-clothed officers, entering court facilities, unless such officer's purpose is to participate in a case or proceeding before the court. Completed forms must be immediately transmitted to the appropriate court staff. Information collected must not include personal identifying information concerning the individuals who were the target of the law enforcement action, and to the extent such individuals are identified, they must be identified by the initials of their first and last names. Completed forms must be transmitted to the administrative office of the courts on a monthly basis. (2) The administrative office of the court [courts] shall develop a standard form to collect the information in subsection (1) of this section. The form must be developed no later than July 1, 2020. The administrative office of the courts shall publish a quarterly report of the information collected in subsection (1) of this section beginning October 1, 2020. (3) Designated court staff must be notified without delay if a law enforcement agent covered by this section is present in the court facility with the intent of conducting a civil arrest.
RCW 2.36.055 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 36 / Section 055
RCW 2.36.055: Jury source list—Jury assignment areas—Master jury list—Compilation.
Status: in_force

The superior court at least annually shall cause a jury source list to be compiled from a list of all registered voters and a list of licensed drivers and identicard holders residing in the county. In a county with more than one superior court facility and a separate case assignment area for each court facility, the jury source list may be divided into jury assignment areas that consist of registered voters and licensed drivers and identicard holders residing in each jury assignment area. Jury assignment area boundaries may be designated and adjusted by the administrative office of the courts based on the most current United States census data at the request of the majority of the judges of the superior court when required for the efficient and fair administration of justice. The superior court upon receipt of the jury source list shall compile a master jury list. The master jury list shall be certified by the superior court and filed with the county clerk. All previous jury source lists and master jury lists shall be superseded. In the event that, for any reason, a county's jury source list is not timely created and available for use at least annually, the most recent previously compiled jury source list for that county shall be used by the courts of that county on an emergency basis only for the shortest period of time until a current jury source list is created and available for use. Upon receipt of amendments to the list of registered voters and licensed drivers and identicard holders residing in the county the superior court may update the jury source list and master jury list as maintained by the county clerk accordingly.
RCW 2.56.010 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 56 / Section 010
RCW 2.56.010: Office created—Appointment of administrator.
Status: in_force

There shall be a state office to be known as the administrative office of the courts. The executive officer of the administrative office of the courts is the administrator for the courts, who shall be appointed by and hold office at the pleasure of the supreme court of this state. The administrator's salary shall be fixed by the supreme court.
RCW 26.12.020 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 12 / Section 020
RCW 26.12.020: Designation of judge—Number of sessions.
Status: in_force

In counties having more than one judge of the superior court the judges of such court shall annually, in the month of January, designate one or more of their number to hear all cases under this chapter. The judge or judges so designated shall hold as many sessions of the family court in each week as are necessary for the prompt disposition of matters before the court.(1) Any judge of the supreme court, court of appeals, or superior court of the state of Washington, who heretofore and/or hereafter shall have served as a judge of any such courts for a period of ten years in the aggregate, and who shall believe he or she has become physically or otherwise permanently incapacitated for the full and efficient performance of the duties of his or her office, may file with the director of retirement systems an application in duplicate in writing, asking for retirement, which application shall be signed and verified by the affidavit of the applicant or by someone in his or her behalf and which shall set forth his or her name, the office then held, the court or courts of which he or she has served as judge, the period of service thereon, the dates of such service and the reasons why he or she believes himself or herself to be, or why they believe him or her to be incapacitated. Upon filing of such application the director shall forthwith transmit a copy thereof to the governor who shall appoint three physicians of skill and repute, duly licensed to practice their professions in the state of Washington, who shall, within fifteen days thereafter, for such compensation as may be fixed by the governor, to be paid out of the fund hereinafter created, examine said judge and report, in writing, to the governor their findings in the matter. If a majority of such physicians shall report that in their opinion said judge has become permanently incapacitated for the full and efficient performance of the duties of his or her office, and if the governor shall approve such report, he or she shall file the report, with his or her approval endorsed thereon, in the office of the director and a duplicate copy thereof with the administrator for the courts, and from the date of such filing the applicant shall be deemed to have retired from office and be entitled to the benefits of this chapter to the same extent as if he or she had retired under the provisions of RCW 2.12.010 . (2) The retirement for disability of a judge, who has served as a judge of the supreme court, court of appeals, or superior court of the state of Washington for a period of ten years in the aggregate, by the supreme court under Article IV, section 31 of the Constitution of the state of Washington (House Joint Resolution No. 37, approved by the voters November 4, 1980), with the concurrence of the retirement board, shall be considered a retirement under subsection (1) of this section.
RCW 2.16.020 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 16 / Section 020
RCW 2.16.020: Officers.
Status: in_force

The judges shall elect from their number a president, who shall be called president judge, and a secretary, who shall hold their offices from the date of one annual meeting of the association to the next.
RCW 2.42.150 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 42 / Section 150
RCW 2.42.150: Waiver of right to interpreter.
Status: in_force

(1) The right to a qualified interpreter may not be waived except when: (a) A hearing impaired person requests a waiver through the use of a qualified interpreter; (b) The counsel, if any, of the hearing impaired person consents; and (c) The appointing authority determines that the waiver has been made knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently. (2) Waiver of a qualified interpreter shall not preclude the hearing impaired person from claiming his or her right to a qualified interpreter at a later time during the proceeding, program, or activity.
RCW 2.32.180 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 32 / Section 180
RCW 2.32.180: Superior court reporters—Qualifications—Appointment—Terms—Oath and bonds.
Status: in_force

It shall be and is the duty of each and every superior court judge in counties or judicial districts in the state of Washington having a population of over thirty-five thousand inhabitants to appoint, or said judge may, in any county or judicial district having a population of over twenty-five thousand and less than thirty-five thousand, appoint a stenographic reporter to be attached to the judge's court who shall have had at least three years' experience as a skilled, practical reporter, or who upon examination shall be able to report and transcribe accurately one hundred and seventy-five words per minute of the judge's charge or two hundred words per minute of testimony each for five consecutive minutes; said test of proficiency, in event of inability to meet qualifications as to length of time of experience, to be given by an examining committee composed of one judge of the superior court and two official reporters of the superior court of the state of Washington, appointed by the president judge of the superior court judges' association of the state of Washington: PROVIDED, That a stenographic reporter shall not be required to be appointed for the seven additional judges of the superior court authorized for appointment by section 1, chapter 323, Laws of 1987, the additional superior court judge authorized by section 1, chapter 66, Laws of 1988, the additional superior court judges authorized by sections 2 and 3, chapter 328, Laws of 1989, the additional superior court judges authorized by sections 1 and 2, chapter 186, Laws of 1990, or the additional superior court judges authorized by sections 1 through 5, chapter 189, Laws of 1992. Appointment of a stenographic reporter is not required for any additional superior court judge authorized after July 1, 1992. The initial judicial appointee shall serve for a period of six years; the two initial reporter appointees shall serve for a period of four years and two years, respectively, from September 1, 1957; thereafter on expiration of the first terms of service, each newly appointed member of said examining committee to serve for a period of six years. In the event of death or inability of a member to serve, the president judge shall appoint a reporter or judge, as the case may be, to serve for the balance of the unexpired term of the member whose inability to serve caused such vacancy. The examining committee shall grant certificates to qualified applicants. Administrative and procedural rules and regulations shall be promulgated by said examining committee, subject to approval by the said president judge. The stenographic reporter upon appointment shall thereupon become an officer of the court and shall be designated and known as the official reporter for the court or judicial district for which he or she is appointed: PROVIDED, That in no event shall there be appointed more official reporters in any one county or judicial district than there are superior court judges in such county or judicial district; the appointments in each county with a population of one million or more shall be made by the majority vote of the judges in said county acting en banc; the appointments in each county with a population of from one hundred twenty-five thousand to less than one million may be made by each individual judge therein or by the judges in said county acting en banc. Each official reporter so appointed shall hold office during the term of office of the judge or judges appointing him or her, but may be removed for incompetency, misconduct or neglect of duty, and before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties shall take an oath to perform faithfully the duties of his or her office, and file a bond in the sum of two thousand dollars for the faithful discharge of his or her duties. Such reporter in each court is hereby declared to be a necessary part of the judicial system of the state of Washington.
RCW 2.28.110 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 28 / Section 110
RCW 2.28.110: Legal holiday—Sitting deemed adjourned.
Status: in_force

If any legal holiday happens to be a day appointed for the sitting of a court or to which it is adjourned, such sitting shall be deemed appointed for or adjourned to the next day which is not a legal holiday.
RCW 2.14.020 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 14 / Section 020
RCW 2.14.020: Definitions.
Status: in_force

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Plan" means the judicial retirement account plan. (2) "Principal account" means the judicial retirement principal account. (3) "Member" means a judge participating in the judicial retirement account plan. (4) "Administrative account" means the judicial retirement administrative account. (5) "Accumulated contributions" means the total amount contributed to a member's account under RCW 2.14.090 (1) and (2), together with any interest and earnings that have been credited to the member's account.
RCW 2.32.160 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 32 / Section 160
RCW 2.32.160: Washington court reports commission.
Status: in_force

There is hereby created a commission advisory to the supreme court regarding the publication of the decisions of the supreme court and court of appeals of this state in both the form of advance sheets for temporary use and in permanent form, to be known as the Washington court reports commission, and to include the reporter of decisions, the state law librarian, and such other members, including a judge of the court of appeals and a member in good standing of the Washington state bar association, as determined by the chief justice of the supreme court, who shall be chair of the commission. Members of the commission shall serve as such without additional or any compensation: PROVIDED, That members shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240 .
RCW 2.10.020 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 10 / Section 020
RCW 2.10.020: Purpose.
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to effect a system of retirement from active service.
RCW 2.36.095 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 36 / Section 095
RCW 2.36.095: Summons to persons selected.
Status: in_force

(1) Persons selected to serve on a petit jury, grand jury, or jury of inquest shall be summoned by mail or personal service, or electronically. The county clerk shall issue summons and thereby notify persons selected for jury duty. The clerk may issue summons for any jury term, in any consecutive twelve-month period, at any time thirty days or more before the beginning of the jury term for which the summons are issued. However, when applicable, the provisions of RCW 2.36.130 apply. (2) In courts of limited jurisdiction summons shall be issued by the court. Upon the agreement of the courts, the county clerk may summon jurors for any and all courts in the county or judicial district.
RCW 2.24.040 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 24 / Section 040
RCW 2.24.040: Powers—Fees.
Status: in_force

Such court commissioner shall have power, authority, and jurisdiction, concurrent with the superior court and the judge thereof, in the following particulars: (1) To hear and determine all matters in probate, to make and issue all proper orders therein, and to issue citations in all cases where same are authorized by the probate statutes of this state. (2) To grant and enter defaults and enter judgment thereon. (3) To issue temporary restraining orders and temporary injunctions, and to fix and approve bonds thereon. (4) To act as referee in all matters and actions referred to him or her by the superior court as such, with all the powers now conferred upon referees by law. (5) To hear and determine all proceedings supplemental to execution, with all the powers conferred upon the judge of the superior court in such matters. (6) To hear and determine all petitions for the adoption of children and for the dissolution of incorporations. (7) To hear and determine all applications for the commitment of any person to the hospital for the insane, with all the powers of the superior court in such matters: PROVIDED, That in cases where a jury is demanded, same shall be referred to the superior court for trial. (8) To hear and determine all complaints for the commitments of minors with all powers conferred upon the superior court in such matters. (9) To hear and determine ex parte and uncontested civil matters of any nature. (10) To grant adjournments, administer oaths, preserve order, compel attendance of witnesses, and to punish for contempts in the refusal to obey or the neglect of the court commissioner's lawful orders made in any matter before the court commissioner as fully as the judge of the superior court. (11) To take acknowledgments and proofs of deeds, mortgages and all other instruments requiring acknowledgment under the laws of this state, and to take affidavits and depositions in all cases. (12) To provide an official seal, upon which shall be engraved the words "Court Commissioner," and the name of the county for which he or she may be appointed, and to authenticate his official acts therewith in all cases where same is necessary. (13) To charge and collect, for his or her own use, the same fees for the official performance of official acts mentioned in subsections (4) and (11) of this section as are provided by law for referees and notaries public. (14) To hear and determine small claims appeals as provided in chapter 12.36 RCW. (15) In adult criminal cases, to preside over arraignments, preliminary appearances, initial extradition hearings, and noncompliance proceedings pursuant to RCW 9.94A.6333 or 9.94B.040 ; accept pleas if authorized by local court rules; appoint counsel; make determinations of probable cause; set, amend, and review conditions of pretrial release; set bail; set trial and hearing dates; authorize continuances; accept waivers of the right to speedy trial; and conduct resentencing hearings and hearings to vacate convictions related to State v. Blake , No. 96873-0 (Feb. 25, 2021).
RCW 2.06.080 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 06 / Section 080
RCW 2.06.080: Vacancy, how filled.
Status: in_force

If a vacancy occurs in the office of a judge of the court, the governor shall appoint a person to hold the office until the election and qualification of a judge to fill the vacancy, which election shall take place at the next succeeding general election and the judge so elected shall hold the office for the remainder of the unexpired term.
RCW 2.08.092 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 08 / Section 092
RCW 2.08.092: Salary of judges.
Status: in_force

The annual salary of the judges of the superior court shall be established by the Washington citizens' commission on salaries for elected officials.
RCW 2.36.065 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 36 / Section 065
RCW 2.36.065: Judges to ensure random selection—Description of process.
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the judges of the superior court to ensure continued random selection of the master jury list and jury panels, which shall be done without regard to whether a person's name originally appeared on the list of registered voters, or on the list of licensed drivers and identicard holders, or both. The judges shall review the process from time to time and shall cause to be kept on file with the county clerk a description of the jury selection process. Any person who desires may inspect this description in said office. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring uniform equipment or method throughout the state, so long as fair and random selection of the master jury list and jury panels is achieved.
RCW 2.28.020 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 28 / Section 020
RCW 2.28.020: Contempt—Punishment.
Status: in_force

For the effectual exercise of the powers specified in RCW 2.28.010 , the court may punish for contempt in the cases and the manner provided by law.
RCW 2.53.050 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 53 / Section 050
RCW 2.53.050: Fund distribution for attorneys appointed for indigent tenants.
Status: in_force

(1) Moneys appropriated by the legislature for legal services provided by an attorney appointed pursuant to RCW 59.18.640 must be administered by the office of civil legal aid established under RCW 2.53.020 . The office of civil legal aid must enter into contracts with attorneys and agencies for the provision of legal services under RCW 59.18.640 to remain within appropriated amounts. (2) The legislature recognizes that the office of civil legal aid needs time to properly implement the right to attorney legal representation for indigent tenants under and consistent with RCW 59.18.640 . Within 90 days after April 22, 2021, the office of civil legal aid must submit to the appropriate legislative committees a plan to fully implement the tenant representation program under and consistent with RCW 59.18.640 within 12 months of April 22, 2021.
RCW 2.48.030 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 48 / Section 030
RCW 2.48.030: Board of governors.
Status: in_force

There is hereby constituted a board of governors of the state bar which shall consist of not more than fifteen members, to include: The president of the state bar elected as provided by the bylaws of the association, one member from each congressional district now or hereafter existing in the state elected by secret ballot by mail by the active members residing therein, and such additional members elected as provided by the bylaws of the association. The members of the board of governors shall hold office for three years and until their successors are elected and qualified. Any vacancies in the board of governors shall be filled by the continuing members of the board until the next election, held in accordance with the bylaws of the association. The board shall not be deemed to be unlawfully constituted and a member of the board shall not be deemed ineligible to serve the remainder of the member's unexpired term on the board solely by reason of the establishment of new or revised boundaries for congressional districts.
RCW 2.48.200 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 48 / Section 200
RCW 2.48.200: Restrictions on practice by certain officers.
Status: in_force

No person shall practice law who holds a commission as judge in any court of record, or as sheriff or coroner; nor shall the clerk of the supreme court, the court of appeals, or of the superior court or any deputy thereof practice in the court of which he or she is clerk or deputy clerk: PROVIDED, It shall be unlawful for a deputy prosecuting attorney, or for the employee, partner, or agent of a prosecuting attorney, or for an attorney occupying offices with a prosecuting attorney, to appear for an adverse interest in any proceeding in which a prosecuting attorney is appearing, or to appear in any suit, action or proceeding in which a prosecuting attorney is prohibited by law from appearing, but nothing herein shall prohibit a prosecuting attorney or a deputy prosecuting attorney from appearing in any action or proceeding for an interest divergent from that represented in the same action or proceeding by another attorney or special attorney in or for the same office, so long as such appearances are pursuant to the duties of prosecuting attorneys as set out in RCW 36.27.020 and such appearances are consistent with the code of professional responsibility or other code of ethics adopted by the Washington state supreme court, but nothing herein shall preclude a judge or justice of a court of this state from finishing any business undertaken in a court of the United States prior to him or her becoming a judge or justice.
RCW 2.16.070 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 16 / Section 070
RCW 2.16.070: Effect of chapter on existing laws.
Status: in_force

Except for the provisions of *RCW 2.16.060 , this chapter shall not be held to repeal any other existing law relating to the visitation of judges.
RCW 2.24.050 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 24 / Section 050
RCW 2.24.050: Revision by court.
Status: in_force

