Title 2, Title 2 COURTS OF RECORD

The supreme court shall have original jurisdiction in habeas corpus and quo warranto and mandamus as to all state officers, and appellate jurisdiction in all actions and proceedings excepting that its appellate jurisdiction shall not extend to civil actions at law for the recover…

The supreme court shall be a court of record, and shall be vested with all power and authority necessary to carry into complete execution all its judgments, decrees and determinations in all matters within its jurisdiction, according to the rules and principles of the common law,…

The supreme court and the court of appeals shall always be open for the transaction of business except on Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays designated by the legislature.[ 1971 ex.s. c 107 s 1; 1909 p 36 s 7; RRS s 4. Prior: 1890 p 322 s 4, part.]Notes:Rules of court: SAR-Ru…

If proper rooms in which to hold the court, and for the accommodation of the officers thereof, are not provided by the state, together with attendants, furniture, fuel, lights, record books and stationery, suitable and sufficient for the transaction of business, the court, or any…

Adjournments from day to day, or from time to time, are to be construed as recesses in the sessions, and shall not prevent the court from sitting at any time.[ 1890 p 323 s 7; RRS s 5.]Notes:Rules of court: SAR-Rule 5.

Its process shall run in the name of the "State of Washington," bear test in the name of the chief justice, be signed by the clerk of the court, dated when issued, sealed with the seal of the court, and made returnable according to law, or such rule or orders as may be prescribed…

The supreme court, from and after February 26, 1909, shall consist of nine judges.[ 1909 c 24 s 1; RRS s 11036. FORMER PARTS OF SECTION: 1911 c 119 s 1; 1909 c 24 s 2; RRS s 11039; now codified in RCW 2.04.071. Prior: (i) 1905 c 5 s 1; 1890 p 321 s 1; RRS s 11035. (ii) 1893 c 5 s…

At the next general election, and at each biennial general election thereafter, there shall be elected three justices of the supreme court, to hold for the full term of six years, and until their successors are elected and qualified, commencing with the second Monday in January s…

The several justices of the supreme court, before entering upon the duties of their office, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitu…

The annual salary of justices of the supreme court shall be established by the Washington citizens' commission on salaries for elected officials. No salary warrant may be issued to a justice of the supreme court until the justice files with the state treasurer an affidavit that n…

If a vacancy occurs in the office of a justice of the supreme court, the governor shall appoint a person to hold the office until the election and qualification of a justice to fill the vacancy, which election shall take place at the next succeeding general election, and the just…

Each of the justices of the supreme court, judges of the court of appeals, and the judges of the superior courts shall in open court during the presentation of causes, before them, appear in and wear gowns, made of black silk, of the usual style of judicial gowns.[ 1971 c 81 s 4;…

The chief justice shall from time to time apportion the business to the departments, and may, in his or her discretion, before a decision is pronounced, order any cause pending before the court to be heard and determined by the court en banc. When a cause has been allotted to one…

The supreme court may from time to time institute such rules of practice and prescribe such forms of process to be used in such court and in the court en banc and each of its departments, and for the keeping of the dockets, records and proceedings, and for the regulation of such …

The supreme court shall have the power to prescribe, from time to time, the forms of writs and all other process, the mode and manner of framing and filing proceedings and pleadings; of giving notice and serving writs and process of all kinds; of taking and obtaining evidence; of…

When and as the rules of courts herein authorized shall be promulgated all laws in conflict therewith shall be and become of no further force or effect.[ 1925 ex.s. c 118 s 2; RRS s 13-2.]Notes:Rules of court: Cf. CR 81(b), RAP 1.1(g).

RCW 2.04.190 through 2.04.210 shall not be construed to deprive the superior courts of power to establish rules for their government supplementary to and not in conflict with the rules prescribed by the supreme court.[ 1925 ex.s. c 118 s 3; RRS s 13-3.]Notes:Rules of court: Cf. C…

By January 1, 1982, the supreme court shall adopt rules for settlement conferences in civil cases in such superior courts and the court of appeals which are amenable to the settlement conference process.[ 1981 c 331 s 5.]Notes:Court Congestion Reduction Act of 1981—Purpose—Severa…

The judgments and decrees of the supreme court shall be final and conclusive upon all the parties properly before the court.[ 1890 p 323 s 8; RRS s 14.]Notes:Rules of court: SAR-Rule 3.

The judges of the supreme court shall, on or before the first day of January in each year, report in writing to the governor such defects and omissions in the laws as they may believe to exist.[ 1890 p 324 s 16; RRS s 11042.]Notes:Annual report to governor: State Constitution Art…

(1) DECLARATION OF POLICY. Whenever necessary for the prompt and orderly administration of justice, as authorized and empowered by Article IV, section 2(a), Amendment 38, of the state Constitution, a majority of the supreme court may appoint any regularly elected and qualified ju…

(1) A judge of the court of appeals or of the superior court serving as a judge pro tempore of the supreme court as provided in RCW 2.04.240 shall receive, in addition to his or her regular salary, reimbursement for subsistence, lodging, and travel expenses in accordance with the…

(1) Bailiffs of the supreme court are authorized to conduct threat assessments on behalf of supreme court justices. The supreme court shall ensure that supreme court bailiffs are qualified by training and experience.(2) Bailiffs of the supreme court are authorized to receive crim…

There is hereby established a court of appeals as a court of record. For the purpose of RCW 2.06.010 through 2.06.100 the following terms shall have the following meanings:(1) "Rules" means rules of the supreme court.(2) "Chief justice" means chief justice of the supreme court.(3…

