File #: 2024-0311    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: In Committee
File created: 10/8/2024 In control: Budget and Fiscal Management Committee
On agenda: Final action:
Enactment date: Enactment #:
Title: AN ORDINANCE relating to approval of the 55th and 56th King County superior court judge positions.
Sponsors: Girmay Zahilay
Indexes: Judge, Superior Court
Attachments: 1. 2024-0311 Transmittal Letter, 2. 2024-0311 Fiscal Note, 3. 2024-0311 Legislative Review Form

Drafter

Clerk 09/24/2024

Title

AN ORDINANCE relating to approval of the 55th and 56th King County superior court judge positions.

Body

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

1.  The King County superior court has fifty-four authorized judges to serve a growing case load commensurate with the county's expanding population and the increasing complexity of adjudicating cases.

2.  RCW 2.08.061 authorizes King County to have a total of fifty-eight superior court judges serving county residents.

3.  Section 8, Chapter 189, Laws of Washington 1992, allows King County to add additional judges up to the fifty-eight-judge limit whenever the county's "legislative authority documents its approval of any additional positions and its agreement that it will pay out of county funds, without reimbursement from the state, the expense of such additional judicial positions as provided by statute."

4.  The original July 1, 1996 deadline for council action adding additional judges was removed by the Section 3, Chapter 208, Laws of Washington 1996, while retaining preauthorization for fifty-eight total positions.

                     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-fifth and a fifty-sixth judge on January 1, 2025.  By this action the council has now approved ten 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-six.

                     SECTION 2.  Unless moneys are subsequently appropriated by the state, the positions shall be funded by county moneys, without reimbursement from the state, the expense of such additional judicial positions as provided by statute.

                     SECTION 3.  A copy of this ordinance shall be transmitted by the executive to the

Governor of the state of Washington for appointment of the two additional superior court judges in accord with the Washington Constitution and RCW 2.08.069.