All of the acts and proceedings of court commissioners hereunder shall be subject to revision by the superior court. Any party in interest may have such revision upon demand made by written motion, filed with the clerk of the superior court, within ten days after the entry of any order or judgment of the court commissioner. Such revision shall be upon the records of the case, and the findings of fact and conclusions of law entered by the court commissioner, and unless a demand for revision is made within ten days from the entry of the order or judgment of the court commissioner, the orders and judgments shall be and become the orders and judgments of the superior court, and appellate review thereof may be sought in the same fashion as review of like orders and judgments entered by the judge.
RCW 2.53.025 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 53 / Section 025
RCW 2.53.025: Statewide children's legal representation program.
Status: in_force

(1) The statewide children's legal representation program is established within the office of civil legal aid. The children's legal representation program shall ensure the provision of standards-based representation informed by best practice models, rigorous data analysis, race and other equity considerations that cause or perpetuate racial and other disparities in the child welfare system, involvement of stakeholders, including youth and young adults impacted by the system. (2) The statewide children's legal representation program is responsible for implementation of RCW 13.34.212 and 2.53.045 except that it is the court's responsibility to appoint attorneys in dependency proceedings.
RCW 2.50.090 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 50 / Section 090
RCW 2.50.090: Registration fees and private funds.
Status: in_force

For the purpose of promoting organized legal aid, the bar board is empowered to receive and disburse, at its discretion, a nominal registration fee (not in excess of fifty cents), which it may require of legal aid applicants, and also donations in any sum of private funds.
RCW 2.32.290 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 32 / Section 290
RCW 2.32.290: Court files accessible to reporter.
Status: in_force

Official reporters or reporters pro tempore may, without order of court, upon giving a proper receipt therefor, procure at all reasonable hours from the office of the clerk of the court, any files or exhibits necessary for use in the preparation of statements of fact or transcribing portions of testimony or proceedings in any cause reported by them.
RCW 2.12.048 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 12 / Section 048
RCW 2.12.048: Refund of certain contributions.
Status: in_force

If a judge who was a member of this system left the system before July 1, 1988, and neither the judge nor the judge's surviving spouse: (1) Was eligible at that time to receive a benefit under this chapter; or (2) has received an amount under a sundry claims appropriation from the state legislature intended as a refund of the judge's contributions paid under RCW 2.12.060 ; then the judge or the judge's surviving spouse may apply to the department for and receive a refund of such contributions.
RCW 2.50.125 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 50 / Section 125
RCW 2.50.125: Cities authorized to appropriate funds.
Status: in_force

A city of any class or any code city may appropriate funds in any amount for the purposes of this chapter.
RCW 2.04.180 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 04 / Section 180
RCW 2.04.180: Rules of practice and forms of process in supreme court.
Status: in_force

The supreme court may from time to time institute such rules of practice and prescribe such forms of process to be used in such court and in the court en banc and each of its departments, and for the keeping of the dockets, records and proceedings, and for the regulation of such court, including the court en banc and in departments, as may be deemed most conducive to the due administration of justice.
RCW 2.32.050 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 32 / Section 050
RCW 2.32.050: Powers and duties of court clerks.
Status: in_force

The clerk of the supreme court, each clerk of the court of appeals, and each clerk of a superior court, has power to take and certify the proof and acknowledgment of a conveyance of real property, or any other written instrument authorized or required to be proved or acknowledged, and to administer oaths in every case when authorized by law; and it is the duty of the clerk of the supreme court, each clerk of the court of appeals, and of each county clerk for each of the courts for which he or she is clerk: (1) To keep the seal of the court and affix it in all cases where he or she is required by law; (2) To record the proceedings of the court; (3) To keep the records, files, and other books and papers appertaining to the court; (4) To file all papers delivered to him or her for that purpose in any action or proceeding in the court as directed by court rule or statute; (5) To attend, either in person or electronically if the proceeding is virtual, the court of which he or she is clerk, to administer oaths, and receive the verdict of a jury in any action or proceeding therein, in the presence and under the direction of the court; (6) To keep the minutes of the proceedings of the court, and, under the direction of the court, to enter its orders, judgments, and decrees; (7) To authenticate by certificate or transcript, as may be required, the records, files, or proceedings of the court, or any other paper appertaining thereto and filed with him or her; (8) To exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred and imposed upon him or her elsewhere by statute; (9) In the performance of his or her duties to conform to the direction of the court; (10) To publish notice of the procedures for inspection of the public records of the court.
RCW 2.43.090 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 43 / Section 090
RCW 2.43.090: Language access plans.
Status: in_force

(1) Trial courts organized under this title and Titles 3 and 35 RCW must develop and maintain a written language access plan to provide a framework for the provision of language access services for persons with limited English proficiency accessing the court system and its programs in both civil and criminal legal matters. Courts may use a template developed by the administrative office of the courts in developing their language access plan. (2) The language access plan must at a minimum include provisions designed to provide procedures for court staff and the public, as may be necessary, that address the following: (a) Procedures to identify and provide the language needs of persons with limited English proficiency using the court system; (b) Procedures for requesting and appointing interpreters as required under RCW 2.43.030 ; (c) Procedures for notifying court users of the right to an interpreter and the availability of interpreter services. Such information shall be prominently displayed in the courthouse in the five or more languages other than English that reputable data indicates are predominate in the jurisdiction; (d) A process for providing timely communication between individuals with limited English proficiency and all court employees who have regular contact with the public and effective access to court services provided by the clerk's office and other court-managed programs; (e) Procedures for evaluating the need for translation of written materials, and prioritizing and providing those translated materials. Courts should take into account the frequency of use of forms by the language group, and the cost of providing the forms by other means; (f) A process for training judges, court clerks, and court staff on best practices in serving individuals with limited English proficiency in legal proceedings and how to effectively assign and work with interpreters and provide interpretation; and (g) A process for an ongoing evaluation of the language access plan and a process for monitoring the implementation of the language access plan. (3) Each court, when developing its language access plan, must consult with judges, court administrators, court staff, court clerks, interpreters, and members of the community, such as domestic violence organizations, pro bono programs, courthouse facilitators, legal services programs, and/or other community groups whose members speak a language other than English. (4) Beginning January 1, 2026, and every two years thereafter, all courts must submit their most recent language access plan to the administrative office of the courts. (5) The administrative office of the courts shall provide technical assistance to trial courts in developing their language access plans. (6) Each court must provide a copy of its language access plan to the administrative office of the courts in accordance with criteria for approval recommended by the interpreter and language access commission for approval prior to receiving state reimbursement for interpreter costs under this chapter. (7) Each court shall make available on its website translated information that informs the public of procedures necessary to access a court's language access services and programs. The information shall be provided in five or more languages other than English that reputable data indicates are predominant in the jurisdiction.
RCW 2.14.070 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 14 / Section 070
RCW 2.14.070: Judicial retirement administrative account—Creation—Use—Excess balance—Deficiencies.
Status: in_force

The judicial retirement administrative account is created in the state treasury. All expenses of the administrator for the courts under this chapter, including staffing and administrative expenses, shall be paid out of the administrative account. Any excess balance of this account over administrative expenses disbursed from this account shall be transferred to the principal account. Any deficiency in the administrative account caused by an excess of administrative expenses disbursed from this account over the excess balance of this account shall be transferred to this account from the principal account.
RCW 2.70.080 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 70 / Section 080
RCW 2.70.080: Parents for parents program—Components of program.
Status: in_force

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, components of the parents for parents program, provided by parent allies, may include: (1) Outreach and support to parents at dependency-related hearings, beginning with the shelter care hearing; (2) A class that educates parents about the dependency system they must navigate in order to have their children returned, empowers them with tools and resources they need to be successful with their case plan, and provides information that helps them understand and support the needs of their children; (3) Ongoing individual peer support to help parents involved with the child welfare system; (4) Structured, curriculum-based peer support groups.
RCW 2.04.260 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 04 / Section 260
RCW 2.04.260: Bailiffs—Threat assessments and investigations.
Status: in_force

(1) Bailiffs of the supreme court are authorized to conduct threat assessments on behalf of supreme court justices. The supreme court shall ensure that supreme court bailiffs are qualified by training and experience. (2) Bailiffs of the supreme court are authorized to receive criminal history record information that includes nonconviction data for purposes exclusively related to the investigation of any person making a threat as defined in RCW 9A.04.110 against a supreme court justice. Dissemination or use of criminal history records or nonconviction data for purposes other than authorized in this section is prohibited. (3) Founded threats investigated under this section must be referred to local law enforcement for further action. Local law enforcement is authorized to report the outcome and any anticipated action to bailiffs of the supreme court.
RCW 2.04.210 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 04 / Section 210
RCW 2.04.210: Supplementary superior court rules.
Status: in_force

RCW 2.04.190 through 2.04.210 shall not be construed to deprive the superior courts of power to establish rules for their government supplementary to and not in conflict with the rules prescribed by the supreme court.
RCW 2.42.180 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 42 / Section 180
RCW 2.42.180: Visual recording of testimony.
Status: in_force

At the request of any party to the proceeding or on the appointing authority's initiative, the appointing authority may order that the testimony of the hearing impaired person and the interpretation of the proceeding by the qualified interpreter be visually recorded for use in verification of the official transcript of the proceeding. In any judicial proceeding involving a capital offense, the appointing authority shall order that the testimony of the hearing impaired person and the interpretation of the proceeding by the qualified interpreter be visually recorded for use in verification of the official transcript of the proceeding.
RCW 2.43.060 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 43 / Section 060
RCW 2.43.060: Waiver of right to interpreter.
Status: in_force

(1) The right to an interpreter may not be waived except when: (a) A person with limited English proficiency requests a waiver on the record; and (b) The judicial or presiding officer determines on the record that the waiver has been made knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently. (2) The waiver of the right to an interpreter may be set aside and an interpreter appointed at the discretion of the judicial or presiding officer at any time during the proceedings. (3) The waiver of the right to an interpreter does not preclude a person with limited English proficiency from exercising the right to an interpreter at a later time.
RCW 2.32.360 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 32 / Section 360
RCW 2.32.360: Compensation of superior court bailiffs.
Status: in_force

Bailiffs of the several superior courts in this state, appointed by the respective judges thereof, shall be paid for their services such salary or per diem as shall be fixed and allowed by the board of county commissioners of the county in which they serve.
RCW 2.32.220 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 32 / Section 220
RCW 2.32.220: Application to lesser judicial districts.
Status: in_force

If the judge of the superior court in any judicial district having a total population of less than twenty-five thousand finds that the work in such district requires the services of an official court reporter he or she may appoint a person qualified under RCW 2.32.180 .
RCW 2.28.030 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 28 / Section 030
RCW 2.28.030: Judicial officer defined—When disqualified.
Status: in_force

A judicial officer is a person authorized to act as a judge in a court of justice. Such officer shall not act as such in a court of which he or she is a member in any of the following cases: (1) In an action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she is a party, or in which he or she is directly interested. (2) When he or she was not present and sitting as a member of the court at the hearing of a matter submitted for its decision. (3) When he or she is related to either party by consanguinity or affinity within the third degree. The degree shall be ascertained and computed by ascending from the judge to the common ancestor and descending to the party, counting a degree for each person in both lines, including the judge and party and excluding the common ancestor. (4) When he or she has been attorney in the action, suit, or proceeding in question for either party; but this section does not apply to an application to change the place of trial, or the regulation of the order of business in court. In the cases specified in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, the disqualification may be waived by the parties, and except in the supreme court and the court of appeals shall be deemed to be waived unless an application for a change of the place of trial be made as provided by law.
RCW 2.04.050 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 04 / Section 050
RCW 2.04.050: Style of process.
Status: in_force

Its process shall run in the name of the "State of Washington," bear test in the name of the chief justice, be signed by the clerk of the court, dated when issued, sealed with the seal of the court, and made returnable according to law, or such rule or orders as may be prescribed by the court.
RCW 2.43.063 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 43 / Section 063
RCW 2.43.063: Code of professional responsibility.
Status: in_force

All language interpreters serving in a legal proceeding, whether or not credentialed, shall abide by a code of professional responsibility for judiciary interpreters established by supreme court rule.
RCW 2.56.080 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 56 / Section 080
RCW 2.56.080: Chapter applies to supreme and superior courts, court of appeals, and courts of limited jurisdiction.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall apply to the following courts: The supreme court, the court of appeals, the superior courts; and, when and to the extent so ordered by the supreme court, to the courts of limited jurisdiction of this state, including district courts.
RCW 2.50.110 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 50 / Section 110
RCW 2.50.110: Attorneys' fees.
Status: in_force

No attorney's fee shall be charged to or received from any legal aid client as to any legal aid matter handled by or through the bureau. All attorneys' fees and court costs collected from any third party by the bureau in the name of any legal aid client shall become a part of the bureau's operation funds.
RCW 2.12.035 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 12 / Section 035
RCW 2.12.035: Retirement pay of certain justices or judges retiring prior to December 1, 1968—Widow's benefits.
Status: in_force

The retirement pay or pension of any justice of the supreme or judge of any superior court of the state who was in office on August 6, 1965, and who retired prior to December 1, 1968, or who would have been eligible to retire at the time of death prior to December 1, 1968, shall be based, effective December 1, 1968, upon the annual salary which was being prescribed by the statute in effect for the office of justice of the supreme court or for the office of judge of the superior court, respectively, at the time of his or her retirement or at the end of the term immediately prior to his or her retirement if his or her retirement was made after expiration of his or her term or at the time of his or her death if he or she died prior to retirement. The widow's benefit for the widow of any such justice or judge as provided for in RCW 2.12.030 shall be based, effective December 1, 1968, upon such retirement pay.
RCW 2.30.100 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 30 / Section 100
RCW 2.30.100: Early childhood court programs—Authorized.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) A superior court may establish an early childhood court program to serve the needs of infants and toddlers who are under the age of six at the time the case enters the program and dependent pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW. (b) An early childhood court program is a therapeutic court as defined in this chapter that provides an intensive court process for families with a child under age six who has been found dependent pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW. To be eligible for the early childhood court program, a parent must have a child under age six that is dependent pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW at the time the case enters the early childhood court program. The case may remain in the early childhood court program if the child is still dependent pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW. (2) If a superior court creates an early childhood court program, it shall incorporate the following core components into the program: (a) The court shall obtain a memorandum of understanding or other agreement with the department of children, youth, and families developed in collaboration with counsel for parents and children that outlines how the two entities will coordinate and collaborate to implement the core components overall. (b) A community coordinator who may be employed by the courts, the county, or a nonprofit entity and who is a person with experience and training in diversity, equity, and inclusion measures and is dedicated to: (i) Facilitating real-time information sharing and collaboration among cross-sector professionals participating in the early childhood court program; (ii) Coordinating and participating in family team meetings; (iii) Identifying community-based resources and supporting the family's connection to these resources; (iv) Building relationships and forming new partnerships across traditional and nontraditional services and systems; (v) Identifying training needs of early childhood court professionals and facilitating the provision of training; (vi) Supporting the convening of community team meetings; and (vii) Performing the tasks outlined in this subsection describing the core components of an early childhood court program unless otherwise specified. (c) A community team established by the court and consisting of stakeholders to the court that serve as an advisory body to the court and who implement the early childhood court program. The community team shall include diverse membership to include, but not be limited to, former parent participants, foster parents, parent and child advocates, an attorney for parents, a department of children, youth, and families caseworker, and a judicial officer. The community team aims to: (i) Foster a learning environment and encourage an interdisciplinary approach to meeting the needs of young children and families; (ii) Identify and respond to challenges to accessing resources and needed systems reforms; (iii) Support multidisciplinary trainings; and (iv) Recommend local court policies and procedures to improve families receipt of equitable and timely access to resources and remedial services for the parent and child. (d) More frequent status hearings than the review hearings required under RCW 13.34.138 established by the judicial officer, these status hearings are separate from the review hearings required under RCW 13.34.138 and are intended to provide additional support to the family. (e) A community coordinator that serves as a liaison between the court and community-based resources to identify community-based resources, identify barriers to engagement, and collaborate with stakeholders to connect families to assessments and referrals. The community coordinator shall facilitate connecting parents with informal and formal social supports, including but not limited to peer, community, and cultural supports. (f) Family team meetings neutrally facilitated by the community coordinator. The family team may include all parties to the case and other people or other service providers identified by the parent to be part of the support system for the parent involved. The family team engages the parents, and the attorney for the parent, in their case plan and expediently addresses family needs and access to services and support. (g) Ensuring that parents are critical participants in the early childhood court program. Having experienced and culturally informed professionals supporting and working with families involved in the dependency court system is critical to successful reunification of families. The court shall aim to foster an environment in which all professionals involved in the early childhood court program increase their awareness of different forms of bias and the trauma and adversity that often accompany poverty, mental health, and substance use by identifying or developing training that increases such awareness. (h) Ensuring that families receive early, consistent, and frequent visitation that is developmentally appropriate for infants and toddlers; minimizes stress and anxiety for both children and parents; and occurs in a safe, comfortable, and unintimidating setting that supports parents to nurture and care for their child. (i) The court shall ensure that the individualized case plan for parents involved in the early childhood court program address protective factors that mitigate or eliminate safety risks to the child. (j) The court should encourage a respectful, strength-based, compassionate approach to working with parents in the context of the early childhood court program. (k) The court shall support the development of agreements that encourage: (i) Stakeholders participation in any available statewide structure that supports alignment to the approach of the early childhood court program, cross-site cooperation, and consistency; (ii) Program data is regularly and continuously reviewed to ensure equity and inform and improve practice; and (iii) Stakeholder utilization of technical assistance, training, and evaluation to assess effectiveness and improve outcomes. (l) Each early childhood court program must collect and review its data, including data related to race and ethnicity of program participants, to assess its effectiveness and share this data with the oversight board for children, youth, and families established under RCW 43.216.015 . The oversight board for children, youth, and families established under RCW 43.216.015 shall share this data and hold or offer to assist in holding statewide meetings to support alignment to the core components and statewide consistency. (m) The caseworker assigned to an early childhood court program must have received training and competency related to cultural antibias and antiracism. (n) Each early childhood court program must be responsive to community needs and adopt best practices related to family reunification and serving all families, including those who are: (i) Black, indigenous, and persons of color; (ii) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer; and (iii) Experiencing disabilities. (o) An attorney for the parent must be present during every meeting of the early childhood court program. (p) Ensuring that parents voluntarily participating in the early childhood court program receive all available and appropriate services.
RCW 2.12.900 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 12 / Section 900
RCW 2.12.900: Construction—Gender.
Status: in_force

