Key Communications Issued
During the COVID-19 Pandemic
September 10, 2020
RE: New Supreme Court Emergency Orders issued today
Dear colleagues,
Attached are two emergency orders entered today by the Supreme Court. These orders are also located on the Washington Courts COVID-19 Response webpage.
The first order addresses the extension of timeframes in the May 29, 2020 emergency order, and specifically extends the excluded period for calculating time for trial under paragraph 12 of that order from September 1, 2020 to the "next scheduled court hearing after October 15, 2020." The order also reiterates that the attorney's signature is sufficient as a representation that the client has been consulted and agrees to a continuance, and that attorneys can waive their client's presence unless the defendant or juvenile respondent's presence is deemed necessary by the court. Finally, the order temporarily suspends CrR 2.2(g) and CrRLJ 2.2(g).
The second order temporarily authorizes courts to delay the reporting of failures to appear in non-criminal traffic cases to the Department of Licensing, thereby avoiding an automatic license suspension.
While these orders address immediate issues, please know the Supreme court is continuing to consult with trial courts and justice system partners to carefully examine other needed modifications to current emergency measures as well as new issues that continue to arise as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. With that in mind, we invite your further input. Please feel free to email me directly or email Ms. Tawes with comments and suggestions.
