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AN ORDINANCE documenting approval of the fifty-fourth judge position of the King County superior court.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

1.  The 2021-2022 King County biennial budget approved within the superior court's appropriation one additional FTE for the purpose of approving a fifty-fourth superior court judicial position to commence office on July 1, 2021.  The additional judicial position was based on the recommendation of the interbranch planning and coordination efforts of the protocol committee, requested by the superior court, and included in the executive's 2021-2022 proposed budget.

2.  State law requires that the county document the legislative authority's approval of the fifty-fourth judge position of the superior court and the agreement that the county will pay out of county funds, without reimbursement from the state, the expenses of such an additional judicial position as provided by statute.

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  The county legislative authority approves adding to the King County superior court a fifty-fourth judge position.  By this ordinance, the legislative authority indicates its approval of the fifty-fourth judge position of the superior court and its willingness and agreement to pay for this position without reimbursement from the state as provided by statute.  By this action the council has now approved eight of the twelve additional King County superior court judges authorized by RCW 2.08.061, raising the total number of superior court judges for King County to fifty-four.