Removing the city residency requirement for judges pro tempore in municipalities with a population of more than 400,000 inhabitants.

 H-0117.1

HOUSE BILL 1112

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Representatives Farivar, Davis, Berry, Reed, Macri, Bergquist, Scott, Ryu, Fitzgibbon, Taylor, Obras, Gregerson, Street, Ormsby, and Hill

Prefiled 12/20/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to removing the city residency requirement for judges pro tempore in municipalities with a population of more than 400,000 inhabitants; and amending RCW 35.20.200 .

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 35.20.200 and 2000 c 55 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The presiding municipal court judge shall(( , from attorneys residing in the city and qualified to hold the position of judge of the municipal court as provided in RCW 35.20.170 , )) appoint judges pro tempore who shall act in the absence of the regular judges of the court or in addition to the regular judges when the administration of justice and the accomplishment of the work of the court make it necessary. The presiding municipal court judge may appoint, as judges pro tempore, any full-time district court judges serving in the county in which the city is situated. The term of office must be specified in writing.