Proposed Rules Archives

• Proposed Changes to CR 43 - Taking of Testimony (in Word Format)
• Comments Received for CR 43 - Taking of Testimony

Purpose:

The Court Management Council (CMC), created by Supreme Court Order 25700-B-217 as a statewide forum for enhancing the administration of the courts, has identified opportunities to improve the quality and timeliness of transcripts that are necessary for appellate review. Current statutes and court rules lack adequate direction on the process and standards for authorizing persons to transcribe trial court records. Consequently, there is great inconsistency across the state on the qualifications and performance accountability for transcriptionists completing verbatim report of proceedings. This contributes to incomplete or inaccurate transcripts, administrative inefficiency, and delays.

With the support of the Board for Judicial Administration (BJA), the Court Management Council suggests rule amendments and new rules that will promote consistent standards and practices for the creation, maintenance, and transmission of verbatim report of proceedings. These changes are necessary to keep pace with changing technology and the increased use of electronic recordings in the trial courts.

Beginning in 2009, a CMC subcommittee consisting of representatives from all levels of court, conducted a comprehensive review of the statutes, rules, and practices that govern the verbatim report of proceedings in the courts of Washington. The CMC adopted revised guidelines for electronic recordings in 2011, and then began working on suggested changes to court rules and statutes to implement best practices. An initial draft was presented to the Board for Judicial Administration in September 2012 and referred to the judicial community for further review and comment.

The suggestions submitted to the Supreme Court are the product of input from the Washington Court Reporters’ Association, Court of Appeals Rules Committee, Superior Court Judges’ Association, and the District and Municipal Court Judges’ Association in addition to the administrative groups that comprise the CMC (Clerk of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals Administrator/Clerks, Washington State Association of County Clerks, Washington Association of Superior Court Administrators, Washington Association of Juvenile Court Administrators, District and Municipal Court Management Association, and the Administrator for the Courts).

BJA endorsed these suggested changes on December 16, 2013.