Whenever words importing the masculine gender are used in the provisions of this chapter they may be extended to females also as provided in RCW 1.12.050 and whenever words importing the feminine gender are used in the provisions of this chapter they may be extended to males.
RCW 2.42.120 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 42 / Section 120
RCW 2.42.120: Appointment of interpreter—Responsibility for compensation—Reimbursement.
Status: in_force

(1) If a hearing impaired person is a party or witness at any stage of a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding in the state or in a political subdivision, including but not limited to civil and criminal court proceedings, grand jury proceedings, proceedings before a magistrate, juvenile proceedings, adoption proceedings, mental health commitment proceedings, and any proceeding in which a hearing impaired person may be subject to confinement or criminal sanction, the appointing authority shall appoint and pay for a qualified interpreter to interpret the proceedings. (2) If the parent, guardian, or custodian of a juvenile brought before a court is hearing impaired, the appointing authority shall appoint and pay for a qualified interpreter to interpret the proceedings. (3) Where it is the policy and practice of a court of this state or of a political subdivision to appoint and pay counsel for persons who are indigent, the appointing authority shall appoint and pay for a qualified interpreter for hearing impaired persons to facilitate communication with counsel in all phases of the preparation and presentation of the case. (4) Subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated therefor, the administrative office of the courts shall reimburse the appointing authority for up to one-half of the payment to the interpreter where a qualified interpreter is appointed for a hearing impaired person by a judicial officer in a proceeding before a court under subsection (1) or (2) of this section in compliance with the provisions of RCW 2.42.130 and 2.42.170 .
RCW 2.28.090 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 28 / Section 090
RCW 2.28.090: Powers of inferior judicial officers.
Status: in_force

Every other judicial officer may, within the county, city, district, or precinct in which he or she is chosen: (1) Exercise the powers mentioned in RCW 2.28.080 (1) through (3); (2) Exercise any other power and perform any other duty conferred or imposed upon him or her by other statute.
RCW 2.64.120 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 64 / Section 120
RCW 2.64.120: Independent part of judicial branch.
Status: in_force

The commission shall for all purposes be considered an independent part of the judicial branch of government.
RCW 2.50.120 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 50 / Section 120
RCW 2.50.120: County funds.
Status: in_force

The county board in its discretion shall allocate funds for the purposes of the bureau from county funds available for public assistance and relief received from the levy of three mills as provided in section 17, chapter 180, Laws of 1937.
RCW 2.10.155 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 10 / Section 155
RCW 2.10.155: Suspension of retirement allowance upon employment—Exceptions—Reinstatement—Pro tempore service.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2034-S2.SL ) ***

(1) No judge shall be eligible to receive the judge's monthly service or disability retirement allowance if the retired judge is employed: (a) For more than eight hundred ten hours in a calendar year as a pro tempore judge; or (b) In an eligible position as defined in RCW 41.40.010 or 41.32.010 , or as a law enforcement officer or firefighter as defined in RCW 41.26.030 . (2) Subsection (1) of this section notwithstanding, a previously elected judge of the superior court who retired before June 7, 1990, leaving a pending case in which the judge had made discretionary rulings may hear the pending case as a judge pro tempore without having his or her retirement allowance suspended. (3) If a retired judge's benefits have been suspended under this section, his or her benefits shall be reinstated when the retiree terminates the employment that caused his or her benefits to be suspended. Upon reinstatement, the retired judge's benefits shall be actuarially recomputed pursuant to the rules adopted by the department. (4) The department shall adopt rules implementing this section.
RCW 2.56.180 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 56 / Section 180
RCW 2.56.180: Family law handbook.
Status: in_force

(1) The administrative office of the courts shall create a handbook explaining the sections of Washington law pertaining to the rights and responsibilities of marital partners to each other and to any children during a marriage and a dissolution of marriage. The handbook may also be provided in videotape or other electronic form. (2) The handbook created under subsection (1) of this section shall be provided by the county auditor when an individual applies for a marriage license under RCW 26.04.140 . (3) The handbook created under subsection (1) of this section shall also be provided to the petitioner when he or she files a petition for dissolution, and to the respondent, unless the respondent did not file a response, notice of appearance, or any other paper in the case or did not appear in court. The administrative office of the courts shall on an annual basis reimburse the counties for each copy of the handbook that is distributed directly to family law parties under this section, provided that the county submits documentation of the number of handbooks distributed on an annual basis. (4) The information contained in the handbook created under subsection (1) of this section shall be reviewed and updated annually. The handbook must contain the following information: (a) Information on prenuptial agreements as contracts and as a means of structuring financial arrangements and other aspects of the marital relationship; (b) Information on shared parental responsibility for children, including establishing a residential schedule for the child in the event of the dissolution of the marriage; (c) Information on notice requirements and standards for parental relocation; (d) Information on child support for minor children; (e) Information on property rights, including equitable distribution of assets and premarital and postmarital property rights; (f) Information on spousal maintenance; (g) Information on domestic violence, child abuse, and neglect, including penalties; (h) Information on the court process for dissolution; (i) Information on the effects of dissolution on children; (j) Information on community resources that are available to separating or divorcing persons and their children.
RCW 2.32.170 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 32 / Section 170
RCW 2.32.170: Commission—Powers.
Status: in_force

The commission shall make recommendations to the supreme court on matters pertaining to the publication of such decisions, in both temporary and permanent forms. The commission shall by July 1, 1997, develop a policy that ensures that if any material prepared pursuant to RCW 2.32.110 is licensed for resale, the material is made available for licensing to all commercial resellers on an equal and nonexclusive basis.
RCW 2.04.200 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 04 / Section 200
RCW 2.04.200: Effect of rules upon statutes.
Status: in_force

When and as the rules of courts herein authorized shall be promulgated all laws in conflict therewith shall be and become of no further force or effect.
RCW 2.08.240 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 08 / Section 240
RCW 2.08.240: Limit of time for decision.
Status: in_force

Every case submitted to a judge of a superior court for his or her decision shall be decided by him or her within ninety days from the submission thereof: PROVIDED, That if within said period of ninety days a rehearing shall have been ordered, then the period within which he or she is to decide shall commence at the time the cause is submitted upon such rehearing, and upon willful failure of any such judge so to do, he or she shall be deemed to have forfeited his or her office.
RCW 2.06.076 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 06 / Section 076
RCW 2.06.076: Appointments to positions created by 1993 c 420 s 1—Election—Appointment—Terms of office.
Status: in_force

(1) Any judicial position created by *section 1, chapter 420, Laws of 1993 shall be effective only if that position is specifically funded and is referenced by division and district in an omnibus appropriations act. (2)(a) The full term of office for the judicial positions authorized pursuant to chapter 420, Laws of 1993 shall be six years. (b) The authorized judicial positions shall be filled at the general election in the November immediately preceding the beginning of the full term except as provided in (d) and (e) of this subsection. (c) The six-year terms shall be staggered as follows: In the first division, the initial full terms of six years for the two positions in district 1 shall begin the second Monday in January following the general election held in November 2000. If the effective date for the judicial positions are later than the deadline to include it in the November 2000 election, the initial full term shall begin the second Monday in January following the general election held in November 2006. (d) Upon becoming effective pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the governor shall appoint judges to the additional judicial positions authorized in section 1, chapter 420, Laws of 1993. The appointed judges shall hold office until the second Monday in January following the general election following the effective date of the position. The appointed judges and other judicial candidates are entitled to run for the judicial position at the general election following appointment. (e) The initial election for these positions shall be held in November following the effective date of the position. If the initial election of a newly authorized position is not held on a date which corresponds to the beginning of a full term as specified in (c) of this subsection, the election shall be for a partial term.
RCW 2.70.060 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 70 / Section 060
RCW 2.70.060: Parents for parents program—"Parent ally" defined.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of RCW 2.70.070 through 2.70.090 , "parent ally" means a parent who has successfully resolved the issues that led the parent's child into the care of the juvenile dependency court system, resulting in family reunification or another permanency outcome, and who has an interest in working collaboratively to improve the lives of children and families.
RCW 2.14.110 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 14 / Section 110
RCW 2.14.110: Payment of contributions upon member's death.
Status: in_force

If a member dies, the amount of the accumulated contributions standing to the member's credit at the time of the member's death, subject to the provisions of chapter 26.16 RCW, shall be paid to the member's estate, or such person or persons, trust, or organization as the member has nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the administrative office of the courts. If there is no such designated person or persons still living at the time of the member's death, the member's accumulated contributions shall be paid to the member's surviving spouse as if in fact the spouse had been nominated by written designation or, if there is no such surviving spouse, then to the member's legal representatives.
RCW 2.72.050 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 72 / Section 050
RCW 2.72.050: Administrator may develop rules.
Status: in_force

The public guardianship administrator may develop rules to implement this chapter. The administrator shall request and consider recommendations from the *advisory committee in the development of rules.
RCW 2.64.096 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 64 / Section 096
RCW 2.64.096: Disclosure of material tending to negate determination.
Status: in_force

Whenever the commission determines that there is probable cause to believe that a judge or justice has violated a rule of judicial conduct or that the judge or justice suffers from a disability which is permanent or likely to become permanent and which seriously interferes with the performance of judicial duties, the commission shall disclose to the judge or justice any material or information within the commission's knowledge which tends to negate the determination of the commission, except as otherwise provided by a protective order.
RCW 2.08.080 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 08 / Section 080
RCW 2.08.080: Oath of office.
Status: in_force

Every judge of a superior court shall, before entering upon the duties of his or her office, take and subscribe an oath that he or she will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Washington, and will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of judge to the best of his or her ability, which oath shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state. Such oath or affirmation to be in form substantially the same as prescribed for justices of the supreme court.
RCW 2.30.030 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 30 / Section 030
RCW 2.30.030: Therapeutic courts authorized—Establishment of processes—Determination of eligibility—Persons not eligible—Use of best practices—Dependency matters—Foreign law limitations.
Status: in_force

(1) Every trial and juvenile court in the state of Washington is authorized and encouraged to establish and operate therapeutic courts. Therapeutic courts, in conjunction with the government authority and subject matter experts specific to the focus of the therapeutic court, develop and process cases in ways that depart from traditional judicial processes to allow defendants or respondents the opportunity to obtain treatment services to address particular issues that may have contributed to the conduct that led to their arrest or involvement in the child welfare system in exchange for resolution of the case or charges. In criminal cases, the consent of the prosecutor is required. (2) While a therapeutic court judge retains the discretion to decline to accept a case into the therapeutic court, and while a therapeutic court retains discretion to establish processes and determine eligibility for admission to the therapeutic court process unique to their community and jurisdiction, the effectiveness and credibility of any therapeutic court will be enhanced when the court implements evidence-based practices, research-based practices, emerging best practices, or promising practices that have been identified and accepted at the state and national levels. Promising practices, emerging best practices, and/or research-based programs are authorized where determined by the court to be appropriate. As practices evolve, the trial court shall regularly assess the effectiveness of its program and the methods by which it implements and adopts new best practices. (3) Except under special findings by the court, the following individuals are not eligible for participation in therapeutic courts: (a) Individuals who are currently charged or who have been previously convicted of a serious violent offense or sex offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030 ; (b) Individuals who are currently charged with an offense alleging intentional discharge, threat to discharge, or attempt to discharge a firearm in furtherance of the offense; (c) Individuals who are currently charged with or who have been previously convicted of vehicular homicide or an equivalent out-of- state offense; or (d) Individuals who are currently charged with or who have been previously convicted of: An offense alleging substantial bodily harm or great bodily harm as defined in RCW 9A.04.110 , or death of another person. (4) Any jurisdiction establishing a therapeutic court shall endeavor to incorporate the therapeutic court principles of best practices as recognized by state and national therapeutic court organizations in structuring a particular program, which may include: (a) Determining the population; (b) Performing a clinical assessment; (c) Developing the treatment plan; (d) Monitoring the participant, including any appropriate testing; (e) Forging agency, organization, and community partnerships; (f) Taking a judicial leadership role; (g) Developing case management strategies; (h) Addressing transportation, housing, and subsistence issues; (i) Evaluating the program; (j) Ensuring a sustainable program. (5) Upon a showing of indigence under RCW 10.101.010 , fees may be reduced or waived. (6) The health care authority shall furnish services to therapeutic courts addressing dependency matters where substance abuse or mental health are an issue unless the court contracts with providers outside of the health care authority. (7) Any jurisdiction that has established more than one therapeutic court under this chapter may combine the functions of these courts into a single therapeutic court. (8) Nothing in this section prohibits a district or municipal court from ordering treatment or other conditions of sentence or probation following a conviction, without the consent of either the prosecutor or defendant. (9) No therapeutic or specialty court may be established specifically for the purpose of applying foreign law, including foreign criminal, civil, or religious law, that is otherwise not required by treaty. (10) No therapeutic or specialty court established by court rule shall enforce a foreign law, if doing so would violate a right guaranteed by the Constitution of this state or of the United States.
RCW 2.48.010 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 48 / Section 010
RCW 2.48.010: Objects and powers.
Status: in_force

There is hereby created as an agency of the state, for the purpose and with the powers hereinafter set forth, an association to be known as the Washington State Bar Association, hereinafter designated as the state bar, which association shall have a common seal and may sue and be sued, and which may, for the purpose of carrying into effect and promoting the objects of said association, enter into contracts and acquire, hold, encumber and dispose of such real and personal property as is necessary thereto.
RCW 2.28.050 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 28 / Section 050
RCW 2.28.050: Judge distinguished from court.
Status: in_force

A judge may exercise out of court all the powers expressly conferred upon a judge as contradistinguished from a court and not otherwise.
RCW 2.10.070 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 10 / Section 070
RCW 2.10.070: Retirement board—Duties.
Status: in_force

The retirement board shall perform the following duties: (1) Keep in convenient form such data as shall be deemed necessary for actuarial evaluation purposes; (2) As of July 1st of every even-numbered year have an actuarial evaluation made as to the mortality and service experience of the beneficiaries under this chapter and the various accounts created for the purpose of showing the financial status of the retirement fund; (3) Adopt for the retirement system the mortality tables and such other tables as shall be deemed necessary; (4) Keep a record of its proceedings, which shall be open to inspection by the public; (5) Serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expense incident to service as individual members thereof; (6) From time to time adopt such rules and regulations not inconsistent with this chapter for the administration of this chapter and for the transaction of the business of the board. No member of the board shall be liable for the negligence, default, or failure of any employee or of any member of the board to perform the duties of his or her office and no member of the board shall be considered or held to be an insurer of the funds or assets of the retirement system, but shall be liable only for his or her own personal default or individual failure to perform his or her duties as such member and to exercise reasonable diligence in providing for safeguarding of the funds and assets of the system.
RCW 2.32.370 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 32 / Section 370
RCW 2.32.370: Payment of compensation.
Status: in_force

From time to time, the superior judge of the county shall certify the amount due any such bailiff, and order the payment thereof; and thereupon the county auditor shall issue to such bailiff a warrant on the county treasurer, payable out of the general fund [current expense fund], for the amount so certified.
RCW 2.16.040 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 16 / Section 040
RCW 2.16.040: Uniform court rules.
Status: in_force

At its annual meetings, pursuant to section 24, Article IV of the state Constitution, the association shall have power to establish uniform rules for the government of the superior courts, which rules may be amended from time to time.
RCW 2.32.300 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 32 / Section 300
RCW 2.32.300: Office space.
Status: in_force

Suitable office space shall be furnished the official reporter.
RCW 2.48.110 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 48 / Section 110
RCW 2.48.110: Admission of veterans—Fees of veterans.
Status: in_force

An applicant applying for admission to practice law under the provisions of RCW 2.48.070 through 2.48.090 , shall pay the same fees as are required of residents of the state of Washington seeking admission to practice law by examination.
RCW 2.43.081 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 43 / Section 081
RCW 2.43.081: Cost of providing interpreter—Reimbursement.
Status: in_force

(1) Interpreters appointed according to this chapter are entitled to a reasonable fee for their services and shall be reimbursed for actual expenses which are reasonable as provided in this section. (2)(a) In all legal proceedings, a person with limited English proficiency is not responsible for the cost of the interpreter if that person is: (i) A party; (ii) Subpoenaed or summoned; (iii) A parent, guardian, or custodian of a juvenile; or (iv) Compelled to appear. (b) In legal proceedings initiated by agencies of government, the cost of providing the interpreter shall be borne by the governmental body initiating the legal proceedings. (3) Subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated for this purpose, the administrative office of the courts shall reimburse the participating state court for language access services costs and one-half of the payment of interpreter costs for legal proceedings unless a higher reimbursement rate is established in the omnibus budget.
RCW 2.60.900 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 60 / Section 900
RCW 2.60.900: Short title.
Status: in_force

This act may be cited as the "federal court local law certificate procedure act."
RCW 2.56.245 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 56 / Section 245
RCW 2.56.245: Protection order hope cards program—Provision of information.
Status: in_force

