The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-30
TWO JUDGES NEEDED.
Rapid Increase of Civil Court
Business.
KING couNTY's URGENT WANT.
Nearly One Thousand Live Cases an Her
Superior Court Dcck~t-rrcs-
pccts of Relief

OLYMPIA, Jan. aa--Senasor Wood, of
King. Is making special effort 10 secure not
one but two superior judges for King
county He appeared before the Judiciary
committees OF both houses last nisht aud
represented the absolute necessity OF three
judges. and there is strong hope that his
recommendation will be accepted by the
legislature.
The matter Of additional judges for King,
Pierce and Spokane counties has been
warmly urged upon both committees. a
large number Of petitions from all the pop
uious counties having been presented. The
reasons for establishment of the courts are
briefly Is follows:
First-The dcckets Of the respective
courts are far behind, and, indeed, business
has been so badly choked as 70 oimparatively
demand relief
Second The great increase OF business.
Third--The reduction Of the jurisdiction
of justices by the constitution from $500 TO
500, which largely add to the volume OF
business.
Fourth-On January /. 1891. all probate
business, now amounting in King county
to over 400 current cases. will all come into
the superior court. and take the time of
one Judge
Fifth-The application of the new con-
stitution and large body OF new laws
viii give rise to litigation and require con-
struct'on and application.
These, briefis stated, are reasons which
have induced the Judiciary committees to
consider favorably bills Tor one additional
judge in each os these counties. But there
is this. besides, TO be said for King county:
There are from $50 10 1.eoo live cases on
the docket of the superior court. and new
cases are coming IN at the average
rate OF i've 10 ten per day. The
criminal business alone will occupy
the time OF one iadge. In four
years not exceeding four jury cases have
been tried in civil causes. The volume OF
causes is SO immense that three Judges
can not caich up with old business and
care for new business before January /.
1871; and At that date the added PROBATE
business viii leave the three judges more
than busy. Litigation increases with the
years, and judges elsewhere in the state
are too busy TO render relief.
The House judiciary committee was very
favorable TO the petition for two judges in
King. and so, indeed, vas the Senate. IL
was deemed best. however. 70 refer the
matter back TO the respective houses. and
allow the amendments 10 he made there.
Wood viii move the amendment In the
Senate, and member OF the King county
delegation IN the Hoase. The prospect Of
acceptance by the Senate isespeciaily good.
There is difference between the Senate
and House biis on this subject OF judges,
In that The latter creates an additional SUI
perior judge for Spokane alone. Judge
Evans insisted that as Spokane and Stevens
are one superior court district the Judge
should be Tor both counties.
Senator Honghton holds that there IL no
vioiation OF the provisions of the con-
stitution by the creation OF a new
court for Spokane county alone. inasmuch
as ii is provided that the counties are re-
spectivey entitled 10 superior courts. The
districts contain as many courts as there are
counties, and II is not necessary to assign a
new judge to all the counties or courts of
the districts.
There is no doubt whatever that at least
one additional judge will be allowed for each
Of the three counties.