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                        Local Rules for
                 Kittitas County Superior Court

                       Table Of Rules


General Local Rules (GLR)

GLR 1      Applicability in General
GLR 2      Superior Court Rule Making Procedure
GLR 3      Indigent Defense



Local Civil Rules (LCR)

LCR 7      Motions Practice
LCR 40     Trial Setting
LCR 47     Peremptory Challenges
LCR 54     Attorney Fees, Terms and Imposition Of Costs
LCR 56     Summary Judgments
LCR 59     Motion for New Trial, Reconsideration, and Amendment of Judgments
LCR 77     Sessions/Court Hours, Hearing Days
LCR 79     Books and Records



Special Proceedings Rules (KCLSPR)

SPR 94.04  Family Law Actions



Local Guardian Ad Litem Rule For Superior Court (LGALR)

LGALR 1    Guardian Ad Litem



Local Criminal Rules for Superior Court  (LCrR)

LCrR 1     Mandatory Appearances
LCrR 2     Status Conference
LCrR 3     Motions in Limine



Exhibits

Exhibit A  Note for Trial Setting
Exhibit B  Note for Settlement Conference and Trial Setting
Exhibit C  Note for Motion Docket
Exhibit D  Guidelines for Domestic Relations Cases

    
                                     GLR 1
                           APPLICABILITY IN GENERAL


     A.  Authority.  These rules are made pursuant to CR 83.

     B.  Suspension of Rules. The court may modify or suspend any of these
Rules, in any given case, upon good cause being shown therefore or upon the
court's own motion.

    
                                     GLR 2
                     SUPERIOR COURT RULE MAKING PROCEDURE


     A.  Initiation of Rules Changes.  All suggestions for rules changes shall
be sent to the members of the Kittitas County Bar Association and to other
interested parties as determined by the presiding judge.

     B.  Consideration of Proposed Rules Changes.  All suggested rules changes
shall be considered by the judges of the Superior Court of Kittitas County in
consultation with the Kittitas County Bar Association.  If a proposed rule or
rule change is approved, it will be published for comment as follows:

         (1) By posting the proposed rule(s) on the bulletin board of the
Office of the Clerk of the Court and of the Court Administrator's office.

         (2) By transmitting the proposed rule(s) to the Kittitas County Bar
Association, which shall publish the same to its members.

     C.  Consideration of Comments.  All comments on proposed rules should be
directed to the presiding judge.  The court shall consider all comments,
criticisms, objections and suggestions submitted within 30 days of the date for
publishing for comment.

     D.  Final Adoption, Publication, and Effective Date.  After the comment
period, the court shall publish the rule changes as finally approved.

     E.  Limitation of Amendments; Exceptions.  The court shall make rule
changes only in accordance with this rule, except in cases of emergency or
other circumstances justifying immediate changes.

    
                                     GLR 3
                               INDIGENT DEFENSE


By this rule the Kittitas County Superior court hereby adopts standards for the
delivery of public defender services consistent with RCW 10.101.030 and
Kittitas County Code 2.09 et. seq.

    
                                     LCR 7
                               MOTIONS PRACTICE


     (1)  Filing and Noting Motion for Hearing.  A note for motion
substantially in the form found in Exhibit C shall be filed with the Clerk at
the time the motion is filed and served on the parties in accordance with CR
6(d).  To assure that timely and complete delivery of the court file to the
court, notes for motion calendars should be filed with the Clerk's office by
noon on the Thursday preceding the Monday calendar on which hearing is requested.

     (2)  Failure of Party to Appear.  If no one appears in opposition to a
duly noted motion, the court may grant the relief requested upon proper proof
of notice.  If no one appears for a motion, it will be stricken.

     (3)  Continuances of Motions.  Counsel, by agreement, may continue any
motion by executing a stipulation of continuance or by orally stipulating on
the record in court to a continuance.  Continuances shall not be granted by
telephone.  Upon agreement of counsel to continue or strike a hearing, counsel
for the moving party shall advise the court of the agreement to continue or
strike the hearing at the time of the agreement and no later than one day prior
to the hearing.

     (4)  Time Allowed for Argument.   Each side shall be limited to 10 minutes
unless granted leave by the court.  Parties anticipating argument that will
require longer than 20 minutes total time shall obtain a special hearing date
and time from the Court Administrator.

     (5)  Hearing of Ex Parte Matters.

     (a)  Scope.   This rule applies to all temporary restraining orders,
orders to show cause, and all other ex parte matters.