The administrative office of the courts shall ensure that the information required in RCW 7.105.352 is provided by each court, including through use of consistent court codes, reporting mechanisms, and database entry.
RCW 2.50.080 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 50 / Section 080
RCW 2.50.080: Supervision.
Status: in_force

Among the powers to supervise the actual operation of any such bureau, which shall be exercised either by the bar board itself or in its discretion by the committee, are the following: (1) To appoint and remove at will the director and to fix the amount of his or her salary not in excess of two hundred dollars per month; (2) To engage and discharge all other employees of the bureau and to fix their salaries or remuneration; (3) To assist the director in supplying the free services of attorneys for the bureau; (4) To cooperate with the dean of any law school now or hereafter established within this state respecting the participation of law students in the rendition of services by the bureau under the guidance of the director — however, by this provision, no law student shall be deemed authorized to represent as an attorney in a court of record any legal aid client; (5) To require of the director periodically written statements of account and written reports upon any and all subjects within the operation of the bureau; (6) To prescribe rules and regulations, always subject to the bar board, for determination of the indigent persons who are entitled to legal aid, for determination of the kinds of legal problems and cases subject to legal aid, and for determination of all operative legal aid policies not inconsistent with this chapter; (7) To advise the county board, for its budget upon its written request, as to the estimated amount of county funds reasonably required to effectively operate the bureau for the ensuing fiscal year; (8) To receive county funds allocated by the county board for the bureau, and to render an account thereof at the times and in the manner reasonably required by the county board; (9) To disburse such county funds, after receipt thereof, solely for the purposes contemplated by this chapter.
RCW 2.06.040 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 06 / Section 040
RCW 2.06.040: Panels—Decisions, publication as opinions, when—Sessions—Rules.
Status: in_force

The court shall sit in panels of three judges and decisions shall be rendered by not less than a majority of the panel. In the determination of causes all decisions of the court shall be given in writing and the grounds of the decisions shall be stated. All decisions of the court having precedential value shall be published as opinions of the court. Each panel shall determine whether a decision of the court has sufficient precedential value to be published as an opinion of the court. Decisions determined not to have precedential value shall not be published. Judges of the respective divisions may sit in other divisions, causes may be transferred between divisions, and the court may hold sessions in cities, as provided by rule. The court may establish rules supplementary to and not in conflict with rules of the supreme court.
RCW 2.28.060 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 28 / Section 060
RCW 2.28.060: Judicial officers—Powers.
Status: in_force

Every judicial officer has power: (1) To preserve and enforce order in his or her immediate presence and in the proceedings before him or her, when he or she is engaged in the performance of a duty imposed upon him or her by law; (2) To compel obedience to his or her lawful orders as provided by law; (3) To compel the attendance of persons to testify in a proceeding pending before him or her, in the cases and manner provided by law; (4) To administer oaths to persons in a proceeding pending before him or her, and in all other cases where it may be necessary in the exercise of his or her powers and the performance of his or her duties.
RCW 2.50.070 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 50 / Section 070
RCW 2.50.070: Legal aid county committee created.
Status: in_force

The legal aid county committee (hereinafter called the committee), if created and continued by resolution of the bar board, shall consist of three members chosen by the bar board as follows: A member of the bar board, who shall be chair, a judge of the superior court of the county, and an active member of the Washington state bar association, resident in the county.
RCW 2.28.070 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 28 / Section 070
RCW 2.28.070: Contempt—Judicial officer may punish.
Status: in_force

For the effectual exercise of the powers specified in RCW 2.28.060 , a judicial officer may punish for contempt in the cases and manner provided by law.
RCW 2.48.230 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 48 / Section 230
RCW 2.48.230: Code of ethics.
Status: in_force

The code of ethics of the American Bar Association shall be the standard of ethics for the members of the bar of this state.
RCW 2.12.901 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 12 / Section 901
RCW 2.12.901: Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to marital relationships and married persons, and references to dissolution of marriage shall apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships that have been terminated, dissolved, or invalidated, to the extent that such interpretation does not conflict with federal law. Where necessary to implement chapter 521, Laws of 2009, gender-specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law shall be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships.
RCW 2.36.057 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 36 / Section 057
RCW 2.36.057: Expanded jury source list—Court rules.
Status: in_force

The supreme court is requested to adopt court rules regarding methodology and standards for merging the list of registered voters in Washington state with the list of licensed drivers and identicard holders in Washington state for purposes of creating an expanded jury source list. The rules should specify the standard electronic format or formats in which the lists will be provided to requesting superior courts by Washington technology solutions. In the interim, and until such court rules become effective, the methodology and standards provided in RCW 2.36.054 shall apply. An expanded jury source list shall be available to the courts for use by September 1, 1994.
RCW 2.70.010 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 70 / Section 010
RCW 2.70.010: Director—Appointment—Qualifications—Salary.
Status: in_force

The supreme court shall appoint the director of the office of public defense from a list of three names submitted by the advisory committee created under RCW 2.70.030 . Qualifications shall include admission to the practice of law in this state for at least five years, experience in providing indigent defense services, and proven managerial or supervisory experience. The director shall serve at the pleasure of the supreme court and receive a salary to be fixed by the advisory committee.
RCW 2.12.045 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 12 / Section 045
RCW 2.12.045: Minimum monthly benefit—Post-retirement adjustment—Computation.
Status: in_force

(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, effective July 1, 1979, no person receiving a monthly benefit pursuant to this chapter shall receive a monthly benefit of less than ten dollars per month for each year of service creditable to the person whose service is the basis of the retirement allowance. Portions of a year shall be treated as fractions of a year and the decimal equivalent shall be multiplied by ten dollars. Where the monthly benefit was adjusted at the time benefit payments to the beneficiary commenced, the minimum benefit provided in this section shall be adjusted in a manner consistent with that adjustment. (2) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, effective July 1, 1979, the monthly benefit of each person who either is receiving benefits pursuant to RCW 2.12.020 or 2.12.030 as of December 31, 1978, or commenced receiving a monthly benefit under this chapter as of a date no later than July 1, 1974, shall be permanently increased by a post-retirement adjustment. This adjustment shall be in lieu of any adjustments provided under RCW 2.12.037 as of July 1, 1979, or July 1, 1980, for the affected persons. Such adjustment shall be calculated as follows: (a) Monthly benefits to which this subsection and subsection (1) of this section are both applicable shall be determined by first applying subsection (1) and then applying this subsection. The department shall determine the total years of creditable service and the total dollar benefit base accrued as of December 31, 1978, except that this determination shall take into account only those persons to whom this subsection applies; (b) The department shall multiply the total benefits determined in (a) of this subsection by six percent and divide the dollar value thus determined by the total service determined in (a) of this subsection. The resultant figure shall then be a post-retirement increase factor which shall be applied as specified in (c) of this subsection; (c) Each person to whom this subsection applies shall receive an increase which is the product of the factor determined in (b) of this subsection multiplied by the years of creditable service.
RCW 2.06.110 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 06 / Section 110
RCW 2.06.110: Reporting defects or omissions in the laws.
Status: in_force

Court of appeals judges shall, on or before the first day of November in each year, report in writing to the justices of the supreme court, such defects and omissions in the laws as their experience may suggest.
RCW 2.04.150 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 04 / Section 150
RCW 2.04.150: Apportionment of business—En banc hearings.
Status: in_force

The chief justice shall from time to time apportion the business to the departments, and may, in his or her discretion, before a decision is pronounced, order any cause pending before the court to be heard and determined by the court en banc. When a cause has been allotted to one of the departments and a decision pronounced therein, the chief justice, together with any two associate judges, may order such cause to be heard and decided by the court en banc. Any four judges may, either before or after decision by a department, order a cause to be heard en banc.
RCW 2.36.080 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 36 / Section 080
RCW 2.36.080: Selection of jurors—State policy—Exclusion on account of membership in a protected class or economic status prohibited.
Status: in_force

(1) It is the policy of this state that all persons selected for jury service be selected at random from a fair cross section of the population of the area served by the court, and that all qualified citizens have the opportunity in accordance with chapter 135, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. to be considered for jury service in this state and have an obligation to serve as jurors when summoned for that purpose. (2) It is the policy of this state to maximize the availability of residents of the state for jury service. It also is the policy of this state to minimize the burden on the prospective jurors, their families, and employers resulting from jury service. The jury term and jury service should be set at as brief an interval as is practical given the size of the jury source list for the judicial district. The optimal jury term is one week or less. Optimal juror service is one day or one trial, whichever is longer. (3) A citizen shall not be excluded from jury service in this state on account of membership in a protected class recognized in RCW 49.60.030 , or on account of economic status. (4) This section does not affect the right to peremptory challenges under RCW 4.44.130 , the right to general causes of challenge under RCW 4.44.160 , the right to particular causes of challenge under RCW 4.44.170 , or a judge's duty to excuse a juror under RCW 2.36.110 .
RCW 2.72.070 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 72 / Section 070
RCW 2.72.070: Annual report to legislature.
Status: in_force

(1) By October 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036 , the office of public guardianship must submit a report to the legislature regarding the demand for the services provided by the office, barriers to service delivery, and outcomes achieved. (2) The report required in subsection (1) of this section must contain, at a minimum, the following information for the year prior to the report: (a) The number of contract service providers under contract with the office of public guardianship; (b) The caseload of each contract service provider; (c) The number of guardianships, conservatorships, and each of the less restrictive options supported by the office; (d) The total number of persons prioritized pursuant to RCW 2.72.060 ; (e) For each person prioritized pursuant to RCW 2.72.060 , the number of days between when the person was deemed medically ready for discharge from a hospital to a postacute care or community setting and when the person was discharged from the hospital; (f) A summary of postdischarge outcomes with regard to persons prioritized pursuant to RCW 2.72.060 ; and (g) Policy recommendations for consideration by the legislature.
RCW 2.64.100 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 64 / Section 100
RCW 2.64.100: Proposed operating budgets—Reports to legislature.
Status: in_force

The commission shall prepare and present to the legislature proposed operating budgets for the commission in accordance with the provisions of chapter 43.88 RCW. The commission shall report to the legislature in the manner required by law, with due regard for the confidentiality of proceedings before the commission.
RCW 2.14.050 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 14 / Section 050
RCW 2.14.050: Administrator—Discharge of duties.
Status: in_force

The administrator for the courts shall be deemed to stand in a fiduciary relationship to the members participating in the plan and shall discharge his or her duties in good faith and with that diligence, care, and skill which ordinary prudent persons would exercise under similar circumstances in like positions.
RCW 2.72.020 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 72 / Section 020
RCW 2.72.020: Office of public guardianship and conservatorship created—Appointment of public guardianship and conservatorship administrator.
Status: in_force

(1) There is created an office of public guardianship and conservatorship within the administrative office of the courts. (2) The supreme court shall appoint a public guardianship and conservatorship administrator to establish and administer a public guardianship, public conservatorship, decision-making assistance, and estate administration program in the office of public guardianship and conservatorship. The public guardianship and conservatorship administrator serves at the pleasure of the supreme court.
RCW 2.56.050 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 56 / Section 050
RCW 2.56.050: Judges, clerks, other officers, to comply with requests of administrator.
Status: in_force

The judges and clerks of the courts and all other officers, state and local, shall comply with all requests made by the administrator, after approval by the chief justice, for information and statistical data bearing on the state of the dockets of such courts and such other information as may reflect the business transacted by them and the expenditure of public moneys for the maintenance and operation of the judicial system.
RCW 26.12.050 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 12 / Section 050
RCW 26.12.050: Family courts—Appointment of assistants.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, in each county the superior court may appoint the following persons to assist the family court in disposing of its business: (a) One or more attorneys to act as family court commissioners, and (b) Such investigators, stenographers and clerks as the court shall find necessary to carry on the work of the family court. (2) The county legislative authority must approve the creation of family court commissioner positions. (3) The appointments provided for in this section shall be made by majority vote of the judges of the superior court of the county and may be made in addition to all other appointments of commissioners and other judicial attaches otherwise authorized by law. Family court commissioners and investigators shall serve at the pleasure of the judges appointing them and shall receive such compensation as the county legislative authority shall determine. The appointments may be full or part-time positions. A person appointed as a family court commissioner may also be appointed to any other commissioner position authorized by law.There is hereby created a fund in the state treasury to be known as "The Judges' Retirement Fund" which shall consist of the moneys appropriated from the general fund in the state treasury, as hereinafter provided; the deductions from salaries of judges, as hereinafter provided, all gifts, donations, bequests and devises made for the benefit of said fund, and the rents, issues and profits thereof, or proceeds of sales of assets thereof. The state treasurer shall be treasurer, ex officio, of this fund. The treasurer shall be custodian of the moneys in said judges' retirement fund. The department of retirement systems shall receive all moneys payable into said fund and make disbursements therefrom as provided in this chapter. The department shall keep written permanent records showing all receipts and disbursements of said fund.
RCW 2.56.020 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 56 / Section 020
RCW 2.56.020: Appointment, compensation of assistants—Administrator, assistants not to practice law.
Status: in_force

(1) The administrator for the courts, with the approval of the chief justice of the supreme court of this state, shall appoint and fix the compensation of such assistants as are necessary to enable performance of the power and duties vested in the administrative office of the courts. (2) Neither the administrator nor any assistant shall engage in the private practice of law except as otherwise provided for in this section. (3) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, nothing in this section prohibits the administrator or any assistant from: (a) Performing legal services for himself or herself or his or her immediate family; or (b) Performing legal services of a charitable nature. (4) The legal services identified in subsection (3) of this section may not be performed if they would interfere with the duties of the administrator or any assistant and no services that are performed shall be deemed within the scope of employment.
RCW 2.28.210 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 28 / Section 210
RCW 2.28.210: Court consultation of judicial information system—Disclosure to parties.
Status: in_force

(1) Before granting an order under any of the following titles of the laws of the state of Washington, the court may consult the judicial information system or any related databases, if available, to determine criminal history or the pendency of other proceedings involving the parties: (a) Granting any temporary or final order establishing a parenting plan or residential schedule or directing residential placement of a child or restraining or limiting a party's contact with a child under Title 26 RCW; (b) Granting any order regarding a vulnerable child or adult or alleged incapacitated person irrespective of the title or where contained in the laws of the state of Washington; (c) Granting letters of guardianship or administration or letters testamentary under Title 11 RCW; (d) Granting any relief under Title 71 RCW; (e) Granting any relief in a juvenile proceeding under Title 13 RCW; or (f) Granting any order of protection, temporary order of protection, or criminal no-contact order under chapter 7.105 , 9A.46, 10.99, or 26.52 RCW. (2) In the event that the court consults such a database, the court shall disclose that fact to the parties and shall disclose any particular matters relied upon by the court in rendering the decision. Upon request of a party, a copy of the document relied upon must be filed, as a confidential document, within the court file, with any confidential contact information such as addresses, phone numbers, or other information that might disclose the location or whereabouts of any person redacted from the document or documents.
RCW 2.08.250 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 08 / Section 250
RCW 2.08.250: Report to judges of supreme court.
Status: in_force

Superior judges shall, on or before the first day of November in each year, report in writing to the judges of the supreme court, such defects and omissions in the laws as their experience may suggest.
RCW 2.04.220 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 04 / Section 220
RCW 2.04.220: Effect of supreme court judgments.
Status: in_force

The judgments and decrees of the supreme court shall be final and conclusive upon all the parties properly before the court.
RCW 2.12.015 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 12 / Section 015
RCW 2.12.015: Additional pension for more than eighteen years service—Amount.
Status: in_force

In the event any judge of the supreme court, court of appeals, or superior court of the state serves more than eighteen years in the aggregate as computed under RCW 2.12.010 , he or she shall receive in addition to any other pension benefits to which he or she may be entitled under this chapter, an additional pension benefit based upon one-eighteenth of his or her salary for each year of full service after eighteen years, provided his or her total pension shall not exceed seventy-five percent of the monthly salary he or she was receiving as a judge at the time of his or her retirement.
RCW 2.48.050 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 48 / Section 050
RCW 2.48.050: Powers of governors.
Status: in_force

The said board of governors shall have power, in its discretion, from time to time to adopt rules (1) concerning membership and the classification thereof into active, inactive and honorary members; and (2) concerning the enrollment and privileges of membership; and (3) defining the other officers of the state bar, the time, place and method of their selection, and their respective powers, duties, terms of office and compensation; and (4) concerning annual and special meetings; and (5) concerning the collection, the deposit and the disbursement of the membership and admission fees, penalties, and all other funds; and (6) providing for the organization and government of district and/or other local subdivisions of the state bar; and (7) providing for all other matters, whether similar to the foregoing or not, affecting in any way whatsoever, the organization and functioning of the state bar. Any such rule may be modified, or rescinded, or a new rule adopted, by a vote of the active members under rules to be prescribed by the board of governors.
RCW 2.28.080 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 28 / Section 080
RCW 2.28.080: Powers of judges of supreme and superior courts.
Status: in_force

The judges of the supreme and superior courts have power in any part of the state to take and certify — (1) The proof and acknowledgment of a conveyance of real property or any other written instrument authorized or required to be proved or acknowledged. (2) The acknowledgment of satisfaction of a judgment in any court. (3) An affidavit or deposition to be used in any court of justice or other tribunal of this state. (4) To exercise any other power and perform any other duty conferred or imposed upon them by statute.
RCW 2.56.115 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 56 / Section 115
RCW 2.56.115: Child safety training—High-potency synthetic opioids and other substances.
Status: in_force

