General Orders of Division I

General Order on RAP 18.5 Electronic Filing *

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION I

WHEREAS the Court of Appeals, has the ability to send and receive messages electronically, and

WHEREAS the Court wishes to take advantage of this technology in order to facilitate appeals, and

WHEREAS RAP 1.2(c) and RAP 18.8(a) provide the Court may waive or alter the provisions of the Rules of Appellate Procedure in order to serve the ends of justice; now, therefore, it is hereby

ORDERED that the provisions of RAP 18.5(a), which require that a copy of a pleading be served on all parties, amicus and persons who may be entitled to notice, shall be construed to apply to messages sent through the electronic mail system, and it is further ORDERED that the provisions of RAP 18.5(b), which sets forth methods of service shall be construed to include the use of "cc:" in an electronic mail message, and it is further

ORDERED that the provisions of RAP 18.7, which requires that each paper filed in the court be signed by an attorney, are waived for all papers filed pursuant to this Order, and it is further

ORDERED that this Order shall apply to notices of appearance, notices of substitution, notes for motion, affidavits of service of motions to withdraw, statements of arrangements, motions for extension of time to be considered ex parte, provided that should a response to the motion be filed within 5 days, the clerk/staff attorney or the commissioner acting on the motion shall be permitted to reconsider the ruling, designation of clerk's papers, and pleadings and correspondence with the Court and other parties.

DATED this 16^th day of December, 1996.

FOR THE COURT:

_________________________

William W. Baker, Chief Judge