     (b)  Notice to Opposing Counsel.  Unless notice is specifically excluded
by statute, no ex parte order shall be presented without notice to opposing
counsel.  If counsel for any party has appeared either formally or informally,
notice is required.  If necessary, notice may be by telephone.

     (c)  Court File.  Counsel is required to obtain the court file when
presenting ex parte matters, except for agreed orders other than domestic
relations decrees.

     (6)  Working Copies Are Required.

     (a)  When filing a motion, provide a conformed working copy to the judge.
Working copies may not be emailed or faxed to the court.

     (b)  Any pleading filed with the Clerk of Court requiring affirmative
action by the Clerk shall indicate the need for said action by placing under
the caption of the pleading "(Clerk's Action Required.)"

    
                                    LCR 40
                                 TRIAL SETTING


     A.   Trial Setting.   Civil cases may be noted for trial setting after the
issues are joined.  Criminal cases will be assigned a trial date at the time of
arraignment.

     1.   Note for Trial Setting.

     a.   Anyone desiring to bring any issue to trial shall note the matter on
the trial setting calendar.  (Use Exhibit A.)

     b.   Counsel are required to ascertain from the Court Administrator the
available trial date(s).

     c.   Counsel are also required to inform the Court Administrator of their
available and unavailable dates.

     d.   Counsel must estimate the length of time needed for trial.   Because
the court trial calendar is preset, cases will not be permitted to continue
beyond the time estimated for trial.  If the non-setting parties do not agree
with the estimate in the note up notice, they must file their own estimate
before the trial setting date.  Estimates shall include the total time for
trial, not just one side.

     2.   Presence of Counsel.  All trial dates will be assigned by the Court
Administrator or the Court.  If counsel previously have provided the Court
Administrator with available and unavailable dates as required above and are
otherwise agreeable to a setting on any particular date, then counsel's
presence at the trial setting may be waived.

     3.   Visiting Judge Required.   The Court shall be notified at the time of
trial setting if an attorney is a party or a witness in any matter before the
Court or of any other matter needing a visiting judge.  If such notification is
not provided, the case will lose any priority it may otherwise have had.

     4.   Continuances.  Continuances of trial may not be granted by the court
except for good cause shown after hearing on the motion filed by the party
seeking the continuance, or by motion of the court.  In the event good cause is
shown and the court grants a motion for continuance, the case will be
rescheduled by the Court Administrator and given the priority of a new case (in
other words, the case loses any priority it had).  In the event the court
strikes the trial date on its own motion due to calendar congestion, the case
shall receive a priority trial setting.

     B.   Special Settings.  Any civil motions or other matters requiring a
special setting will be set by the Court Administrator.

     C.   Mental Illness Hearings.  Mental illness hearings will be set for
hearing by the Court Administrator.

     D.   Change of Judge; Affidavit of Prejudice.  Cases will be assigned to a
judicial department under the direction of the presiding judge for the county.
In all cases, parties shall be notified of the assignment upon the issuance of
the Scheduling Order.  That assignment shall serve as a pre-
assignment/assignment for purposes of change of judge pursuant to CrR 8.9, CR
40, and RALJ 3.2(c).  The presiding judge shall notify the local bar when
changes in judicial assignments occur.

     E.   Notice to Court of Calendar and jury Trial Changes.  Whenever a cause
has been set for trial and thereafter is settled or will not be tried for any
reason, or if a jury is thereafter waived, notice shall immediately be given to
the Court Administrator so the case may be removed from the court's calendar.

     F.   Domestic Relations-Case Management.

     1.   Settlement Conference.   At the time the Court Administrator sets the
case for trial, the Administrator shall also set a date and time for a
settlement conference which shall not be earlier than 10 days from the date of
notification and not later than 10 days prior to trial.  After the settlement
conference has been set, the parties, through written agreement or the court,
after a motion made by one of the parties, may strike the settlement conference.

     2.   Support Modifications.  All support modifications will be noted for
hearing on the regular motion day.  The support modification hearing will be
heard by affidavit only, 10 minutes per side for argument.  If a party desires
live testimony, the request shall be made by motion and allowed by the court in
its discretion.  After the affidavits and/or financial information have been
provided in accordance with the state statutes on child support modification,
either party may note the matter for hearing on the regular motion docket.
Settlement conferences are not required for support modification.

    
                                    LCR 47
                             PEREMPTORY CHALLENGES


Unless good cause is show, all peremptory challenges shall be exercised in open
Court at the side bar by marking the challenged juror's name on a form to be
provided by the Court.

    
                                    LCR 54
                 ATTORNEY FEES, TERMS AND IMPOSITION OF COSTS


If attorney fees or costs have been awarded, the prevailing party must itemize
via affidavit the time expended, services rendered, or other detailed bases for
the fees and costs requested and attach a copy thereof to the proposed order
granting fees and costs.