(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the administrative office of the courts shall develop, deliver, and regularly update training regarding child safety and the risk and danger presented to children and youth by high-potency synthetic opioids and other substances impacting families. (2) The training established in this section must be: (a) Informed by the information developed under section 109, chapter 328, Laws of 2024; and (b) Developed for and made available to judicial officers and system partners in the dependency court system.
RCW 2.08.220 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 08 / Section 220
RCW 2.08.220: Process, to whom directed.
Status: in_force

Unless otherwise provided by statute, all process issuing out of the court shall be directed to the sheriff of the county in which it is to be served, and be by him or her executed according to law.
RCW 2.76.030 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 76 / Section 030
RCW 2.76.030: Meetings—Issues to discuss—Staff support.
Status: in_force

(1) The interbranch advisory committee may set its own meeting schedule. The committee shall discuss issues of mutual concern between the branches. Examples include, but are not limited to: (a) Funding legislative mandates; (b) Initiatives related to access to justice; (c) Issues of local concern; (d) Courthouse security; and (e) Court technology infrastructure. (2) Staff support for the committee will be provided by the administrative office of the courts.
RCW 2.48.140 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 48 / Section 140
RCW 2.48.140: Membership fee—Inactive.
Status: in_force

The annual membership fee for inactive members shall be the sum of two dollars, payable on or before the first day of February of each year.
RCW 2.06.024 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 06 / Section 024
RCW 2.06.024: Effective date for Pierce county judicial position—Initial term.
Status: in_force

The new judicial position for the second division, district 1, Pierce county, created pursuant to the 1999 amendment to RCW 2.06.020 shall become effective July 1, 2000, and shall be filled by gubernatorial appointment. The person appointed by the governor shall hold office until the general election to be held in November 2000. At the general election, the judge appointed shall be entitled to run for a term of six years or until the second Monday in January 2007, and until a successor is elected and qualified. Thereafter, the judge shall be elected for a term of six years and until a successor is elected and qualified, commencing with the second Monday in January succeeding the election.
RCW 2.72.010 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 72 / Section 010
RCW 2.72.010: Definitions.
Status: in_force

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Agent" means a person granted authority to act for a principal under a power of attorney. (2) "Contract service provider" means a public guardian or public conservator providing services under contract with the office of public guardianship and conservatorship. Any public guardian or public conservator providing such services must be certified by the certified professional guardian [guardianship] board established by the supreme court. (3) "Decision-making assistance" means support for an individual with diminished decision-making ability in making decisions affecting health or safety or to manage financial affairs. Assistance includes, without limitation, acting as a representative payee, an agent, a trustee, a public guardian, or a public conservator. (4) "Estate administration" means services provided for a fee to the estate of an individual who died at age eighteen or older, in circumstances where a contract service provider is granted letters under RCW 11.28.120 (7). (5) "Long-term care services" means services provided through the department of social and health services either in a hospital or skilled nursing facility, or in another setting under a home and community-based waiver authorized under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396n. (6) "Office" means the office of public guardianship and conservatorship. (7) "Public conservator" means an individual or entity appointed by a court to make decisions with respect to property or financial affairs of an individual subject to conservatorship, and who provides these services under contract with the office of public guardianship and conservatorship. (8) "Public guardian" means an individual or entity appointed by the court to make decisions with respect to the personal affairs of an individual, and who provides these services under contract with the office of public guardianship and conservatorship. (9) "Representative payee" means the designated agent for a recipient of government benefits whom a government agency has determined to be incapable of managing his or her benefits. (10) "Trustee" means a person or organization named in a trust agreement to handle trust property for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
RCW 2.06.085 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 06 / Section 085
RCW 2.06.085: Oath of judges.
Status: in_force

The several judges of the court of appeals, before entering upon the duties of their office, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Washington, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office of judge of the court of appeals of the State of Washington to the best of my ability." Which oath or affirmation may be administered by any person authorized to administer oaths, a certificate whereof shall be affixed thereto by the person administering the oath. And the oath or affirmation so certified shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state.
RCW 2.50.020 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 50 / Section 020
RCW 2.50.020: Public interest.
Status: in_force

The promotion of organized legal aid is hereby declared to be in the public interest.
RCW 2.08.140 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 08 / Section 140
RCW 2.08.140: Visiting judge at direction of governor.
Status: in_force

Whenever a judge of the superior court of any county in this state, or a majority of such judges in any county in which there is more than one judge of said court, shall request the governor of the state to direct a judge of the superior court of any other county to hold a session of the superior court of any such county as is first herein above mentioned, the governor shall thereupon request and direct a judge of the superior court of some other county, making such selection as the governor shall deem to be most consistent with the state of judicial business in other counties, to hold a session of the superior court in the county the judge shall have requested the governor as aforesaid. Such request and direction by the governor shall be made in writing, and shall specify the county in which he or she directs the superior judge to whom the same is addressed to hold such session of the superior court, and the period during which he or she is to hold such session. Thereupon it shall be the duty of the superior judge so requested, and he or she is hereby empowered to hold a session of the superior court of the county specified by the governor, at the seat of judicial business thereof, during the period specified by the governor, and in such quarters as the county commissioners of said county may provide for the holding of such session.
RCW 2.36.130 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 36 / Section 130
RCW 2.36.130: Additional names.
Status: in_force

If for any reason the jurors drawn for service upon a jury for any term shall not be sufficient to dispose of the pending jury business, or where no jury is in regular attendance and the business of the court may require the attendance of a jury before a regular term, the judge or judges of any court may direct the random selection and summoning from the master jury list such additional names as they may consider necessary.
RCW 2.36.150 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 36 / Section 150
RCW 2.36.150: Juror expense payments—Reimbursement by state—Pilot projects.
Status: in_force

Jurors shall receive for each day's attendance, besides mileage at the rate determined under RCW 43.03.060 , the following expense payments: (1) Grand jurors may receive up to twenty-five dollars but in no case less than ten dollars; (2) Petit jurors may receive up to twenty-five dollars but in no case less than ten dollars; (3) Coroner's jurors may receive up to twenty-five dollars but in no case less than ten dollars; (4) District court jurors may receive up to twenty-five dollars but in no case less than ten dollars: PROVIDED, That a person excused from jury service at his or her own request shall be allowed not more than a per diem and such mileage, if any, as to the court shall seem just and equitable under all circumstances: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the state shall fully reimburse the county in which trial is held for all jury fees and witness fees related to criminal cases which result from incidents occurring within an adult or juvenile correctional institution: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the expense payments paid to jurors shall be determined by the county legislative authority and shall be uniformly applied within the county. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, jurors participating in pilot projects in superior, district, and municipal courts may receive juror fees of up to sixty-two dollars for each day of attendance in addition to mileage reimbursement at the rate determined under RCW 43.03.060 .
RCW 2.24.060 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 24 / Section 060
RCW 2.24.060: Referees—Definition—Powers.
Status: in_force

A referee is a person appointed by the court or judicial officer with power — (1) To try an issue of law or of fact in a civil action or proceeding and report thereon. (2) To ascertain any other fact in a civil action or proceeding when necessary for the information of the court, and report the fact or to take and report the evidence in an action. (3) To execute an order, judgment or decree or to exercise any other power or perform any other duty expressly authorized by law.
RCW 2.72.040 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 72 / Section 040
RCW 2.72.040: Waiver of court costs.
Status: in_force

The courts shall waive court costs and filing fees in any proceeding in which an incapacitated person is receiving *public guardianship services funded under this chapter.
RCW 2.30.020 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 30 / Section 020
RCW 2.30.020: Definitions.
Status: in_force

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Emerging best practice" or "promising practice" means a program or practice that, based on statistical analyses or a well- established theory of change, shows potential for meeting the evidence-based or research-based criteria, which may include the use of a program that is evidence-based for outcomes other than those listed in this section. (2) "Evidence-based" means a program or practice that: (a) Has been tested in heterogeneous or intended populations with multiple randomized, or statistically controlled evaluations, or both; or one large multiple site randomized, or statistically controlled evaluation, or both, where the weight of the evidence from a systemic review demonstrates sustained improvements in at least one outcome; or (b) may be implemented with a set of procedures to allow successful replication in Washington and, when possible, is determined to be cost-beneficial. (3) "Government authority" means prosecutor or other representative initiating action leading to a proceeding in therapeutic court. (4) "Participant" means an accused person, offender, or respondent in the judicial proceeding. (5) "Research-based" means a program or practice that has been tested with a single randomized, or statistically controlled evaluation, or both, demonstrating sustained desirable outcomes; or where the weight of the evidence from a systemic review supports sustained outcomes as described in this subsection but does not meet the full criteria for evidence-based. (6) "Specialty court" and "therapeutic court" both mean a court utilizing a program or programs structured to achieve both a reduction in recidivism and an increase in the likelihood of rehabilitation, or to reduce child abuse and neglect, out-of-home placements of children, termination of parental rights, and substance abuse and mental health symptoms among parents or guardians and their children through continuous and intense judicially supervised treatment and the appropriate use of services, sanctions, and incentives. (7) "Therapeutic court personnel" means the staff of a therapeutic court including, but not limited to: Court and clerk personnel with therapeutic court duties, prosecuting attorneys, the attorney general or his or her representatives, defense counsel, monitoring personnel, and others acting within the scope of therapeutic court duties. (8) "Trial court" means a superior court authorized under this title or a district or municipal court authorized under Title 3 or 35 RCW.
RCW 2.10.230 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 10 / Section 230
RCW 2.10.230: Cessation of benefits upon appointment or election to court.
Status: in_force

Any person receiving retirement benefits from this system who is appointed or elected to a court under chapter 2.04 , 2.06, or 2.08 RCW shall upon the first day of entering such office become a member of this system and his or her retirement benefits shall cease. Pro tempore service as a judge of a court of record shall not constitute appointment as that term is used in this section. Upon leaving such office, a person shall have his or her benefits recomputed or restored, as determined in this chapter: PROVIDED, That no such person shall receive a benefit less than that which was being paid at the time his or her benefit ceased.
RCW 2.56.160 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 56 / Section 160
RCW 2.56.160: Processing of warrants pilot program.
Status: in_force

The administrator for the courts shall establish a pilot program for the efficient statewide processing of warrants issued by courts of limited jurisdiction. The pilot program shall contain procedures and criteria for courts of limited jurisdiction to enter into agreements with other courts of limited jurisdiction throughout the state to process each other's warrants when the defendant is within the processing court's jurisdiction. The administrator for the courts shall establish a formula for allocating between the court processing the warrant and the court that issued the warrant any moneys collected and costs associated with the processing of warrants.
RCW 2.32.310 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 32 / Section 310
RCW 2.32.310: Other reporting service not precluded.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this act or any other act or parts of acts or court rule shall be construed to preclude such official reporter from performing other and additional reporting service at any time when such service can be performed without conflict with or prejudice to the duties of the official reporter.
RCW 2.36.180 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 36 / Section 180
RCW 2.36.180: Demographic data—Collection—Reports.
Status: in_force

The administrative office of the courts shall provide all courts with a method to collect data on a juror's race, ethnicity, age, sex, employment status, educational attainment, and income, as well as any other data approved by order of the chief justice of the Washington state supreme court. Data collection must be conducted and reported in a manner that preserves juror anonymity. The administrative office of the courts shall publish this demographic data in an annual report to the governor.
RCW 2.56.150 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 56 / Section 150
RCW 2.56.150: Review of mandatory use of court-appointed special advocates as guardians ad litem, certification of guardians ad litem and court visitors.
Status: in_force

(1) The administrator for the courts shall review the advisability and feasibility of the statewide mandatory use of court-appointed special advocates as described in RCW 26.12.175 to act as guardians ad litem in appropriate cases under Titles 13 and 26 RCW. The review must explore the feasibility of obtaining various sources of private and public funding to implement statewide mandatory use of court-appointed special advocates, such as grants and donations, instead of or in combination with raising court fees or assessments. (2) The administrator shall also conduct a study on the feasibility and desirability of requiring all persons who act as guardians ad litem or court visitors under Titles 11 , 13 , and 26 RCW to be certified as qualified guardians ad litem or court visitors prior to their eligibility for appointment. (3) In conducting the review and study the administrator shall consult with: (a) The presidents or directors of all public benefit nonprofit corporations that are eligible to receive state funds under RCW 43.330.135 ; (b) the attorney general, or a designee; (c) the secretary of the department of social and health services, or a designee; (d) the superior court judges' association; (e) the Washington state bar association; (f) public defenders who represent children under Title 13 or 26 RCW; (g) private attorneys who represent parents under Title 13 or 26 RCW; (h) professionals who evaluate families for the purposes of determining the custody or placement decisions of children; (i) the office of financial management; (j) persons who act as volunteer or compensated guardians ad litem; and (k) parents who have dealt with guardians ad litem or court visitors in court cases. For the purposes of studying the feasibility of a certification requirement for guardians ad litem acting under Title 11 RCW the administrator shall consult with the advisory group formed under RCW 11.130.155 . (4) The administrator shall also conduct a review of problems and concerns about the role of guardians ad litem in actions under Titles 11 , 13 , and 26 RCW and recommend alternatives to strengthen judicial oversight of guardians ad litem or court visitors and ensure fairness and impartiality of the process. The administrator must accept and obtain comments from parties designated in subsection (3) of this section.
RCW 2.64.010 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 64 / Section 010
RCW 2.64.010: Definitions—Application.
Status: in_force

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Admonishment" means a written disposition of an advisory nature that cautions a judge or justice not to engage in certain proscribed behavior. An admonishment may include a requirement that the judge or justice follow a specified corrective course of action. (2) "Censure" means a written action of the commission that requires a judge or justice to appear personally before the commission, and that finds that conduct of the judge or justice violates a rule of judicial conduct, detrimentally affects the integrity of the judiciary, undermines public confidence in the administration of justice, and may or may not require a recommendation to the supreme court that the judge or justice be suspended or removed. A censure shall include a requirement that the judge or justice follow a specified corrective course of action. (3) "Commission" means the commission on judicial conduct provided for in Article IV, section 31 of the state Constitution, which is authorized to recommend to the supreme court, after notice and hearing, the suspension or removal of a judge or justice for violating a rule of judicial conduct, or the retirement of a judge or justice for disability. (4) "Judge or justice" includes justices of the supreme court, judges of the court of appeals, judges of the superior courts, judges of any court organized under Titles 3 or 35 RCW, judges pro tempore, court commissioners, and magistrates. (5) "Removal" means a written recommendation by the commission and a finding by the supreme court that the conduct of a judge or justice is a violation of a rule of judicial conduct and seriously impairs the integrity of the judiciary and substantially undermines the public confidence in the administration of justice to such a degree that the judge or justice should be relieved of all duties of his or her office. (6) "Reprimand" means a written action of the commission that requires a judge or justice to appear personally before the commission, and that finds that the conduct of the judge or justice is a minor violation of the code of judicial conduct and does not require censure or a formal recommendation to the supreme court that the judge or justice be suspended or removed. A reprimand shall include a requirement that the judge or justice follow a specified corrective course of action. (7) "Retirement" means a written recommendation by the commission and a finding by the supreme court that a judge or justice has a disability which is permanent, or likely to become permanent, and that seriously interferes with the performance of judicial duties. (8) "Suspension" means a written recommendation by the commission and a finding by the supreme court that the conduct of a judge or justice is a violation of a rule of judicial conduct and seriously impairs the integrity of the judiciary and substantially undermines the public confidence in the administration of justice to such a degree that the judge or justice should be relieved of the duties of his or her office by the court for a specified period of time, as determined by the court. This chapter shall apply to any judge or justice, regardless of whether the judge or justice serves full time or part time, and regardless of whether the judge or justice is admitted to practice law in this state.
RCW 2.70.901 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 70 / Section 901
RCW 2.70.901: Transfer of certain powers, duties, and functions of the department of social and health services—Persons not guilty by reason of insanity.
Status: in_force

(1) All powers, duties, and functions of county government and the department of social and health services pertaining to public defense services for indigent persons who are committed following acquittal by reason of insanity under chapter 10.77 RCW are transferred to the office of public defense. County government and the department of social and health services shall retain powers, duties, and functions to ensure public defense services for indigent persons prior to acquittal by reason of insanity under chapter 10.77 RCW. (2)(a) The office of public defense may request copies of records in the possession of a county public defense administrator, the department of social and health services, or the behavioral health administration pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred, which shall be timely delivered to the custody of the office of public defense. In order to implement the office's administration and oversight of postcommitment public defense services authorized by chapter 120, Laws of 2023, the office of public defense shall be entitled to personal identifying information for any person committed following acquittal by reason of insanity, as well as information about underlying criminal or other pending court proceedings, and the identity of any existing legal counsel. The county public defense administrator, the department of social and health services, or the behavioral health administration shall not require the office of public defense to obtain consent by the person committed following acquittal by reason of insanity in order to share this information. The office of public defense shall maintain the confidentiality of all confidential information included in the records. Records may be transferred electronically or in hard copy, as agreed by the agencies. When the office of public defense has satisfied its business needs related to the transferred records, the office shall destroy the records following appropriate procedures. (b) All funds, credits, or other assets held by the department of social and health services in connection with the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be assigned to the office of public defense. (c) Any appropriations made to the department of social and health services for carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall, on July 1, 2023, be transferred and credited to the office of public defense. (3) Notwithstanding July 1, 2023, if implementation of office of public defense contracts would result in the substitution of counsel within 180 days of a scheduled hearing, the director of the office of public defense may continue defense services with existing counsel to facilitate continuity of effective representation and avoid further continuance of a trial. When existing counsel is maintained, payment to complete the trial shall be prorated based on standard contract fees established by the office of public defense under chapter 120, Laws of 2023 and, at the director's discretion, may include extraordinary compensation based on attorney documentation.
RCW 2.32.120 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 32 / Section 120
RCW 2.32.120: Publication of reports.
Status: in_force

