As amended through November 7, 2024
Rule RAP 2.2 - Decisions of the Superior Court That May be Appealed(a) Generally. Unless otherwise prohibited or provided by statute or court rule and except as provided in sections (b) and (c), a party may appeal from only the following superior court decisions: (1)Final Judgment. The final judgment entered in any action or proceeding, regardless of whether the judgment reserves for future determination an award of attorney fees or costs.(3)Decision Determining Action. Any written decision affecting a substantial right in a civil case that in effect determines the action and prevents a final judgment or discontinues the action.(4)Order of Public Use and Necessity. An order of public use and necessity in a condemnation case.(5)Juvenile Court Disposition. The disposition decision following a finding of dependency by a juvenile court, or a disposition decision following a finding of guilt in a juvenile offense proceeding.(6)Termination of All Parental Rights. A decision depriving a person of all parental rights with respect to a child.(7)Order of Incompetency. A decision declaring an adult legally incompetent, or an order establishing a conservatorship or guardianship for an adult.(8)Order of Commitment. A decision ordering commitment, entered after a sanity hearing or after a sexual predator hearing.(9)Order on Motion for New Trial or Amendment of Judgment. An order granting or denying a motion for new trial or amendment of judgment.(10)Order on Motion for Vacation of Judgment. An order granting or denying a motion to vacate a judgment.(11)Order on Motion for Arrest of Judgment. An order arresting or denying arrest of a judgment in a criminal case.(12)Order Denying Motion to Vacate Order of Arrest of a Person. An order denying a motion to vacate an order of arrest of a person in a civil case. (13)Final Order after Judgment. Any final order made after judgment that affects a substantial right.(b) Appeal by State or a Local Government in Criminal Case. Except as provided in section (c), the State or a local government may appeal in a criminal case only from the following superior court decisions and only if the appeal will not place the defendant in double jeopardy: (1)Final Decision, Except Not Guilty. A decision that in effect abates, discontinues, or determines the case other than by a judgment or verdict of not guilty, including but not limited to a decision setting aside, quashing, or dismissing an indictment or information, or a decision granting a motion to dismiss under CrR 8.3(c).(2)Pretrial Order Suppressing Evidence. A pretrial order suppressing evidence, if the trial court expressly finds that the practical effect of the order is to terminate the case.(3)Arrest or Vacation of Judgment. An order arresting or vacating a judgment.(4) New Trial. An order granting a new trial.(5)Disposition in Juvenile Offense Proceeding. A disposition in a juvenile offense proceeding that (A) is below the standard range of disposition for the offense, (B) the state or local government believes involves a miscalculation of the standard range, (C) includes provisions that are unauthorized by law, or (D) omits a provision that is required by law.(6)Sentence in Criminal Case. A sentence in a criminal case that (A) is outside the standard range for the offense, (B) the state or local government believes involves a miscalculation of the standard range, (C) includes provisions that are unauthorized by law, or (D) omits a provision that is required by law. (c) Superior Court Decision on Review of Decision of Court of Limited Jurisdiction. If the superior court decision has been entered after a proceeding to review a decision of a court of limited jurisdiction, a party may appeal only if the review proceeding was a trial de novo. Appeal is not available if (1) the final judgment is a finding that a traffic infraction has been committed or (2) the claim originated in a small claims court operating under chapter 12.40 RCW.(d) Multiple Parties or Multiple Claims or Counts. In any case with multiple parties or multiple claims for relief, or in a criminal case with multiple counts, an appeal may be taken from a final judgment that does not dispose of all the claims or counts as to all the parties, but only after an express direction by the trial court for entry of judgment and an express determination in the judgment, supported by written findings, that there is no just reason for delay. The findings may be made at the time of entry of judgment or thereafter on the court's own motion or on motion of any party. The time for filing notice of appeal begins to run from the entry of the required findings. In the absence of the required findings, determination and direction, a judgment that adjudicates less than all the claims or counts, or adjudicates the rights and liabilities of less than all the parties, is subject only to discretionary review until the entry of a final judgment adjudicating all the claims, counts, rights, and liabilities of all the parties.Adopted effective 7/1/1976; Amended effective 7/1/1978; 1/1/1981; 9/1/1985; 9/1/1989; 9/1/1990; 9/1/1994; 9/1/1998; 12/24/2002; 9/1/2006; 9/1/2008; 9/1/2010; 9/1/2014; 6/27/2023.