    
                                    LCR 56
                               SUMMARY JUDGMENTS


Summary judgments require special settings and should be noted to be heard
before the judge who is assigned to hear the trial.  Motions and affidavits,
and reply and response affidavits, must be filed in the manner and within the
time limitations of CR 56.  On any motion for summary judgment, counsel for
movant is required to call the Court Administrator two business days prior to
the date set for hearing to confirm that the motion will be heard.

    
                                    LCR 59
       MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL, RECONSIDERATION, AND AMENDMENT OF JUDGMENTS


A motion for new trial, reconsideration, or amendment/alteration of judgment
shall be submitted on briefs and affidavits of the moving party only, without
response or oral argument to the trial judge by the opposing party.  The trial
judge shall, within 10 days, either deny the motion or advise both counsel of
desired further proceedings pursuant to CR 59 and this rule.  A motion under
this rule shall be filed with the Clerk and a working copy shall be served on
the trial judge at the Superior Court office at the time of the filing of the
motion.  A copy shall also be served on opposing counsel.

    
                                    LCR 77
                      SESSIONS/COURT HOURS, HEARING DAYS


     (1)  There shall be one continuous session of court from January 1 through
December 31 of each year.  Court will be in session, unless otherwise ordered,
on all judicial days, except Saturday.  Court hours will be from 9:30 a.m. to
12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

     (2)  Hearing times and days as well as Department assignments are subject
to change to accommodate holidays, availability of judges and courtrooms,
judicial conflicts and calendar size, but shall generally be as follows:

     A.  Civil Matters.  Probate, guardianship and civil motions will be heard
on Monday beginning at 9:30 a.m.

     B.  Criminal Matters.  Arraignments, omnibus hearings, sentencing pursuant
to guilty pleas, probation violations, bail hearings, and preliminary
appearances will be heard on Mondays at 1:30 p.m.  Pretrial hearings pursuant
to CrR 3.5 and 3.6 will be heard on Fridays at 9:30 a.m.  Status conferences
will be heard on Fridays at 9:00 a.m.  Criminal trials will be held Tuesday
through Friday and will be set by the court at the time of arraignment.

     C.  Ex Parte Matters.   Ex parte matters shall be heard Monday through
Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Contact Court
Administrator to confirm availability of judge.

     D.  Domestic Relation Matters

          (1)  Settlement Conferences.  Settlement Conferences will be heard on
Friday beginning at 1:30 p.m.

          (2)  Show Cause and Temporary Relief.  Show cause hearings and
motions for temporary relief, including URESA contempt hearings will be heard
on Mondays at 9:30 a.m.

          (3)  Uncontested Dissolutions.  Uncontested dissolutions in which one
or both parties are represented by counsel will be heard at 9:30 a.m. on
Mondays.  Uncontested dissolutions in which both parties are not represented by
counsel will be heard on Mondays at 10:30 a.m.  Regardless of representation,
jurisdictional testimony may be submitted by affidavit and is encouraged.

     E.  Protection Orders.  Domestic Violence and Protection Orders not
otherwise filed under a related case between the parties shall be heard on
Mondays at 9:30 a.m. (10:30 a.m. if both pro se).

     F.  Adoptions.    Any adoptions requiring notice, including pro se
adoptions, will be heard on Monday at 9:00 a.m.

     G.  Civil Trial Settings.   Trial setting dockets shall be every Monday at
9:00 a.m.   (See also LCR 6.)

     H.   Juvenile Matters.

          (1)  Offenders.  Arraignments, pleas, dispositions and probation
violations will be heard on Monday at 10:00 a.m.  Offender trials will be heard
on Thursdays and scheduled by the court at the time of arraignment.

          (2)  Dependencies.  Stipulated fact-finding hearings and review
hearings will be heard on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month.  Contested
fact-finding hearings and shelter care hearings will be scheduled by the Court
Administrator.

          (3)  Truancy/At-Risk Youth.  Adequate cause, show cause, review
hearings and fact-findings will be heard on Monday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.

SPR 94.04
FAMILY LAW ACTIONS

A. Ex Parte Restraining Orders. Personal appearance of a party may be
required upon the judge's request if a party requests an ex parte order be
entered immediately restraining the other party from the family home.