The reports must be published under the supervision of the court, and to that end each of the judges must be furnished by the reporter with proof sheets of each volume thirty days before its final publication.
RCW 2.10.090 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 10 / Section 090
RCW 2.10.090: Funding.
Status: in_force

The total liability, as determined by the actuary, of this system shall be funded as follows: (1) Every judge shall have deducted from his or her monthly salary an amount equal to seven and one-half percent of said salary. (2) The state as employer shall contribute an equal amount on a quarterly basis. (3) The state shall in addition guarantee the solvency of said fund and the legislature shall make biennial appropriations from the general fund of amounts sufficient to guarantee the making of retirement payments as herein provided for if the money in the judicial retirement fund shall become insufficient for that purpose, but such biennial appropriation may be conditioned that sums appropriated may not be expended unless the money in the judicial retirement fund shall become insufficient to meet the retirement payments.
RCW 2.70.070 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 70 / Section 070
RCW 2.70.070: Parents for parents program—Goal—Structured peer mentoring.
Status: in_force

(1) The goal of the parents for parents program is to increase the permanency and well-being of children in foster care through peer mentoring that increases parental engagement and contributes to family reunification. (2) The parents for parents program may provide structured peer mentoring for families entering the dependency court system, administered by parent allies.
RCW 2.10.165 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 10 / Section 165
RCW 2.10.165: Refund of certain contributions.
Status: in_force

If a judge who was a member of this system left the system before July 1, 1988, and neither the judge nor the judge's surviving spouse: (1) Was eligible at that time to receive a benefit under this chapter; or (2) has received an amount under a sundry claims appropriation from the state legislature intended as a refund of the judge's contributions paid under RCW 2.10.090 (1); then the judge or the judge's surviving spouse may apply to the department for and receive a refund of such contributions.
RCW 2.48.070 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 48 / Section 070
RCW 2.48.070: Admission of veterans.
Status: in_force

Any person who shall have graduated from any accredited law school and after such graduation shall have served in the armed forces of the United States of America between December 7, 1941, and the termination of the present World War, may be admitted to the practice of law in the state of Washington and to membership in the Washington State Bar Association, upon motion made before the supreme court of the state of Washington, provided the following is made to appear: (1) That the applicant is a person of good moral character over the age of twenty-one years; (2) That the applicant, at the time of entering the armed forces of the United States, was a legal resident of the state of Washington; (3) That the applicant's service in the armed forces of the United States is or was satisfactory. An applicant's service is satisfactory if he or she meets the definition of "veteran" under RCW 41.04.007 .
RCW 2.12.060 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 12 / Section 060
RCW 2.12.060: Fund—Constitution—Salary deductions—Aid.
Status: in_force

For the purpose of providing moneys in said judges' retirement fund, concurrent monthly deductions from judges' salaries and portions thereof payable from the state treasury and withdrawals from the general fund of the state treasury shall be made as follows: Six and one-half percent shall be deducted from the monthly salary of each justice of the supreme court, six and one-half percent shall be deducted from the monthly salary of each judge of the court of appeals, and six and one-half percent of the total salaries of each judge of the superior court shall be deducted from that portion of the salary of such justices or judges payable from the state treasury; and a sum equal to six and one-half percent of the combined salaries of the justices of the supreme court, the judges of the court of appeals, and the judges of the superior court shall be withdrawn from the general fund of the state treasury. In consideration of the contributions made by the judges and justices to the judges' retirement fund, the state hereby undertakes to guarantee the solvency of said fund and the legislature shall make biennial appropriations from the general fund of amounts sufficient to guarantee the making of retirement payments as herein provided for if the money in the judges' retirement fund shall become insufficient for that purpose, but such biennial appropriation may be conditioned that sums appropriated may not be expended unless the money in the judges' retirement fund shall become insufficient to meet the retirement payments. The deductions and withdrawals herein directed shall be made on or before the tenth day of each month and shall be based on the salaries of the next preceding calendar month. The administrator for the courts shall issue warrants payable to the treasurer to accomplish the deductions and withdrawals herein directed, and shall issue the monthly salary warrants of the judges and justices for the amount of salary payable from the state treasury after such deductions have been made. The treasurer shall cash the warrants made payable to him or her hereunder and place the proceeds thereof in the judges' retirement fund for disbursement as authorized in this chapter.The court commissioners shall: (1) Make appropriate referrals to county family court services program if the county has a family court services program or appoint a guardian ad litem pursuant to RCW 26.12.175 ; (2) order investigation and reporting of the facts upon which to base warrants, subpoenas, orders or directions in actions or proceedings under this chapter; (3) exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of court commissioners; (4) make written reports of all proceedings had which shall become a part of the record of the family court; (5) provide supervision over the exercise of its jurisdiction as the judge of the family court may order; (6) cause the orders and findings of the family court to be entered in the same manner as orders and findings are entered in cases in the superior court; (7) cause other reports to be made and records kept as will indicate the value and extent of reconciliation, mediation, investigation, and treatment services; and (8) conduct hearings under Title 13 and chapter 28A.225 RCW, as provided in RCW 13.04.021 .
RCW 2.12.040 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 12 / Section 040
RCW 2.12.040: Service after retirement.
Status: in_force

If any retired judge shall accept an appointment or an election to a judicial office, he or she shall be entitled to receive the full salary pertaining thereto, and his or her retirement pay under this chapter shall be suspended during such term of office and his or her salary then received shall be subject to contribution to the judges' retirement fund as provided in this chapter.In counties having more than one judge of the superior court the presiding judge may appoint a judge other than the judge of the family court to act as judge of the family court during any period when the judge of the family court is on vacation, absent, or for any reason unable to perform his or her duties. Any judge so appointed shall have all the powers and authority of a judge of the family court in cases under this chapter.
RCW 2.40.010 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 40 / Section 010
RCW 2.40.010: Witness fees and mileage.
Status: in_force

Witnesses shall receive for each day's attendance in all courts of record of this state the same compensation per day and per mile as jurors in superior court. Witnesses in any other court shall receive for each day's attendance the same compensation per day and per mile as jurors in district court.
RCW 2.70.027 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 70 / Section 027
RCW 2.70.027: Director—Commitment to psychiatric care—Postcommitment public defense services for indigent persons.
Status: in_force

In providing postcommitment public defense services for indigent persons who are committed to state psychiatric care following acquittal by reason of insanity under chapter 10.77 RCW, the director shall: (1) In accordance with state contracting laws, contract with persons admitted to practice law in this state and with government or nongovernment organizations employing persons admitted to practice law in this state; (2) Establish annual contract fees for public defense legal services within amounts appropriated; (3) Ensure an indigent person qualified for public defense counsel has contracted counsel appointed to assist him or her; (4) Consistent with applicable statutes, court orders, and court rules, establish office policies and procedures for the payment of expert costs, other professional and investigative costs, and litigation costs; (5) Review and analyze existing caseload standards and make recommendations for updating caseload standards as appropriate for this area of legal practice; and (6) Periodically, as needed, submit reports to the chief justice of the supreme court of the state of Washington, the governor, and the legislature. The purpose of such reports is to communicate new information regarding public defense services for persons who are committed following acquittal by reason of insanity under chapter 10.77 RCW and to recommend changes in statutes and court rules for the improvement of insanity commitment and postcommitment proceedings.
RCW 2.04.010 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 04 / Section 010
RCW 2.04.010: Jurisdiction.
Status: in_force

The supreme court shall have original jurisdiction in habeas corpus and quo warranto and mandamus as to all state officers, and appellate jurisdiction in all actions and proceedings excepting that its appellate jurisdiction shall not extend to civil actions at law for the recovery of money or personal property when the original amount in controversy or the value of the property does not exceed the sum of two hundred dollars, unless the action involves the legality of a tax, impost, assessment, toll, municipal fine, or the validity of a statute. The supreme court shall also have power to issue writs of mandamus, review, prohibition, habeas corpus, certiorari, and all other writs necessary and proper to the complete exercise of its appellate and revisory jurisdiction. Each of the judges shall have power to issue writs of habeas corpus to any part of the state, upon petition by or on behalf of any person held in actual custody, and may make such writs returnable before himself or herself, or before the supreme court, or before any superior court of the state, or any judge thereof.
RCW 2.53.005 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 53 / Section 005
RCW 2.53.005: Findings.
Status: in_force

The legislature finds that the provision of civil legal aid services to indigent persons is an important component of the state's responsibility to provide for the proper and effective administration of civil and criminal justice. The legislature further finds that state-funded legal aid services should be administered by an independent office of civil legal aid located within the judicial branch and subject to formal continuing oversight that includes bipartisan legislative representation.
RCW 2.08.185 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 08 / Section 185
RCW 2.08.185: Attorney serving as guardian ad litem—Disqualification as judge pro tempore or commissioner pro tempore—Circumstances.
Status: in_force

An attorney may not serve as a superior court judge pro tempore or a superior court commissioner pro tempore in a judicial district while appointed to or serving on a case in that judicial district as a guardian ad litem for compensation under Title 11 , 13 , or 26 RCW, if that judicial district is contained within division one or two of the court of appeals and has a population of more than one hundred thousand.
RCW 2.04.092 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 04 / Section 092
RCW 2.04.092: Salary of justices.
Status: in_force

The annual salary of justices of the supreme court shall be established by the Washington citizens' commission on salaries for elected officials. No salary warrant may be issued to a justice of the supreme court until the justice files with the state treasurer an affidavit that no matter referred to the justice for opinion or decision has been uncompleted or undecided for more than six months.
RCW 2.53.030 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 53 / Section 030
RCW 2.53.030: Public funds appropriated for civil legal aid to indigent persons—Use—Distribution formula—Audit—Rules.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The legislature recognizes the ethical obligation of attorneys to represent clients without interference by third parties in the discharge of professional obligations to clients. The legislature further finds that the prevalence of civil legal problems experienced by low-income people in Washington state exceeds the capacity of the state-funded legal aid system to address. To ensure the most beneficial use of state resources, the legislature finds it appropriate to authorize legal assistance with respect to civil legal problems that directly affect important rights and basic needs of individual low-income residents and their families and to define certain limits on the use of state moneys appropriated for civil legal aid. Accordingly, moneys appropriated for civil legal aid pursuant to this section shall not be used for legal representation that is either outside the scope of or prohibited by this section. (b) Nothing in this section is intended to limit the authority of existing entities, including but not limited to the Washington state bar association, the public disclosure commission, the state auditor, and the federal legal services corporation to resolve issues within their respective jurisdictions. (2) Any money appropriated by the legislature for civil legal aid to indigent persons pursuant to this section shall be administered by the office of civil legal aid established under RCW 2.53.020 , and shall be used solely for the purpose of contracting with qualified legal aid programs for legal representation of indigent persons in matters relating to: (a) Domestic relations and family law matters, (b) governmental assistance and services, (c) health care, (d) housing and utilities, (e) mortgage foreclosures, (f) consumer, financial services, credit, and bankruptcy, (g) employment, (h) rights of residents of long-term care facilities, (i) wills, estates, and living wills, (j) elder abuse, (k) guardianship, (l) disability rights, (m) education including special education, (n) administrative agency decisions, and (o) discrimination prohibited by local, state, or federal law. (3) For purposes of this section, a "qualified legal aid program" means a not-for-profit corporation incorporated and operating exclusively in Washington which has received basic field funding for the provision of civil legal aid to indigents from the federal legal services corporation or that has received funding for civil legal aid for indigents under this section before July 1, 1997. (4) When entering into a contract with a qualified legal aid provider under this section, the office of civil legal aid shall require the provider to provide legal aid in a manner that maximizes geographic access throughout the state and meets generally accepted standards for the delivery of civil legal aid. (5) Funds distributed to qualified legal aid programs under this section may not be used directly or indirectly for: (a) Lobbying. (i) For purposes of this section, "lobbying" means any personal service, advertisement, telegram, telephone communication, letter, printed or written matter, or other device directly or indirectly intended to influence any member of congress or any other federal, state, or local nonjudicial official, whether elected or appointed: (A) In connection with any act, bill, resolution, or similar legislation by the congress of the United States or by any state or local legislative body, or any administrative rule, rule-making activity, standard, rate, or other enactment by any federal, state, or local administrative agency; (B) In connection with any referendum, initiative, constitutional amendment, or any similar procedure of the congress, any state legislature, any local council, or any similar governing body acting in a legislative capacity; or (C) In connection with inclusion of any provision in a legislative measure appropriating funds to, or defining or limiting the functions or authority of, the recipient of funds under this section. (ii) "Lobbying" does not include the response of an employee of a legal aid program to a written request from a governmental agency, an elected or appointed official, or committee on a specific matter. This exception does not authorize communication with anyone other than the requesting party, or agent or employee of such agency, official, or committee. (b) Grass roots lobbying. For purposes of this section, "grass roots lobbying" means preparation, production, or dissemination of information the purpose of which is to encourage the public at large, or any definable segment thereof, to contact legislators or their staff in support of or in opposition to pending or proposed legislation; or contribute to or participate in a demonstration, march, rally, lobbying campaign, or letter writing or telephone campaign for the purpose of influencing the course of pending or proposed legislation. (c) Class action lawsuits. (d) Participating in or identifying the program with prohibited political activities. For purposes of this section, "prohibited political activities" means (i) any activity directed toward the success or failure of a political party, a candidate for partisan or nonpartisan office, a partisan political group, or a ballot measure; (ii) advertising or contributing or soliciting financial support for or against any candidate, political group, or ballot measure; or (iii) voter registration or transportation activities. (e) Representation in fee-generating cases. For purposes of this section, "fee-generating" means a case that might reasonably be expected to result in a fee for legal aid if undertaken by a private attorney. The charging of a fee pursuant to subsection (6) of this section does not establish the fee-generating nature of a case. A fee-generating case may be accepted when: (i) The case has been rejected by the local lawyer referral services or by two private attorneys; (ii) neither the referral service nor two private attorneys will consider the case without payment of a consultation fee; (iii) after consultation with the appropriate representatives of the private bar, the program has determined that the type of case is one that private attorneys do not ordinarily accept, or do not accept without prepayment of a fee; or (iv) the director of the program or the director's designee has determined that referral of the case to the private bar is not possible because documented attempts to refer similar cases in the past have been futile, or because emergency circumstances compel immediate action before referral can be made, but the client is advised that, if appropriate and consistent with professional responsibility, referral will be attempted at a later time. (f) Organizing any association, union, or federation, or representing a labor union. However, nothing in this subsection (5)(f) prohibits the provision of legal aid to clients as otherwise permitted by this section. (g) Picketing, demonstrations, strikes, or boycotts. (h) Engaging in inappropriate solicitation. For purposes of this section, "inappropriate solicitation" means promoting the assertion of specific legal claims among persons who know of their rights to make a claim and who decline to do so. Nothing in this subsection precludes a legal aid program or its employees from providing information regarding legal rights and responsibilities or providing information regarding the program's services and intake procedures through community legal education activities, responding to an individual's specific question about whether the individual should consult with an attorney or take legal action, or responding to an individual's specific request for information about the individual's legal rights or request for assistance in connection with a specific legal problem. (i) Conducting training programs that: (i) Advocate particular public policies; (ii) encourage or facilitate political activities, labor or antilabor activities, boycotts, picketing, strikes, or demonstrations; or (iii) attempt to influence legislation or rule making. Nothing in this subsection (5)(i) precludes representation of clients as otherwise permitted by this section. (6) The office of civil legal aid may establish requirements for client participation in the provision of civil legal aid under this section, including but not limited to copayments and sliding fee scales. (7)(a) Contracts entered into by the office of civil legal aid with qualified legal aid programs under this section must specify that the program's expenditures of moneys distributed under this section: (i) Must be audited annually by an independent outside auditor. These audit results must be provided to the office of civil legal aid; and (ii) Are subject to audit by the state auditor. (b)(i) Any entity auditing a legal aid program under this section shall have access to all records of the legal aid program to the full extent necessary to determine compliance with this section, with the exception of confidential information protected by the United States Constitution, the state Constitution, the attorney-client privilege, and applicable rules of attorney conduct. (ii) The legal aid program shall have a system allowing for production of case-specific information, including client eligibility and case type, to demonstrate compliance with this section, with the exception of confidential information protected by the United States Constitution, the state Constitution, the attorney-client privilege, and applicable rules of attorney conduct. Such information shall be available to any entity that audits the program. (8) The office of civil legal aid must recover or withhold amounts determined by an audit to have been used in violation of this section. (9) The office of civil legal aid may adopt rules to implement this section.
RCW 2.72.030 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 72 / Section 030
RCW 2.72.030: Public guardianship, public conservatorship, decision-making assistance, and estate administration program—Contracts for services—Eligibility criteria and minimum standards of practice—Duties of office—Case-weighting system—Fees.
Status: in_force

