Drafter
Clerk 09/24/2025
Title
AN ORDINANCE relating to the department of public defense standards for indigent defense; and amending Ordinance 17588, Section 4, as amended, and K.C.C. 2.60.026.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. In 2023, the Washington state Supreme Court requested that the Washington State Bar Association Council on Public Defense review a newly released national public defense workload study and provide recommendations.
2. The Council on Public Defense recommended and proposed revisions to the Washington State Bar Association standards for indigent defense.
3. In 2024 the bar association Board of Governors adopted new standards for indigent defense and recommended that the Washington state Supreme Court incorporate the Washington State Bar Association's revised standards into the court rules governing indigent defense standards.
4. The Supreme Court issued interim order No. 25700-A-1644 on June 9, 2025, adopting new standards for indigent defense effective January 1, 2026, and requiring full implementation no later than January 1, 2036.
5. RCW 10.101.030 requires a county to adopt standards for the delivery of public defense services and states that the standards endorsed by the Washington State Bar Association for the provision of public defense services should serve as guidelines to local legislative authorities in adopting standards.
6. The Washington state Supreme Court has the authority to adopt and amend the Washington Rules of Court that govern standards for indigent defense.
7. King County intends to adhere to the Supreme Court's standards for indigent defense implementation timeline.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Ordinance 17588, Section 4, as amended, and K.C.C. 2.60.026 are hereby amended to read as follows:
A. The department of public defense shall be directed by the county public defender, whose duties include:
1. Managing the department of public defense;
2. Ensuring the department emp...

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