Adams County Superior Court
Court-Level Rules, Filing Procedures & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Papers Requiring Thorough Consideration
- Not Before Hearing Set
Page & Word Limits2 rules
Absent prior court authorization, affidavits and declarations are limited to 10 double-spaced pages, responsive affidavits to 10 pages, and reply affidavits to 5 pages, excluding exhibits.
- Affidavit or declaration
- Up to 10 pages
- Responsive affidavit or declaration
- Up to 10 pages
- Reply affidavit or declaration
- Up to 5 pages
- Format
- Double-spaced
Excluded from page count
- •Exhibits
Court's wording
Absent prior authorization from the court, each affidavit or declaration in all domestic relations matters, shall not exceed ten (10) double spaced pages (exclusive of exhibits). Each responsive affidavit or declaration shall not exceed ten (10) double spaced pages (exclusive of exhibits) and shall be served and filed no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) three (3) court days (excluding holidays and weekends) prior to the time set for the hearing. Reply affidavits or declarations shall be similarly filed and served no later than 12:00 noon on the court day (excluding holidays and weekends) before the hearing. Each reply affidavit or declaration shall be limited to a maximum of five (5) double spaced pages and shall be in strict reply to the responsive affidavit or declaration.
Absent prior authorization of the court, no pleading shall exceed fifteen pages in length exclusive of exhibits thereto. This rule does not apply to court forms that are inherently lengthy, such as petitions for protection orders, orders in dependency cases, or bi-lingual court forms.
- Pleading
- Up to 15 pages
Excluded from page count
- •Exhibits
Document Format Requirements5 rules
All pleadings, and other papers presented for filing with the Clerk shall be on 8 ½ by 11 paper with double spacing and shall be printed on one side only. The Clerk may refuse to file any papers not in conformance with this rule.
- Line spacing
- Double
- Paper size
- Letter
- Pleading
- Other filing
Formatting
- •The Clerk may refuse papers that do not conform to this rule
Filed pleadings, motions, and other papers must be legible, letter-size, printed on one side, double-spaced, and meet the stated first-page and subsequent-page margin requirements.
- Line spacing
- Double
- Paper size
- Letter
Formatting
- •Writing or printing must appear on only one side of the page
- •All subsequent pages must have margins of at least 1 inch
Court's wording
All pleadings, motions, and other papers filed with the court shall be legibly written or printed. The use of letter-size paper (8-1/2 by 11 inches) is mandatory. The writing or printing shall appear on only one side of the page and shall be double-spaced. The top margin of the first page shall be a minimum of three inches, the bottom margin shall be a minimum of one inch and the side margins shall be a minimum of one inch. All subsequent pages shall have a minimum of one inch margins.
Proposed jury instructions must be typewritten on separate unmarked sheets and may not contain citations or other extraneous matter, except as otherwise provided.
- Jury instructions
Formatting
- •Instructions must be typewritten, with each instruction on a separate sheet
- •A sheet must not identify the party or attorney presenting the instruction
Court's wording
Proposed jury instructions shall be typewritten. Each instruction shall be typed on a separate sheet of paper which bears no marking identifying either the party or the attorney presenting the instruction. No citation or other extraneous matter shall appear on a proposed instruction, except as hereinafter provided.
Exhibit copies, when required, must be legible and numbered the same as marked by the Clerk.
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •Unless making copies is impractical, copies must be legible
Court's wording
Unless the making of copies is impractical, legible copies of exhibits shall be furnished to opposing counsel and the court and numbered the same as marked by the Clerk. This rule shall not apply to rebuttal or impeachment exhibits not required to be offered in the party’s case in chief.
All complaints must be in writing and must be submitted to the Superior Court Judge.
Document Filing Requirements20 rules
The parties shall note CrR 3.5 and CrR 3.6 motions in the omnibus order, after confirming court availability with the court administrator.
The party filing the pleadings shall provide copies for each cause listed.
