Columbia County District Court

		
		
                                   LCrRLJ 4
                               READINESS HEARING


In order to efficiently schedule the calling of jurors, to avoid unnecessary
disruptions of jurors lives, and to avoid the waste of public funds the
following readiness hearing procedures have been adopted:

Not less than 7 days prior to an assigned jury trial date, there shall be held a
readiness hearing.  At the readiness hearing it shall be mandatory that the
prosecuting attorney, the defense counsel, and the defendant be present. The
requirements of this rule can be waived only by the Judge appointed to the
case.  In the event the defendant fails to appear, the jury trial setting shall
be canceled, a bench warrant may be issued, bail or bond may be forfeited, and
costs may be imposed at the discretion of the court. In the event the defendant
waives the jury trial subsequent to the readiness hearing, costs may be imposed
pursuant to LARLJ 1.  At the readiness  hearing, the following matters will be concluded:

    1.  All plea negotiations

    2.  Exchange of witness lists

    3.  Providing of any discovery not previously completed by
        the pretrial hearing held prior to the readiness hearing.

    4.  Motions on legal issues arising subsequent to the
        pretrial hearing or on issues arising due to new evidence.

    5.  Filing with the court proposed non-WPI (Washington
        Pattern Instructions) jury instructions and voire dire
        questions for the prospective jurors which either party
        requests to be asked by the court.  Note ALL jury
        instructions will need to be filed 5 working days prior to a
        jury trial including WPI by the prosecution and 3 days
        prior to trial by the defendant.

At the conclusion of the readiness hearing, the court will no longer grant any
further motions to amend or motions to dismiss the charge(s) unless good cause
is shown (involving unique and unexpected events/factors).  Therefore, the case
will be tried by jury, unless waived by the defendant, or concluded by a guilty
plea to the original charge (s),   See LARLJ 1 regarding administrative
reimbursement of jury fees for those who do not give at least 3 days notice of
settlement to the clerk of the court.