B. Temporary Orders. The initial show cause hearing for temporary
relief shall be heard on affidavits only unless, after appropriate motion, the
court allows live testimony. The following shall apply to all contested
hearings in which temporary relief is sought:

(1) Responsive Affidavits. Responsive affidavits shall be served
and filed no later than one business day prior to hearing pursuant to CR 6(d).
To ensure that pleadings are available in the court file for timely review by
the court, parties are encouraged to file pleadings before noon two days prior
to the hearing.

(2) Exhibits and Worksheets. Financial exhibits and support
worksheets shall be filed in the form as provided by these rules whenever
financial matters are in issue.

C. Child Support. The Washington State Child Support Schedule as
adopted and amended from time to time by the legislature shall be applied by
the Court and Counsel in all matters involving child support, temporary or permanent.

D. Settlement Conferences. Settlement conferences shall be mandatory in
domestic relations cases with the exception of a petition to modify child
support. The Court Administrator shall set a time and date for a settlement
conference at the time the matter is set for trial. The settlement conference
shall be scheduled no earlier than 10 days from the notification and no later
than 10 days prior to trial. The settlement conference shall be set before the
judicial department of the superior court not assigned to hear the trial. The
conference must be confirmed by each party before 12:00 p.m. the day prior to
the scheduled conference.

E. Position Statements. In all final hearings or trials in domestic
relation matters, each party shall file and serve on the opposing party and the
court a written domestic relations position statement, which shall include the
Washington Pattern Form financial declaration (WPF 01.0550). The petitioner is
required to file his/her position statement three (3) business days prior to
the scheduled final hearing. The respondent shall file his/her position
statement two (2) business days prior to the scheduled final hearing, trial, or
settlement conference. In preparing the position of a party to a domestic
relations matter, the assumptions and alternate residential guidelines set
forth on Exhibit D to these rules should be considered.

F. Noncontested Marriage Dissolutions - Delivery of Decree to Other
Party. In default dissolution cases at the time of entry of the decree, the
moving party or counsel shall immediately deliver to or mail to the other
party, at their address if known, (or to their counsel), a conformed copy of
the decree, with the date of filing indicated on each copy so delivered or mailed.

G. Date of Support Payments. If, in any marriage dissolution case,
support, whether temporary or permanent, is to be paid, the order or decree
shall specify the day upon which said order becomes effective and the day or
days certain upon which said support shall be due.

H. Support Paid Through Registry of Court. Payments still required to
be made through the Registry of the Court shall be by certified check, cash or
money order. Child support payments shall be paid in the form of money order
or cashier's check made payable to the Kittitas County Clerk, directly to the
registry of the Kittitas County Superior Court Clerk who will forward the
amounts received to recipient at recipient's mailing address, or such other
address as recipient shall provide the clerk's office in writing.

I. Mandatory Impact on Children Seminar.

(1) Definition of Applicable Cases. This rule applies to all domestic
cases including dissolutions, legal separations, major residential
modifications and paternity actions in which paternity has been established,
where the parties are parents of a child or children under the age of 16, or
where a party is not a parent but is seeking custody, and where a parenting
plan or residential plan involving more than purely financial issues is required.

(2) Impact on Children Seminars; Mandatory Attendance. Unless waived
pursuant to paragraph 4 below, within 60 days after service of a petition or
initiating motion on the respondent, both parties shall participate in, and
successfully complete, an approved Impact on Children Seminar. Standards for a
court-approved Impact on Children Seminar are set forth in sections (7) and (8)
below. Successful completion shall be evidenced by a certificate of attendance
filed by the provider agency with the court. The petitioning party shall
provide notice to the other party, in or with the petition, of the requirements
of this rule. In the event that a party complies with this rule through the
use of an alternative seminar not issuing a certificate of completion, that
party shall file an Affidavit of Attendance setting forth at a minimum the
date(s) and place of attendance, the sponsor or agency holding the seminar, and
the title or description of the seminar.

(3) Permissive Application. The court may require parties with children
living in the household in domestic violence actions brought under RCW 26.50,
and non-parent parties in any domestic case, to attend an Impact on Children Seminar.

(4) Special considerations/waiver. In no case shall opposing parties be
required to attend a seminar together, nor more than one seminar. Parties may
use equivalent services offered by another courts, private agencies or
religious organizations, upon approval by the judge in the individual case.
The court may waive the seminar requirement for one or both parties in any case
for good cause shown, or may approve an alternative program or seminar to
enable the party affected to receive the same or similar child impact information.

(5) Fees. Each party attending a seminar shall pay a fee charged by the
approved provider agency directly.

(6) Failure to Comply. Non-participation, or default, by one party does
not excuse participation by the other party. A party's refusal, delay or
default shall not delay the progress of the case to a final decree. Willful
refusal or delay by either party may result in sanctions imposed by the court,
or may result in the imposition of monetary terms, default and/or striking of
pleadings, and/or refusal to entertain post-decree motions and petitions.