The public guardianship and conservatorship administrator is authorized to establish and administer a public guardianship, public conservatorship, decision-making assistance, and estate administration program as follows: (1)(a) The office shall contract with certified professional guardians and conservators or certified professional guardian and conservator agencies to provide public guardianship, public conservatorship, decision-making assistance, and estate administration services to persons age eighteen or older whose income does not exceed two hundred percent of the federal poverty level determined annually by the United States department of health and human services or who are receiving long-term care services through the Washington state department of social and health services, when there is no one else qualified who is willing and able to serve. (b) Neither the public guardianship and conservatorship administrator nor the office may act as public guardian or conservator or act in any other representative capacity for any individual. (c) The primary function of the office is to contract for public guardianship, public conservatorship, decision-making assistance, and estate administration services that are provided in a manner consistent with the requirements of this chapter. The office is subject to audit by the state auditor. (d) Public guardianship, public conservatorship, decision-making assistance, and estate administration service contracts are dependent upon legislative appropriation. This chapter does not create an entitlement. (2) The office shall adopt and maintain eligibility criteria to enable it to serve individuals with the greatest need when the number of cases in which courts propose to appoint a public guardian or conservator exceeds the number of cases in which services can be provided. In adopting such criteria, the office may consider factors including, but not limited to, the following: Whether an individual with diminished decision-making ability is at significant risk of harm from abuse, exploitation, abandonment, neglect, or self-neglect; and whether an individual with diminished decision-making ability is in imminent danger of loss or significant reduction in public services that are necessary for the individual to live successfully in the most integrated and least restrictive environment that is appropriate in light of the individual's needs and values. (3) The office shall adopt minimum standards of practice for public guardians, public conservators, and other contract service providers providing public guardianship, public conservatorship, decision-making assistance, and estate administration services. (4) The office shall require a public guardian or conservator to visit each individual subject to guardianship or conservatorship for which public guardianship or conservatorship services are provided no less than monthly to be eligible for compensation. (5) The office shall not petition for appointment of a public guardian or conservator for any individual. It may develop a proposal for the legislature to make affordable legal assistance available to petition for guardianships or conservatorships. (6) The office shall develop and adopt a case-weighting system designed to balance the increasing need for access to guardianship and conservatorship services, while effectively managing public guardian and conservator caseloads and providing appropriate supports for individuals on that caseload. (a) The standard caseload limit for a contract service provider must be no more than twenty persons placed under a guardianship per certified professional guardian or conservator. The office may authorize adjustments to the standard caseload limit on a case-by-case basis, and payment for services to a contract service provider that serves more than twenty persons placed under a guardianship per professional guardian or conservator is subject to review by the office. In evaluating caseload size, the office shall consider the expected activities, time, and demands involved, as well as the available support for each case. (b) Adjusted caseload limits must not exceed thirty-six cases. The office shall not authorize payment for services for any contract service provider that fails to comply with the adjusted caseload limit guidelines. (c) The office shall develop case-weighting guidelines to include a process for adjusting caseload limits, relevant policies and procedures, and recommendations for changes in court rules which may be appropriate for the implementation of the system. (d) By December 1, 2019, the office must submit to the legislature a report detailing the final case-weighting system and guidelines, and implementation progress and recommendations. The report must be made available to the public. (e) The administrative office of the courts shall notify the superior courts of the policies contained in the final case-weighting system. (7) The office shall monitor and oversee the use of state funding to ensure compliance with this chapter. (8) The office shall collect uniform and consistent basic data elements regarding service delivery. This data shall be made available to the legislature and supreme court in a format that is not identifiable by individual subject to guardianship or conservatorship to protect confidentiality. (9) The office shall require contract service providers to seek reimbursement of fees from program clients who are receiving long-term care services through the department of social and health services to the extent, and only to the extent, that such reimbursement may be paid, consistent with an order of the superior court, from income that would otherwise be required by the department to be paid toward the cost of the client's care. Fees reimbursed shall be remitted by the contract service provider to the office unless a different disposition is directed by the public guardianship and conservatorship administrator. (10) Fees may be collected from the estate when the decedent's income prior to death exceeded two hundred percent of the federal poverty level, determined annually by the United States department of health and human services, based on a fee schedule established by the office that must be published annually. (11) The office shall require public guardians or conservators to certify annually that for each individual served they have reviewed the need for continued public guardianship or conservatorship and the appropriateness of limiting, or further limiting, the authority of the public guardian or conservator under the applicable order, and that where termination or modification of a guardianship or conservatorship order appears warranted, the superior court has been asked to take the corresponding action. (12) The office shall adopt a process for receipt and consideration of and response to complaints against the office and contract service providers of public guardianship, public conservatorship, decision-making assistance, and estate administration. The process shall include investigation in cases in which investigation appears warranted in the judgment of the administrator. (13) The office shall develop standardized forms and reporting instruments that may include, but are not limited to, intake, initial assessment, guardianship care plan, decisional accounting, staff time logs, changes in condition or abilities of an individual subject to guardianship or conservatorship, and values history. The office shall collect and analyze the data gathered from these reports. (14) The office shall identify training needs for contract service providers it contracts with, and shall make recommendations to the supreme court, the certified professional guardian [guardianship] board, and the legislature for improvements in training. The office may offer training to individuals providing services pursuant to this chapter, to individuals who, in the judgment of the administrator or the administrator's designee, are likely to provide such services in the future, to lay guardians or conservators, and to the family and friends of individuals subject to guardianship or conservatorship. (15) The office shall establish a system for monitoring the performance of contract service providers, and office staff shall make in-home visits to a randomly selected sample of public guardianship, public conservatorship, and decision-making assistance clients. The office may conduct further monitoring, including in-home visits, as the administrator deems appropriate. For monitoring purposes, office staff shall have access to any information relating to a public guardianship, public conservatorship, decision-making assistance, and estate administration client that is available to the guardian or conservator.
RCW 2.08.063 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 08 / Section 063
RCW 2.08.063: Judges—Lincoln, Skagit, Walla Walla, Whitman, Yakima, Adams, and Whatcom counties.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5868.SL ) ***

There shall be in the county of Lincoln one judge of the superior court; in the county of Skagit, four judges of the superior court; in the county of Walla Walla, two judges of the superior court; in the county of Whitman, one judge of the superior court; in the county of Yakima, eight judges of the superior court; in the county of Adams, one judge of the superior court; in the county of Whatcom, five judges of the superior court.
RCW 2.20.020 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 20 / Section 020
RCW 2.20.020: Who are magistrates.
Status: in_force

The following persons are magistrates: (1) The justices of the supreme court. (2) The judges of the court of appeals. (3) The superior judges, and district judges. (4) All municipal officers authorized to exercise the powers and perform the duties of district judges.
RCW 2.44.020 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 44 / Section 020
RCW 2.44.020: Appearance without authority—Procedure.
Status: in_force

If it be alleged by a party for whom an attorney appears, that he or she does so without authority, the court may, at any stage of the proceedings, relieve the party for whom the attorney has assumed to appear from the consequences of his or her act; it may also summarily, upon motion, compel the attorney to repair the injury to either party consequent upon his or her assumption of authority.
RCW 2.70.125 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 70 / Section 125
RCW 2.70.125: Criminal defense training academy program—Expansion.
Status: in_force

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the office of public defense shall expand the capacity of its criminal defense training academy program to train practitioners who are new to public defense. The program must include and prioritize training for practitioners in underserved areas and rural areas of the state. The program must offer intensive trial skill development, incorporate public defense best practices and applicable standards, and offer networking opportunities. Trainings may incorporate in-person, remote, and recorded resources. By June 30, 2026, the office of public defense shall expand program offerings to also provide training to public defense practitioners who are seeking to achieve advanced qualifications.
RCW 2.32.250 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 32 / Section 250
RCW 2.32.250: Transcript accorded verity.
Status: in_force

The report of the official reporter employed by the court or other certified court reporter, or authorized transcriptionist, when transcribed and certified as being a correct transcript of the stenographic notes or electronically recorded testimony, or other oral proceedings had in the matter, shall be prima facie a correct statement of such testimony or other oral proceedings had, and the same may thereafter, in any civil cause, be read in evidence as competent testimony, when satisfactory proof is offered to the judge presiding that the witness originally giving such testimony is then dead or without the jurisdiction of the court, subject, however, to all objections the same as though such witness were present and giving such testimony in person.
RCW 2.64.111 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 64 / Section 111
RCW 2.64.111: Exemption from public disclosure—Records subject to public disclosure, when.
Status: in_force

All pleadings, papers, evidence records, and files of the commission, including complaints and the identity of complainants, compiled or obtained during the course of an investigation or initial proceeding involving the discipline or retirement of a judge or justice, are exempt from the public disclosure requirements of chapter 42.56 RCW during such investigation or initial proceeding. As of the date of a public hearing, all those records of the initial proceeding that were the basis of a finding of probable cause are subject to the public disclosure requirements of chapter 42.56 RCW.
RCW 2.10.220 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 10 / Section 220
RCW 2.10.220: Transfer to system—Prior service credit.
Status: in_force

(1) Any member of the Washington public employees' retirement system who is eligible to participate in the judicial retirement system may, by written request filed with the retirement boards of the two systems respectively, transfer such membership to the judicial retirement system. Upon the receipt of such request, the board of the Washington public employees' retirement system shall transfer to the board of the Washington judicial retirement system (a) all employee's contributions and interest thereon belonging to such member in the employees' savings fund and all employer's contributions credited or attributed to such member in the benefit account fund and (b) a record of service credited to such member. One-half of such service shall be computed and not more than nine years shall be credited to such member as though such service was performed as a member of the judicial retirement system. Upon such transfer being made the state treasurer shall deposit such moneys in the judicial retirement fund. In the event that any such member should terminate judicial service prior to his or her entitlement to retirement benefits under any of the provisions of this chapter, he or she shall upon request therefor be repaid from the judicial retirement fund an amount equal to the amount of his or her employee's contributions to the Washington public employees' retirement system and interest plus interest thereon from the date of the transfer of such moneys. (2) Any member of the judicial retirement system who was formerly a member of the Washington public employees' retirement system with membership service credit of not less than six years but who has terminated his or her membership therein under the provisions of chapter 41.40 RCW, may reinstate his or her membership in the Washington public employees' retirement system, for the sole purpose of qualifying for a transfer of membership in the judicial retirement system in accordance with subsection (1) of this section by making full restoration of all withdrawn funds to the employees' savings fund prior to July 1, 1980. Upon reinstatement in accordance with this subsection, the provisions of subsection (1) of this section and the provisions of RCW 41.40.023 (3) shall then be applicable to the reinstated member in the same manner and to the same extent as they are to the present members of the Washington public employees' retirement system who are eligible to participate in the judicial retirement system. (3) Any member of the judicial retirement system who has served as a judge for one or more years and who has rendered service for the state of Washington, or any political subdivision thereof, prior to October 1, 1947, or the time of the admission of the employer into the Washington public employees' retirement system, may — upon his or her payment into the judicial retirement fund of a sum equal to five percent of his or her compensation earned for such prior public service — request and shall be entitled to have one-half of such service computed and not more than six years immediately credited to such member as though such service had been performed as a member of the judicial retirement system, provided that any such prior service so credited shall not be claimed for any pension system other than a judicial retirement system.
RCW 2.36.052 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 36 / Section 052
RCW 2.36.052: Courts of limited jurisdiction—Performance of jury management activities by superior court authorized.
Status: in_force

Pursuant to an agreement between the judge or judges of each superior court and the judge or judges of each court of limited jurisdiction, jury management activities may be performed by the superior court for any county or judicial district as provided by statute.
RCW 2.50.050 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 50 / Section 050
RCW 2.50.050: Legal aid bureau defined.
Status: in_force

A legal aid bureau (hereinafter called the bureau), is an agency for the rendition of organized legal aid to indigent persons resident in the county, consisting of one director, who shall be an attorney resident in the county, and who shall be in good standing and active membership in the Washington State Bar Association, together with such professional and other personnel, such office facilities, and other equipment, as may be determined by the bar board and be financed by the county board.
RCW 2.70.023 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 70 / Section 023
RCW 2.70.023: Direct representation of clients.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the office of public defense shall not provide direct representation of clients. (2) In order to protect and preserve client rights when administering the office's statutory duties to provide initial telephonic or video consultation services, managing and supervising attorneys of the office of public defense who meet applicable public defense qualifications may provide limited short-term coverage for the consultation services if office of public defense contracted counsel is unavailable to provide the consultation services. The office shall provide services in a manner consistent with the rules of professional conduct, chapter 42.52 RCW, and applicable policies of the office of public defense. (3) The office of public defense may facilitate and supervise placement of law clerks, externs, and interns with office of public defense contracted counsel, in a manner consistent with the Washington admission and practice rules, the rules of professional conduct, chapter 42.52 RCW, and applicable policies of the office of public defense. (4) Employees of the office of public defense may provide pro bono legal services in a manner consistent with the rules of professional conduct, chapter 42.52 RCW, and applicable policies of the office of public defense. The policies of the office of public defense must require that employees providing pro bono legal services obtain and provide to the office a written statement, signed by any pro bono client, acknowledging that: (a) The pro bono legal services are provided by the employee acting in the employee's personal capacity and not as an employee of the office of public defense; and (b) The state of Washington may not be held liable for any claim arising from the provision of pro bono legal services by the employees of the office of public defense. The office of public defense shall retain the written statements in a manner consistent with records relating to potential conflicts of interest. (5) The office of public defense shall provide public defense services for indigent persons qualified for appointed counsel in involuntary commitment cases under chapter 71.05 RCW at the request of the health care authority on behalf of a county, either directly or by contracting with persons admitted to practice law in this state or organizations that employ persons admitted to practice law in this state, using funds provided by the county pursuant to RCW 71.05.110 .
RCW 2.14.080 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 14 / Section 080
RCW 2.14.080: Duties of administrator—Investments and earnings.
Status: in_force

(1) The administrator for the courts shall: (a) Deposit or invest the contributions under RCW 2.14.090 in a credit union, savings and loan association, bank, or mutual savings bank; (b) Purchase life insurance, shares of an investment company, or fixed and/or variable annuity contracts from any insurance company or investment company licensed to contract business in this state; or (c) Invest in any of the class of investments described in RCW 43.84.150 . (2) The state investment board or the department of retirement systems, at the request of the administrator for the courts, may invest moneys in the principal account. Moneys invested by the investment board shall be invested in accordance with RCW 43.84.150 . Moneys invested by the department of retirement systems shall be invested in accordance with applicable law. Except as provided in RCW 43.33A.160 or as necessary to pay a pro rata share of expenses incurred by the department of retirement systems, one hundred percent of all earnings from these investments, exclusive of investment income pursuant to RCW 43.84.080 , shall accrue directly to the principal account.
RCW 2.10.170 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 10 / Section 170
RCW 2.10.170: Cost-of-living adjustment.
Status: in_force

Effective July 1, 1972, and of each succeeding year, every retirement allowance which has been in effect for one year or more shall be adjusted to that dollar amount which bears the ratio to its original dollar amount which the retirement board finds to exist between the index for the previous calendar year and the index for the calendar year prior to the date the retirement allowance became payable: PROVIDED, That the amount of increase or decrease in any one year shall not exceed three percent of the then payable retirement allowance: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That this cost-of-living adjustment shall not reduce any pension below that amount which was payable at time of retirement.
RCW 2.12.100 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 12 / Section 100
RCW 2.12.100: Transfer of membership from Washington public employees' retirement system to judges' retirement system—Authorized—Procedure.
Status: in_force

Any member of the Washington public employees' retirement system who is eligible to participate in the judges' retirement system, may by written request filed with the director and custodian of the two systems respectively, transfer such membership to the judges' retirement system. Upon the receipt of such request, the director of the Washington public employees' retirement system shall transfer to the state treasurer (1) all employees' contributions and interest thereon belonging to such member in the employees' savings fund and all employers' contributions credited or attributed to such member in the benefit account fund and (2) a record of service credited to such member. One-half of such service but not in excess of twelve years shall be computed and credited to such member as though such service was performed as a member of the judges' retirement system. Upon such transfer being made the state treasurer shall deposit such moneys in the judges' retirement fund. In the event that any such member should terminate judicial service prior to his or her entitlement to retirement benefits under any of the provisions of chapter 2.12 RCW, he or she shall upon request therefor be repaid from the judges' retirement fund an amount equal to the amount of his or her employees' contributions to the Washington public employees' retirement system and interest plus interest thereon from the date of the transfer of such moneys: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That this section shall not apply to any person who is retired as a judge as of February 20, 1970.
RCW 2.56.090 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 56 / Section 090
RCW 2.56.090: Disbursement of appropriated funds.
Status: in_force

Any moneys appropriated for the purposes of this chapter shall be disbursed, upon order of the chief justice, on warrants drawn by the state auditor on the general fund.
RCW 2.36.054 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 36 / Section 054
RCW 2.36.054: Jury source list—Master jury list—Creation.
Status: in_force

Unless otherwise specified by rule of the supreme court, the jury source list and master jury list for each county shall be created as provided by this section. (1) The superior court of each county, after consultation with the county clerk and county auditor of that jurisdiction, shall annually notify Washington technology solutions not later than March 1st of each year of its election to use either a jury source list that is merged by the county or a jury source list that is merged by Washington technology solutions. Washington technology solutions shall annually furnish at no charge to the superior court of each county a separate list of the registered voters residing in that county as supplied annually by the secretary of state and a separate list of driver's license and identicard holders residing in that county as supplied annually by the department of licensing, or a merged list of all such persons residing in that county, in accordance with the annual notification required by this subsection. The lists provided by Washington technology solutions shall be in an electronic format mutually agreed upon by the superior court requesting it and Washington technology solutions. The annual merger of the list of registered voters residing in each county with the list of licensed drivers and identicard holders residing in each county to form a jury source list for each county shall be in accordance with the standards and methodology established in this chapter or by superseding court rule whether the merger is accomplished by Washington technology solutions or by a county. (2)(a) Persons on the lists of registered voters and driver's license and identicard holders shall be identified by a minimum of last name, first name, middle initial where available, date of birth, gender, and county of residence. Identifying information shall be used when merging the lists to ensure to the extent reasonably possible that persons are only listed once on the merged list. Conflicts in addresses are to be resolved by using the most recent record by date of last vote in a general election, date of driver's license or identicard address change or date of voter registration. (b) After July 1, 2024, persons who: (i) Apply for a driver's license or identicard in this state shall have the ability to opt in to allow the department of licensing to share the person's email address with Washington technology solutions for the purpose of electronically receiving jury summons and other communications related to jury service; and (ii) Apply online to register to vote shall, immediately after completing the voter registration transaction, be directed by the secretary of state to a website where the person shall have the ability to opt in to share the person's email address with Washington technology solutions for the purpose of electronically receiving jury summons and other communications related to jury service. The provisions of this subsection (2)(b)(ii) are subject to appropriation. (3) Washington technology solutions shall provide counties that elect to receive a jury source list merged by Washington technology solutions with a list of names which are possible duplicates that cannot be resolved based on the identifying information required under subsection (2) of this section. If a possible duplication cannot subsequently be resolved satisfactorily through reasonable efforts by the county receiving the merged list, the possible duplicate name shall be stricken from the jury source list until the next annual jury source list is prepared.
RCW 2.08.062 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 08 / Section 062
RCW 2.08.062: Judges—Chelan, Douglas, Clark, Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Kittitas, and Lewis counties.
Status: in_force

