Continuum Profile
Nexus Between State Authority and Trial Court Costs
(relationship between state action and trial court costs)

¹ State sets judges salaries (Wa. State Const. Art. 4 § 1) and State sets number of judgeships (RCW 2.08.061-.065 and RCW 3.34.010).

² Superior court is a court of record and legislature may provide that inferior courts are courts of record (Wa. State Const. Art. 4 § 11).

³ Mandatory Arbitration is required in counties of more than 150,000 and optional in counties of less than 150,000 (RCW 7.06.010).

⁴ Juvenile Dependency cases are filed by State Attorney General and prosecuted in the name of the State (RCW 7.06).

⁵ Cities with a population over 400,000 must establish a municipal court consisting of a minimum of three departments (RCW 35.20.010 and 35.20.100).

⁶ Interpreter requirements are established by statute (RCW 2.43.040 and RCW 13.04.043).

⁷ Right to a jury trial established in Constitution (Wa. State Const. Art. 1 § 21).

⁸ Witness costs (fees and mileage are determined by RCW 2.40.010.

⁹ Compensation for District Court staff is set by the local legislative authority (RCW 3.54)

¹⁰ Juvenile Court detention and probation are to be supervised by Superior Court (RCW 13.04.035 and 13.05.040).

¹¹ Cities are established by local decision. The local decision to create a municipality inherently includes a decision to create independent branches of government (RCW 3.45, RCW 3.50 and RCW 35).

¹² Article 4 § 23 confers upon the superior court the discretion to appoint three commissioners with authority to perform “like duties as a judge of the superior court.”

¹³ Counties may create a facilitators program (RCW 26.12.240).

¹⁴ When authorized, a district court may appoint commissioners (RCW 3.42.010).