The court shall have three divisions, one of which shall be headquartered in Seattle, one of which shall be headquartered in Spokane, and one of which shall be headquartered in Tacoma:(1) The first division shall have twelve judges from three districts, as follows:(a) District 1 …

The new judicial position for the first division, district 2, Snohomish county created pursuant to the 1989 amendment to RCW 2.06.020 shall become effective January 1, 1990, and shall be filled by gubernatorial appointment.The person appointed by the governor shall hold office un…

The new judicial position for the second division, district 1, Pierce county, created pursuant to the 1999 amendment to RCW 2.06.020 shall become effective July 1, 2000, and shall be filled by gubernatorial appointment.The person appointed by the governor shall hold office until …

The administration and procedures of the court shall be as provided by rules of the supreme court. The court shall be vested with all power and authority, not inconsistent with said rules, necessary to carry into complete execution all of its judgments, decrees and determinations…

The court shall sit in panels of three judges and decisions shall be rendered by not less than a majority of the panel. In the determination of causes all decisions of the court shall be given in writing and the grounds of the decisions shall be stated. All decisions of the court…

See RCW 2.04.030.

A judge of the court shall be:(1) Admitted to the practice of law in the courts of this state not less than five years prior to taking office.(2) A resident for not less than one year at the time of appointment or initial election in the district for which his or her position was…

The annual salary of the judges of the court of appeals shall be established by the Washington citizens' commission on salaries for elected officials. No salary warrant may be issued to any judge until the judge files with the state treasurer an affidavit that no matter referred …

The court of appeals is authorized to adopt rules providing for the reimbursement of work-related travel expenses from a judge's customary residence to the division headquarters of the court and back. Judges elected from or residing in the county in which the division is headquar…

Upon the taking effect of RCW 2.06.010 through 2.06.100, the governor shall appoint the judges of the court of appeals for each district in the numbers provided in RCW 2.06.020, who shall hold office until the second Monday in January of the year following the first state general…

The new judicial positions created pursuant to section 1, chapter 49, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. shall become effective January 1, 1978 and shall be filled by gubernatorial appointment as follows:(1) Two shall be appointed to the first division, District 1, King county;(2) One shall …

(1) Any judicial position created by *section 1, chapter 420, Laws of 1993 shall be effective only if that position is specifically funded and is referenced by division and district in an omnibus appropriations act.(2)(a) The full term of office for the judicial positions authori…

If a vacancy occurs in the office of a judge of the court, the governor shall appoint a person to hold the office until the election and qualification of a judge to fill the vacancy, which election shall take place at the next succeeding general election and the judge so elected …

The several judges of the court of appeals, before entering upon the duties of their office, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constit…

No judge, while in office, shall engage in the practice of law. No judge shall run for elective office other than a judicial office during the term for which he or she was elected.[ 2011 c 336 s 12; 1969 ex.s. c 221 s 9.]

Judges shall retire at the age, and under the conditions and with the same retirement benefits as specified by law for the retirement of justices of the supreme court.[ 1969 ex.s. c 221 s 10.]

Court of appeals judges shall, on or before the first day of November in each year, report in writing to the justices of the supreme court, such defects and omissions in the laws as their experience may suggest.[ 1971 ex.s. c 107 s 6.]

(1) Whenever necessary for the prompt and orderly administration of justice, the chief judge of any division of the court of appeals may appoint any regularly elected and qualified judge of a court of general jurisdiction, any retired judge of the court of appeals, or any active …

(1) A judge of a court of record serving as a judge pro tempore of the court of appeals, as provided in RCW 2.06.150, shall receive, in addition to his or her regular salary, reimbursement for subsistence, lodging, and travel expenses in accordance with the rates applicable to st…

(1) Bailiffs of the court of appeals are authorized to conduct threat assessments on behalf of court of appeals judicial officers and staff members. The court of appeals shall ensure that court of appeals bailiffs are qualified by training and experience if they perform these dut…

The superior court shall have original jurisdiction in all cases in equity, and in all cases at law which involve the title or possession of real property, or the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, toll or municipal fine, and in all other cases in which the demand or the va…

The superior courts shall have such appellate jurisdiction in cases arising in courts of limited jurisdiction in their respective counties as may be prescribed by law.[ 1987 c 202 s 102; 1890 p 343 s 6; RRS s 17.]Notes:Rules of court: See Rules for Appeal of Decisions of Courts o…

The superior courts are courts of record, and shall be always open, except on nonjudicial days. They shall hold their sessions at the county seats of the several counties, respectively, and at such other places within the county as are designated by the judge or judges thereof wi…

Adjournments from day to day, or from time to time, are to be construed as recesses in the sessions, and shall not prevent the court from sitting at any time.[ 1890 p 343 s 8; RRS s 26.]Notes:Rules of court: Cf. CR 77(g).

The seals of the superior courts of the several counties of the state shall be, until otherwise provided by law, the vignette of General George Washington, with the words "Seal of the Superior Court of . . . . . . County, State of Washington," surrounding the vignette.[ 1890 p 34…

There shall be in each of the counties a superior court. Judges of the superior court shall be elected at the general election in November, 1952, and every four years thereafter.[ 1951 c 125 s 2; 1949 c 237 ss 1-5, part; 1945 c 20 s 1, part; 1933 ex.s. c 63 ss 1-3, part; 1927 c 1…