A consolidation order must identify the action for future pleadings, be filed in each case, and be the last document filed under an undesignated case number.
Court's wording
In all cases wherein an order of consolidation has been entered said order shall designate in what action all future pleadings shall be filed, and a copy of said order shall be filed in each case. Said order would be the last document filed in the undesignated case number.
For actions consolidated for trial, pleadings must have a caption listing each action’s title and cause number and identifying the cause number under which they are to be filed.
- Document
- Pleading
- Placement
- Caption
Court's wording
For all causes wherein an order for consolidation has been entered for the purpose of trial, the caption shall include the separate titles of the consolidated actions, along with the specific cause numbers, and an indication to the clerk of which cause number the pleadings shall be filed under.
Except in consolidated cases, no documents shall be filed with more than one case number, unless sufficient copies are simultaneously provided for each cause. Where there are multiple case numbers and no copies provided, the Clerk shall place the documents only in the first case number designated.
A renewed application after a refusal or an unperformed conditional grant requires an alleged different statement of facts or law and an affidavit identifying the prior application, its timing and judge, the resulting decision, and the claimed new facts or law.
Court's wording
When an order has been applied for and refused in whole or in part (unless without prejudice) or has been granted conditionally and the condition has not been performed, the same application for an order shall not be made except upon an alleged different statement of facts or law. It shall be shown by affidavit what application was made, when, and to what judge; what order or decision was made thereon; and what new facts or law are claimed to be shown.
Said briefs or memorandums of authority shall contain statements of the legal issues involved and the authority supporting the same.
Pro Se pleadings shall contain the party’s mailing address and street address where service of process and other papers may be made upon them.
The documents shall be clearly identified as a motion for reconsideration, and shall clearly state the date of the judgment, decree, or order was entered, and the names and addresses of opposing counsel.
Proposed instructions must be distributed in specified assembled, numbered, and cited copies to the Clerk, Court, and opposing counsel, with an uncited, unassembled, unnumbered original delivered to the Court.
Court's wording
1. One assembled and numbered copy containing citations of authority, including the number of any applicable Washington Pattern Instruction, shall be filed with the Clerk; 2. The original, unassembled, unnumbered and without citations shall be delivered to the Court; 3. One copy numbered, assembled, and containing the citations of supporting authorities, including the number of any applicable Washington Pattern Instruction, shall be delivered as follows: one to the Court and one to opposing counsel.
Copies of Washington Pattern Instructions are not provided by the Court. If such instructions are proposed, they must be submitted in typed form with the suitable number of copies as outlined above.
A descriptive list of the proposed exhibits shall be provided to the clerk no later than three (3) court days prior to the trial date.
Counsel must submit proposed questionnaires to the Court and serve copies on opposing counsel no later than the Friday immediately preceding the week of trial.
All complaints must bear the signature, name, and address of the person filing the complaint.
In order to be eligible for the registry, a person must file their qualifications with the court administrator as required by statute and complete all training required by statute.
When requested after a complaint appears to have merit, the response must be written and address the issues identified by the reviewing Judge.
Court's wording
Make a finding that the complaint appears to have merit and request, via written letter, a written response from the guardian ad litem or other person against whom the complaint is brought within 10 business days, detailing the specific issues in the complaint to which the reviewing Judge desires a response.
FILE WITH THE CLERK
If no indication is made and a copy is not provided for each cause, the clerk shall place the pleadings into the lowest or earliest filed cause.
Each reply affidavit or declaration shall be limited to a maximum of five (5) double spaced pages and shall be in strict reply to the responsive affidavit or declaration.
Such papers shall include briefs, memorandums of authority, lengthy affidavits, pleadings, and admitted exhibits.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Pleadings and other papers may be filed electronically with the Clerk’s Office when an electronic filing system is available, accepted, and functioning in Adams County.
