WASHINGTON - STATE COURT ORGANIZATION PROFILE

• NCJ Number: 55122
• Author(s): B LINDSTROM-FURUTANI
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 78 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-DF-99-0052
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: American Bar Association
• Sale Source: National Ctr for State Courts
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: STATE COURT ORGANIZATION PROFILE SERIES

Annotation

THE REPORT, ONE IN A SERIES CONTAINING PROFILES OF NONFEDERAL COURT SYSTEMS, DESCRIBES THE ORGANIZATION OF STATE COURTS IN WASHINGTON.

Abstract

THE JUSTICE COURT ACT WAS PASSED IN WASHINGTON IN 1961 AND ELIMINATED FEE-PAID JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, REPLACING THEM WITH DISTRICT JUDGES IN DISTRICT COURTS. IT ALSO AFFECTED ESTABLISHED MUNICIPAL COURTS. IN 1969, THE COURTS OF APPEALS WAS DESIGNATED AS THE INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT. STATUTES AND RULES OF THE COURT SYSTEM GIVE ADMINISTRATIVE AND RULEMAKING AUTHORITY OVER THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO THE SUPREME COURT. JURISDICTION IS NOT ALWAYS DIVIDED UNIFORMLY, AND VARIOUS COURTS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS HAVE CONCURRENT JURISDICTION. THE SUPREME COURT, THE COURT OF LAST RESORT, HEARS APPELLATE MATTERS AND HAS APPELLATE AUTHORITY OVER ALL CASES, EXCEPT FOR MOST CIVIL ACTIONS UNDER $200. THE COURT OF APPEALS HAS GENERAL EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE JURISDICTION, EXCEPT FOR CASES SPECIFICALLY ASSIGNED TO THE SUPREME COURT. THE TRIAL COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION IS THE SUPERIOR COURT AND HAS APPELLATE JURISDICTION OVER ALL CASES IN INFERIOR COURTS. THIS COURT HAS EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION OVER CIVIL CASES INVOLVING MORE THAN $1,000 AND CASES INVOLVING REAL ESTATE, THE LEGALITY OF CERTAIN TAXES AND FINES, CRIMINAL CASES, AND JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC CASES. COURTS OF LIMITED OR SPECIAL JURISDICTION ARE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, DISTRICT, AND MUNICIPAL COURTS. PROCEDURES PERTAINING TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED: THE QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION, AND TERM OF THE JUDICIARY; THE DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL OF JUDGES; COMPENSATION; RETIREMENT AGE AND ACTIVE SERVICE; CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND THE USE OF PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS. THE DETAILED PROFILE OF THE COURT SYSTEM CONCERNS THE COURT OF LAST RESORT, INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT, TRIAL COURTS OF GENERAL JURISDICTION, TRIAL COURTS OF LIMITED AND SPECIAL JURISDICTION, JUDGES, PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS, NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL, JUDICIAL POLICYMAKING AND ADVISORY BODIES, COURT ADMINISTRATION, COURT FINANCING, AND COURT RECORDS AND STATISTICS. SOURCES OF INFORMATION USED TO PREPARE THE PROFILE ARE LISTED. ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS OF THE COURT SYSTEM ARE INCLUDED. DATA ON SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE WASHINGTON COURT SYSTEM AND AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION STANDARDS RELATING TO COURT ORGANIZATION ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)