There shall be in the county of Chelan four judges of the superior court; in the county of Douglas one judge of the superior court; in the county of Clark 12 judges of the superior court; in the county of Grays Harbor three judges of the superior court; in the county of Kitsap eight judges of the superior court; in the county of Kittitas two judges of the superior court; in the county of Lewis three judges of the superior court.
RCW 2.30.110 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 30 / Section 110
RCW 2.30.110: Early childhood court programs—Judicial officer training.
Status: in_force

(1) Judicial officers who preside over early childhood court program hearings shall participate in required trainings, as follows: (a) An initial, eight-hour training program that can include the topic areas of: (i) The benefits to infants and toddlers of secure attachment with primary caregivers; (ii) A trauma-informed approach; (iii) The importance of maintaining children within their biological connections; (iv) The importance of reunification of children with their families; (v) Diversity, equity, and inclusion; and (vi) The impact of trauma on child development; (b) After the initial training, annually attend a minimum of eight hours of continuing education of pertinence to the early childhood court program. (2) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the administrative office of the courts shall administer the certification of training requirements.
RCW 2.32.240 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 32 / Section 240
RCW 2.32.240: Transcript of testimony—Fee—Forma pauperis.
Status: in_force

When a record has been taken in any cause as provided in RCW 2.32.180 through 2.32.310 , if the court, or either party to the suit or action, or his or her attorney, request a transcript, the official reporter employed by the court or other certified court reporter, or an authorized transcriptionist, shall make, or cause to be made, with reasonable diligence, full and accurate transcript of the testimony and other proceedings, which shall, when certified to as hereinafter provided, be filed with the clerk of the court where such trial is had for the use of the court or parties to the action, except for transcripts requested for an appellate case. The fees of the official reporter employed by the court or other certified court reporter, or authorized transcriptionist, as defined by supreme court rule, for making such transcript shall be fixed in accordance with costs as allowed in cost bills in civil cases by the supreme court of the state of Washington, and when such transcript is ordered by any party to any suit or action, said fee shall be paid forthwith by the party ordering the same, and in all cases where a transcript is made as provided for under the provisions of RCW 2.32.180 through 2.32.310 the cost thereof shall be taxable as costs in the case, and shall be so taxed as other costs in the case are taxed: PROVIDED, That when a party has been judicially determined to have a constitutional right to a transcript and to be unable by reason of poverty to pay for such transcript, the court may order said transcript to be made by the official reporter employed by the court or other certified court reporter, or an authorized transcriptionist, which transcript fee therefor shall be paid by the state upon submission of appropriate vouchers to the clerk of the supreme court.
RCW 2.43.020 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 43 / Section 020
RCW 2.43.020: Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter: (1) "Credentialed interpreter" means an interpreter who is credentialed by the administrative office of the courts in a spoken language. (2) "Judicial officer" means a judge, commissioner, or magistrate of any court. (3) "Language access plan" means a plan that is publicly available which contains the elements required by RCW 2.43.090 . (4) "Legal proceeding" means any proceeding in any court, and in any type of hearing before a judicial officer, an administrative law judge, or before an administrative board, commission, agency, or licensing body of the state or any political subdivision. (5) "Person with limited English proficiency" means a person involved in a legal proceeding who cannot readily speak or understand the English language, but does not include deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing individuals who are covered under chapter 2.42 RCW. (6) "Presiding officer" means the judicial officer or similar official of any court, department, board, commission, agency, or licensing authority of the state or of any political subdivision thereof.
RCW 2.72.055 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 72 / Section 055
RCW 2.72.055: Decision-making authority training—Legal community and persons working in long-term care facilities.
Status: in_force

The *office of public guardianship, in partnership with the office of the state long-term care ombuds, must develop and offer training targeted to the legal community and persons working in long-term care facilities regarding the different kinds of decision-making authority, including guardianship, authority granted under power of attorney, and surrogate health care decision-making authority. The training must include, at a minimum, information regarding: The roles, duties, and responsibilities of different kinds of decision makers; the scope of authority and limitations on authority with respect to different kinds of decision makers; and any relevant remedial measures provided in law for activity that exceeds the scope of decision-making authority.
RCW 2.12.037 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 12 / Section 037
RCW 2.12.037: Adjustment of pension of retired judges or widows or widowers.
Status: in_force

(1) "Index" for the purposes of this section, shall mean, for any calendar year, that year's annual average consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, all items (1957-1959 equal one hundred) compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor; (2) Effective July 1, 1970, every pension computed and payable under the provisions of RCW 2.12.030 to any retired judge or to his or her widow or widower which does not exceed four hundred fifty dollars per month shall be adjusted to that dollar amount which bears the ratio of its original dollar amount which is found to exist between the index for 1969 and the index for the calendar year prior to the effective retirement date of the person to whom, or on behalf of whom, such retirement allowance is being paid.
RCW 2.06.070 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 06 / Section 070
RCW 2.06.070: Original appointments—Election of judges—Terms of office.
Status: in_force

Upon the taking effect of RCW 2.06.010 through 2.06.100 , the governor shall appoint the judges of the court of appeals for each district in the numbers provided in RCW 2.06.020 , who shall hold office until the second Monday in January of the year following the first state general election following the effective date of this act. In making the original appointments the governor shall take into consideration such factors as: Personal character; intellect; ability; diversity of background of experience in the practice of the law; diversity of political philosophy; diversity of educational experience; and diversity of affiliation with social and economic groups, for the purpose of establishing a balanced appellate court with the highest quality of personnel. At the first state general election after the effective date of this act there shall be elected from each district the number of judges provided for in RCW 2.06.020 . Upon taking office the judges of each division elected shall come together at the direction of the chief justice and be divided by lot into three equal groups; those of the first group shall hold office until the second Monday in January of 1973, those of the second group shall hold office until the second Monday in January of 1975, and those of the third group shall hold office until the second Monday in January of 1977, and until their successors are elected and qualified. Thereafter, judges shall be elected for the full term of six years and until their successors are elected and qualified, commencing with the second Monday in January succeeding their election: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That if the governor shall make appointments to the appellate court from membership of the superior court, the governor shall, in making appointments filling vacancies created in the superior courts by such action, take into consideration such factors as: Personal character; intellect; ability; diversity of background of experience in the practice of the law; diversity of political philosophy; diversity of educational experience; and diversity of affiliation with social and economic groups, for the purpose of maintaining a balanced superior court with the highest quality of personnel.
RCW 2.08.170 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 08 / Section 170
RCW 2.08.170: Expenses of visiting judge.
Status: in_force

Any judge of the superior court of any county in this state who shall hold a session of the superior court of any other county, in pursuance of the provisions of RCW 2.08.140 through 2.08.170 shall be entitled to receive from the county in which he or she shall hold such sessions reimbursement for subsistence, lodging, and travel expenses in accordance with the rates applicable to state officers under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now or hereafter amended. The county clerk of such county shall, upon the presentation to him or her by such judge of a statement of such expenses, verified by his or her affidavit, issue to such judge a certificate that he or she is entitled to the amount thereof; and upon presentation of such certificate to the auditor of such county he or she shall draw a warrant on the current expense fund of such county for the amount in favor of such judge.
RCW 2.08.064 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 08 / Section 064
RCW 2.08.064: Judges—Benton, Franklin, Clallam, Jefferson, Snohomish, Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Cowlitz, Klickitat, and Skamania counties.
Status: in_force

There shall be in the counties of Benton and Franklin jointly, seven judges of the superior court; in the county of Clallam, three judges of the superior court; in the county of Jefferson, one judge of the superior court; in the county of Snohomish, 17 judges of the superior court; in the counties of Asotin, Columbia and Garfield jointly, one judge of the superior court; in the county of Cowlitz, five judges of the superior court; in the counties of Klickitat and Skamania jointly, one judge of the superior court.
RCW 2.08.030 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 08 / Section 030
RCW 2.08.030: Courts of record—Sessions.
Status: in_force

The superior courts are courts of record, and shall be always open, except on nonjudicial days. They shall hold their sessions at the county seats of the several counties, respectively, and at such other places within the county as are designated by the judge or judges thereof with the approval of the chief justice of the supreme court of this state and of the governing body of the county. They shall hold regular and special sessions in the several counties of this state at such times as may be prescribed by the judge or judges thereof.
RCW 2.36.010 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 36 / Section 010
RCW 2.36.010: Definitions.
Status: in_force

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Civil rights restored" means a person's right to vote has been automatically restored prior to reporting for jury service. (2) "Court" when used without further qualification means any superior court or court of limited jurisdiction in the state of Washington. (3) "Grand jury" means those twelve persons impaneled by a superior court to hear, examine, and investigate evidence concerning criminal activity and corruption. (4) "Judge" means every judicial officer authorized to hold or preside over a court. For purposes of this chapter "judge" does not include court commissioners or referees. (5) "Juror" means any person summoned for service on a petit jury, grand jury, or jury of inquest as defined in this chapter. (6) "Juror service" means the period of time a juror is required to be present at the court facility. This period of time may not extend beyond the end of the jury term, and may not exceed one week for counties with a jury source list that has at least seventy thousand names, and two weeks for counties with a jury source list of less than seventy thousand names, except to complete a trial to which the juror was assigned during the service period. (7) A jury is a body of persons temporarily selected from the qualified inhabitants of a particular district, and invested with power — (a) To present or indict a person for a public offense. (b) To try a question of fact. (8) "Jury of inquest" means a body of persons six or fewer in number, but not fewer than four persons, summoned before the coroner or other ministerial officer, to inquire of particular facts. (9) "Jury panel" means those persons randomly selected for jury service for a particular jury term. (10) "Jury source list" means the list of all registered voters for any county, merged with a list of licensed drivers and identicard holders who reside in the county. The list shall specify each person's name and residence address and conform to the methodology and standards set pursuant to the provisions of RCW 2.36.054 or by supreme court rule. The list shall be filed with the superior court by the county auditor. (11) "Jury term" means a period of time of one or more days, not exceeding two weeks for counties with a jury source list that has at least seventy thousand names and one month for counties with a jury source list of less than seventy thousand names, during which summoned jurors must be available to report for juror service. (12) "Master jury list" means the list of prospective jurors from which jurors summoned to serve will be randomly selected. The master jury list shall be either randomly selected from the jury source list or may be an exact duplicate of the jury source list. (13) "Petit jury" means a body of persons twelve or less in number in the superior court and six in number in courts of limited jurisdiction, drawn by lot from the jurors in attendance upon the court at a particular session, and sworn to try and determine a question of fact.
RCW 2.10.010 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 10 / Section 010
RCW 2.10.010: Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and cited as the Washington Judicial Retirement System Act.
RCW 26.12.010 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 12 / Section 010
RCW 26.12.010: Jurisdiction conferred on superior court—Family court proceeding defined.
Status: in_force

Each superior court shall exercise the jurisdiction conferred by this chapter and while sitting in the exercise of such jurisdiction shall be known and referred to as the "family court." A family court proceeding under this chapter is: (1) Any proceeding under this title or any proceeding in which the family court is requested to adjudicate or enforce the rights of the parties or their children regarding the determination or modification of parenting plans, child custody, visitation, or support, or the distribution of property or obligations, or (2) concurrent with the juvenile court, any proceeding under Title 13 or chapter 28A.225 RCW.Any judge of the supreme court, court of appeals, or superior court of the state of Washington who heretofore and/or hereafter shall have served as a judge of any such courts for eighteen years in the aggregate or who shall have served ten years in the aggregate and shall have attained the age of seventy years or more may, during or at the expiration of his or her term of office, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, be retired and receive the retirement pay herein provided for. In computing such term of service, there shall be counted the time spent by such judge in active service in the armed forces of the United States of America, under leave of absence from his or her judicial duties as provided for under chapter 201, Laws of 1941: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That in computing such credit for such service in the armed forces of the United States of America no allowance shall be made for service beyond the date of the expiration of the term for which such judge was elected. Any judge desiring to retire under the provisions of this section shall file with the director of retirement systems, a notice in duplicate in writing, verified by his or her affidavit, fixing a date when he or she desires his or her retirement to commence, one copy of which the director shall forthwith file with the administrator for the courts. The notice shall state his or her name, the court or courts of which he or she has served as judge, the period of service thereon and the dates of such service.
RCW 2.28.141 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 28 / Section 141
RCW 2.28.141: County commissioners to provide temporary quarters.
Status: in_force

Until proper buildings are erected at a place fixed upon for the seat of justice in any county, it shall be the duty of the county commissioners to provide some suitable place for holding the courts of such county.
RCW 2.53.045 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 53 / Section 045
RCW 2.53.045: Fund distribution for attorneys appointed in dependency proceedings.
Status: in_force

(1) Money appropriated by the legislature for legal services provided by an attorney appointed pursuant to RCW 13.34.212 must be administered by the office of civil legal aid established under RCW 2.53.020 . (2) The statewide children's legal representation program shall enter into contracts with attorneys and agencies for the provision of legal services under RCW 2.53.025 to remain within appropriated amounts. (3) Prior to distributing state funds under subsection (2) of this section, the statewide children's legal representation program must verify that attorneys providing legal representation to children under RCW 13.34.212 meet the standards of practice, caseload limits, and training guidelines adopted by the children's representation work group established in section 9, chapter 210, Laws of 2021.
RCW 2.36.165 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 36 / Section 165
RCW 2.36.165: Leave of absence from employment to be provided—Denial of promotional opportunities prohibited—Penalty—Civil action.
Status: in_force

(1) An employer shall provide an employee with a sufficient leave of absence from employment to serve as a juror when that employee is summoned pursuant to chapter 2.36 RCW. (2) An employer shall not deprive an employee of employment or threaten, coerce, or harass an employee, or deny an employee promotional opportunities because the employee receives a summons, responds to the summons, serves as a juror, or attends court for prospective jury service. (3) An employer who intentionally violates subsection (1) or (2) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (4) If an employer commits an act in violation of subsection (2) of this section the employee may bring a civil action for damages as a result of the violation and for an order requiring the reinstatement of the employee. If the employee prevails, the employee shall be allowed a reasonable attorney's fee as determined by the court. (5) For purposes of this section employer means any person, association, partnership, or private or public corporation who employs or exercises control over wages, hours, or working conditions of one or more employees.
RCW 2.42.110 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 42 / Section 110
RCW 2.42.110: Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Impaired person" means a person who, because of a hearing or speech impairment, cannot readily understand or communicate in spoken language; and includes persons who are deaf, deaf and blind, speech impaired, or hard of hearing. (2) "Qualified interpreter" means a visual language interpreter who is certified by the state or is certified by the registry of interpreters for the deaf to hold the comprehensive skills certificate or both certificates of interpretation and transliteration, or an interpreter who can readily translate statements of speech impaired persons into spoken language. (3) "Intermediary interpreter" means a hearing impaired interpreter who holds a reverse skills certificate by the state or is certified by the registry of interpreters for the deaf with a reverse skills certificate, who meets the requirements of RCW 2.42.130 , and who is able to assist in providing an accurate interpretation between spoken and sign language or between variants of sign language by acting as an intermediary between a hearing impaired person and a qualified hearing interpreter. (4) "Appointing authority" means the presiding officer or similar official of any court, department, board, commission, agency, licensing authority, or legislative body of the state or of any political subdivision.
RCW 2.28.330 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 28 / Section 330
RCW 2.28.330: Privilege from civil arrest—Court facilities.
Status: in_force

(1) No person is subject to civil arrest while going to, remaining at, or returning from, a court facility, except: (a) Where such arrest is pursuant to a court order authorizing the arrest; (b) When necessary to secure the immediate safety of judges, court staff, or the public; or (c) Where circumstances otherwise permit warrantless arrest pursuant to RCW 10.31.100 . (2) For purposes of this section, "going to" and "returning from" includes the area within one mile of the court facility. (3) Prior to any civil arrest in or on a court facility authorized by subsection (1)(a) of this section, a designated judicial officer shall review a court order authorizing any civil arrest to confirm compliance with subsection (1)(a) of this section. (4) Nothing in this section narrows, or in any way lessens, any common law or other right or privilege of a person privileged from arrest pursuant to RCW 2.28.300 through 2.28.320 or otherwise.
RCW 2.08.050 — Washington Code / Title 2 / Chapter 08 / Section 050
RCW 2.08.050: Seal of courts.
Status: in_force

The seals of the superior courts of the several counties of the state shall be, until otherwise provided by law, the vignette of General George Washington, with the words "Seal of the Superior Court of . . . . . . County, State of Washington," surrounding the vignette.