Rule LCMR 3 - DIVISION OF MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY(a)Powers and Duties of the Judges.(1) Elect and remove at-large members of the Executive Committee.(2) Elect and remove a Presiding Judge.(3) Elect and remove an Assistant Presiding Judge.(4) Appoint and remove commissioners.(5) Attend judges' meetings.(6) Attend committee meetings.(7) Create and dissolve standing committees.(8) Create and abolish departments. See LCMR 4(9) Enact local rules. Local rules shall be enacted only by a majority of all judges of the court. See CR 83.(10) Adopt policies that govern or provide guidelines for management of the court.(11) Adopt general policies for the assignment of cases and judges, as recommended by the Presiding Judge and Executive Committee.(12) Approve the budget of the court.(13) Review of decisions made by the Executive Committee when such decisions are not otherwise reserved to the judges as a whole: If four members of the Executive Committee vote to refer the matter for decision by the judges as a whole, the decision shall be referred to the judges for final decision at the next regular judges' meeting. Attend and participate in a meeting of the Executive Committee, if a judge chooses to do so. Only judges who are members of the Executive Committee, except a committee chair under LGR 29(g)(1)(E), may vote.(14) Participate in administration of the court consistent with CJC 3(B)(1).(15) A judicial officer, or their designee, may place any matter on the next Executive Committee agenda by submitting an email request to the Chief Administrative Officer, or their designee, with a copy to the Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge. Absent an emergency, the request with any supporting materials shall be submitted at least five judicial days before the Executive Committee meeting. The Executive Committee may refer the matter to a standing committee for initial consideration, if the matter falls within the scope of a standing committee. Nothing in this rule prevents a judicial officer from submitting a proposal to a standing committee before submitting it for consideration by the Executive Committee. (b)Powers and Duties of Presiding Judge.(1) Lead the management and administration of the court's business, recommend policies and procedures that improve the court's effectiveness, and allocate financial resources in a way that maximizes the court's ability to resolve disputes fairly and expeditiously.(2) Serve as the spokesperson for the court in all dealings with the executive and legislative branches and with the media. If the matter is of such a nature that the Presiding Judge requires advice and counsel, he/she shall contact the members of the Executive Committee, if possible under the circumstances.(3) Call such special meetings of the judges and Executive Committee as may be required.(4) Assign judicial officers to calendars, departments and special calendars to hear cases and other matters pursuant to general policies established by the judges of the court.(5) Assign judicial officers to the various special and standing committees of the court and appoint the chairperson of such committees.(6) Assign judges to the King County Superior Court facilities. In making these assignments, the Presiding Judge shall consider all relevant factors including the willingness of a judge to serve, the need for diversity, and what assignments will be in the best interest of the court as a whole.(7) Select, in consultation with the Executive Committee, the chief judges of the juvenile, civil, criminal and unified family court departments and of the Maleng Regional Justice Center.(8) Coordinate the vacations and educational leaves of judicial officers.(9) Approve exceptions to the duty-time policy.(10) Serve as the direct supervisor of the court commissioners, subject to delegation to other judges as appropriate.(11) Supervise all personnel under the judicial branch, including the Chief Administrative Officer and the Director of the Department of Judicial Administration.(12) With the assistance of the Chief Administrative Officer and Director of the Department of Judicial Administration, develop and coordinate statistical and management information.(13) Ensure that the annual training on record keeping is held, as required by LCMR 6(g).(14) Supervise the preparation and filing of reports required by statute and court rules.(15) Perform such other duties as are provided in these rules, or as are assigned by a majority of the judges.(c)Powers and Duties of the Assistant Presiding Judge.(1) Serve as Acting Presiding Judge during the absence or upon the request of the Presiding Judge.(2) Perform such further duties as these rules, the Presiding Judge, Executive Committee or a majority of the judges shall direct.King Cnty. Sup. L. Ct. R. LCMR 3
Adopted effective 9/1/2016; amended effective 9/1/2021.