(7) Seminar Location/Content. A court-approved Child Impact Seminar
shall be available in a designated Kittitas County meeting location, or may
occur at such other sites as may be approved by the court and shall provide, at
a minimum, information on:

(a) The developmental stages of childhood;
(b) Stress indicators in children;
(c) Age appropriate expectations of children;
(d) The impact of divorce on children;
(e) The grief process;
(f) Reducing stress for children through an amicable resolution of disputes;
(g) The long-term impact of parental conflict on children;
(h) Importance of child's relationships with both parents, and with
extended family members, and fostering those relationships;
(i) Communication skills for divorced parents;
(j) Practical skills for working together; and
(k) The impact on children when step-parents and blended families enter their lives;
(l) Parenting children with limited time (alternate residential time limits)
and fair parenting (impact on child when parent abstains from
discipline/showers child(ren) with gifts/"sides" with child against other
parent/succumbs to guilt feelings (whether self-imposed or brought on by
child(ren), etc.); and
(m) Involvement of extended family.

(8) Qualifications of Instructors. Child Impact Seminars should be
conducted by a team of not less than two instructors, including one male and
one female. Instructors should be familiar with the required provisions of
parenting plans, and have the following minimum credentials and experience:

(a) A Master's Degree in Social Work, Psychology or other related behavioral science;
(b) Supervised experience in treatment of emotionally disturbed children,
adolescents and their families;
(c) Experience in providing a wide range of mental health services
to children and families, with specific experience in the areas
of separation/divorce, loss and grief, and blended families;
(d) Extensive knowledge of child development, age appropriate expectations
for children, and positive parenting;
(e) Substantial knowledge of the impact on children of alcohol/drug abuse by
family members;
(f) An ability to work with other agencies as part of a collaborative program; and
(g) Strong oral communications skills.

When parties choose to use agencies or religious organizations which have not received
prior approval by the court, the court may modify or waive the foregoing qualifications for
the instructors upon a showing of functional equivalency.

(9) Conduct of Parties. The Court shall not consider a party's conduct,
demeanor, or level of participation at the seminar in determining the
provisions of a parenting plan.

J. Mandatory Settlement Conferences. In each contested action for
dissolution, declaration of invalidity or legal separation, or when ordered by
the court, counsel and the parties shall participate in a conference presided
over by a judge, judge pro tem or court commissioner.

(1) Excused Attendance. A party may be excused from attendance or a
settlement conference may be stricken when compelling attendance would be
unduly burdensome. Request for non-attendance should be made at least 24 hours
in advance to the Court and opposing counsel.

(2) Proceedings Confidential. Proceedings of said settlement
conference shall, in all respects, be confidential. No party shall be bound
unless a settlement is reached. When a settlement has been reached, the judge
may in his discretion, order any agreement to be placed on the record.

(3) Disqualification of Judge. A judge presiding over a settlement
conference is presumed to be disqualified from hearing any other matter
regarding the action, but this presumption may be overcome by stipulation of the parties.

(4) Preparation Required. Prior to said conference, each party
shall have submitted to the other party and to the court a completed position
statement in accordance with LCR 11(e) above.

    
                                   LGALR 1
                              GUARDIAN AD LITEM


    The Court Administrator maintains and administers the Title 26 Guardian
Ad Litem Registry.  Contact the Superior Court Administrator for appointments.

    
                                    LCrR 1
                             MANDATORY APPEARANCES


Each criminal defendant shall be required to attend all scheduled pretrial
hearings, including the omnibus hearing, the 3.5/3/6 hearing and the status
conference, unless excused by the court.

    
                                    LCrR 2
                               STATUS CONFERENCE


Every criminal case shall be set for a status conference prior to trial to
determine whether a scheduled case is still on track for trial.

    
                                    LCrR 3
                               MOTIONS IN LIMINE


Motions in limine shall be filed and served at or before the date set for
status conference.  Motions in limine requiring extensive argument or testimony
shall be heard on the date set for the pretrial hearing or by leave of the
court through the Court Administrator.

EXHIBIT A NOTE FOR TRIAL SETTING

The contents of this item are only available on-line.

EXHIBIT B NOTE FOR SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE AND TRIAL SETTING

The contents of this item are only available on-line.

EXHIBIT C NOTE FOR MOTION DOCKET

The contents of this item are only available on-line.

EXHIBIT D GUIDELINES FOR DOMESTIC RELATIONS CASES

The contents of this item are only available on-line.