Superior Court Statistical Reporting Manual

4. PROCEEDINGS HELD

A proceeding is a matter held in open court with at least one of the parties present in a case which is actually heard (i.e., oral argument or testimony is given), other than an ex parte action. Ex parte hearings held in open court where oral argument or testimony is given should be recorded as proceedings (see Ex Parte Actions, page 6-4).

A trial is a contested proceeding conducted by a judge to resolve the issues of the case. A trial is distinguished from other proceedings based on the following criteria.

(1) Both parties are present or represented.

(2) Issues are contested as demonstrated by the jury being sworn or opening argument being made, waived, or reserved.

A proceeding should be recorded with the proceeding-held docket code entry on the day the proceeding commences. For a multi-day proceeding (i.e., a hearing or trial conducted on two or more days), record the proceeding-held docket code only on the first day.

Recording Proceeding Time - The use of sub-docket codes to record the length of proceeding times is a local option, and do not affect caseload statistics. For information on recording proceeding time, see the proceedings-held section of the Guide to Docketing in Washington State.

Multiple Proceeding Types - For a given case, a single session of the court can result in the occurrence of one or more proceedings. When multiple proceedings are held during a given court appearance, the Case Management Advisory Committee (CMAC) decided that the single proceeding category which best reflects the nature of the appearance should be recorded. The Superior Court Statistics/Codes Committee adopted rules for selecting the most appropriate category to be reported. These rules will be fully implemented when the Courts Automated Proceedings (CAPS) computer application is available. In the meantime, docket in accordance with the following rules.

(1) Docket each type of proceeding held during a single session of the court only once. For example, if multiple motions are made during a proceeding, docket only one motion hearing ("MTHRG").

(2) Do not docket a motion hearing ("MTHRG") through jury or non-jury trial duration.

PROCEEDING CATEGORIES - Definitions for these proceeding categories are given below. For each category all applicable SCOMIS proceeding-held docket codes are given in parentheses. Only docket codes shown here (also found in the mental illness proceeding-held section of the Guide to Docketing in Washington State) will be included in mental illness proceeding statistical counts on the caseload report.

4.A. DETENTION HEARING (DETHRG)

A hearing before the court to determine whether a person will be involuntarily detained for mental health evaluation for a period not to exceed 72 hours.

4.B. PRE-TRIAL MANAGEMENT/MOTION HEARING

Motion Hearing (MTHRG) - A hearing before the court for an order to set forth specific relief as requested, held prior to case resolution.

Pre-Trial Management Hearing (PTMHRG) - A hearing whereby the court considers compliance with discovery and motion deadlines, attempts to frame issues of fact and law for trial, sets a briefing schedule, and makes further rulings as necessary, including the determination of readiness for trial.

4.C. COMMITMENT HEARING (CMMTHRG)

A hearing before the court to determine whether probable cause exists to involuntarily commit a person for intensive treatment and evaluation. (Note: Effective March 3, 2014, 14HRG, 90HRG, 180HRG were deactivated. Use CMMTHRG.)

4.D. TRIAL BY AFFIDAVIT (AFTRIAL)

A trial in which the issues of fact and law are to be determined by the judicial officer of a court or competent jurisdiction based on the agreed statement of facts contained in one or more affidavits.

4.E NON-JURY TRIALJury Trial (NJTRIAL)

A trial in which the issues of fact and law are to be determined by a judge of a court of competent jurisdiction. Record a non-jury trial when the first witness is sworn, the first piece of evidence is presented, or when opening argument is made, waived, or reserved, whichever comes first. Do not docket any motion hearings through non-jury trial duration.

To document the number of days and length of time per day in a multi-day trial, see Recording Proceeding Time.

4.F. VOIR DIRE ONLY HEARING (VOIR)

A pre-trial hearing in which the court and attorneys examine prospective jurors to determine their suitability to serve as jurors. Docket this hearing only if jury empanelment begins but the scheduled jury trial does not take place.

4.G. JURY TRIAL (JTRIAL)

A trial in which the issues of fact are to be determined by verdict from a body of citizens of a particular district before a court of competent jurisdiction. Record a jury trial when the jury is sworn for the purpose of hearing testimony and opening argument is made, waived, or reserved. Do not docket any motion hearings through jury trial duration.

To document the number of days and length of time per day in a multi-day trial, see Recording Proceeding Time.

4.H. MEDICATION HEARING (MEDHRG)

A hearing before the court to determine whether anti-psychotic medication will be involuntarily administered as a part of treatment. (Note: Effective March 3, 2014, 14MHRG, 90MHRG, 180MHRG were deactivated. Use MEDHRG.)

4.I. REVIEW HEARING (RVWHRG)

A hearing before the court to review a patient's progress under an existing commitment order. (Note: Effective March 3, 2014, 14VHRG, 90VHRG, 180VHRG were deactivated. Use RVWHRG.)

4.J. REVOCATION HEARING (REVHRG)

A hearing before the court to revoke an existing commitment order and impose a more restrictive treatment alternative. (Note: Effective March 3, 2014, 14RHRG, 90RHRG, 180RHRG were deactivated. Use REVHRG.)

4.K. MODIFICATION HEARING (MODHRG)

A hearing before the court seeking modification to an existing commitment order. (Note: Effective March 3, 2014, 14AHRG, 90AHRG, 180AHRG were deactivated. Use MODHRG.)

4.L. 60 DAY ALCOHOL HEARING (60ATHRG)

A hearing before the court to determine whether probable cause exists to involuntarily commit a person who is incapacitated by alcohol for intensive treatment and evaluation.