File #: 2005-0185    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 4/18/2005 In control: Budget and Fiscal Management Committee
On agenda: Final action: 5/31/2005
Enactment date: 6/8/2005 Enactment #: 15195
Title: AN ORDINANCE approving the District Court Operational Master Plan and adopting policies related to district court operations; and amending Ordinance 8935, Section 3, as amended, and K.C.C. 2.68.005.
Sponsors: Larry Gossett, Julia Patterson, Kathy Lambert
Indexes: District Court
Code sections: 2.68.005 -
Attachments: 1. Ordinance 15195.pdf, 2. A. District Court Operational Master Plan - April 2005, 3. 2005-0185 Staff Report 05-11-05.doc, 4. 2005-0185 Staff Report 5-25-05, 5. 2005-0185 Transmittal Letter.doc, 6. A. District Court Operational Master Plan - April 2005
Drafter
Clerk 04/14/2005
title
AN ORDINANCE approving the District Court Operational Master Plan and adopting policies related to district court operations; and amending Ordinance 8935, Section 3, as amended, and K.C.C. 2.68.005.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. The district court is the county's court of limited jurisdiction and is the largest court of limited jurisdiction in the state.
2. The court has responsibility for traffic infractions, certain civil matters, and misdemeanor criminal offenses in the county's unincorporated areas and in cities that contract with the court. The court also has responsibility for the adjudication of "state" offenses which include those violations of state statute that occur within the county or when the arresting agency is the Washington State Patrol.
3. The requirements and structure of the district court are contained in state statute, county code, and are also governed by court rules. State law empowers the local county legislative authority with significant flexibility in the development of the court's jurisdictional structure.
4. K.C.C. 4.04.200 establishes the processes for operational and facilities master planning efforts that include current and future workload assumptions.
5. Ordinance 8935 (K.C.C. 2.68.060), adopted in 1989, established a single, unified, county-wide district court. The establishing ordinance requires that the county utilize existing court facilities as satellites, while at the same time supporting the concept of local filing and handling of cases, in order to provide for a more equitable and cost-effective system of justice for the citizens of King County. It further recognized its function to serve municipal courts and the continuation of contract municipal courts.
6. Ordinance 11578, adopted in 1994, established the policy for the regional provision of district court services through an operational master plan pursuant to K.C.C. 4.04.200.
7. Ordinance 12926, adopted in ...

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