RULE 8
                      CHIEF JUSTICE, CHOICE OF--DUTY


    A. Quadrennial Nomination and Election of Chief Justice

    Commencing in November 1996 and continuing every four years thereafter,
the Supreme Court shall select from among its membership a Chief Justice who
will serve a four-year term.  The term of the person so elected shall commence
on the second Monday in January next succeeding the election.  All members of
the court at the time of the election, except those Justices who it is known
will not be members of the court on the second Monday in January next, shall be
eligible for election to the position, including the incumbent Chief Justice and
Justices who have less than four years to serve on their current term of office.

    Nominations for the position of Chief Justice shall be made orally at the
meeting of the court at which the election is conducted.  All Justices on the
court at the time the election is held are eligible to vote.  The vote shall be
by secret ballot and the Justice receiving a majority of the votes of the full
court shall be deemed elected to the position.

    B. Resignation of a Chief Justice and Election of a Successor

    The Chief Justice may resign at any time from that position without resigning
from the court.  In that event or in the event of the death, resignation, or removal
of the Chief Justice, the remaining Justices of the court shall elect a successor
to the position of Chief Justice in the same manner as the quadrennial election of
a Chief Justice. The Justice so elected shall serve the remainder of the term
of the Chief Justice that Justice replaces.

    The Chief Justice shall be the executive officer of the court, preside at all
sessions of the Supreme Court and shall do and perform those duties required of the Chief
Justice by the constitution and laws of the State of Washington and the rules of this
court, and shall serve as coordinator between the two departments.