Time-for-Trial Final Report

The Time-for-Trial task force has completed its work and has submitted its final report recommending comprehensive changes to CrR 3.3, CrRLJ 3.3, JuCR 7.8, and several other rules governing related issues. The proposed changes are intended to:

• Reduce the likelihood that criminal cases will need to be dismissed with prejudice.
• Provide courts with more flexibility for getting cases heard, including flexibility in addressing court congestion.
• Simplify and clarify the complicated provisions of these rules.
• Improve the process for ensuring that law enforcement agencies locate defendants and notify them of pending criminal charges.
• Increase accountability of the courts.
• Provide for the collection of data that will lead to better-informed decisions on policy and resource allocation.
• Eliminate the need for judicial expansion of the rule in appellate opinions.

Any amendments to the court rules would need to be adopted by the Washington Supreme Court.

Questions about the Time-for-Trial Task Force, or about the final report, can be directed to tft@courts.wa.gov.

Final Report