Electronic Filing. Pleadings and other papers may be filed with the Clerk’s Office electronically, whenever an electronic filing system is available, accepted, and functioning in Adams County.
Page 5 | RULE 2: FILING
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Jury instructions must be filed by the Friday immediately before the week of trial.
Jury instructions shall be filed and served no later than the Friday immediately preceding the week of trial.
Page 3 | H. CIVIL TRIALS
Social studies and predisposition reports must be presented at least three days before disposition unless the Court directs otherwise.
Social studies and predisposition reports are to be presented to the Court no later than three days prior to disposition, or as otherwise directed by the Court.
Page 3 | F. DEPENDENCIES
Responsive affidavits and declarations must be filed no later than noon three court days before the hearing, excluding holidays and weekends.
Each responsive affidavit or declaration shall not exceed ten (10) double spaced pages (exclusive of exhibits) and shall be served and filed no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) three (3) court days (excluding holidays and weekends) prior to the time set for the hearing.
Page 7 | C. AFFIDAVITS AND DECLARATIONS
Reply affidavits and declarations must be filed by noon on the court day before the hearing, excluding holidays and weekends.
Reply affidavits or declarations shall be similarly filed and served no later than 12:00 noon on the court day (excluding holidays and weekends) before the hearing.
Page 7 | C. AFFIDAVITS AND DECLARATIONS
Responsive materials must be served and filed with the Clerk by noon three court days before the hearing or trial, excluding holidays and weekends.
Any responsive materials shall be served and filed with the Clerk of the Court by 12:00 noon three (3) court days (excluding holidays and weekends) prior to the time set for the hearing or trial.
Page 9 | RULE 9: PLEADINGS/MOTIONS — B. TIME FOR FILING
Strict-reply documents must be filed by noon on the court day before the hearing, excluding holidays and weekends.
Any documents in strict reply shall be similarly filed and served no later than 12:00 noon on the court day (excluding holidays and weekends) before the hearing.
Page 9 | RULE 9: PLEADINGS/MOTIONS — B. TIME FOR FILING
Covered motion, hearing, or trial materials must be filed with the Clerk no later than 10 court days before the date the party wants the motion considered, unless a specific State or local rule provides otherwise.
Parties desiring to submit an application to the Court, legal brief, memorandum of authorities, and any supporting affidavits or other documents on a motion, hearing, or trial to be heard shall, unless otherwise particularized under a specific State or local rule, serve and file the same with the Clerk of the Court no later than ten (10) court days (excluding holidays and weekends) before the date the party wishes the motion to be considered.
Page 9 | RULE 9: PLEADINGS/MOTIONS — B. TIME FOR FILING
A reconsideration motion must be noted for a hearing 30 to 40 days after entry, unless the Court directs otherwise.
The Motion shall be noted on the Court’s motion docket to be heard not sooner than 30 but not later than 40 days after entry of the judgment, decree, or order unless the Court directs otherwise.
Page 11 | RULE 9A: NEW TRIAL, RECONSIDERATION AND AMENDMENT OF JUDGMENTS — A. MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION, TIME FOR MOTION, CONTENTS OF MOTION
A motion for reconsideration must be filed and noted within 10 days after entry of the judgment, decree, or order.
A motion for reconsideration shall be filed and noted not later than 10 days after entry of the judgment, decree, or order.
Page 11 | RULE 9A: NEW TRIAL, RECONSIDERATION AND AMENDMENT OF JUDGMENTS — A. MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION, TIME FOR MOTION, CONTENTS OF MOTION
Unless otherwise ordered, proposed jury instructions must be distributed by the last Friday before trial.
Unless otherwise ordered, the proposed instructions shall be distributed on or before the last Friday prior to trial as follows:
Page 12 | RULE 10: PROPOSED JURY INSTRUCTIONS — B
The proposed exhibit list must be provided to the clerk no later than three court days before trial.
A descriptive list of the proposed exhibits shall be provided to the clerk no later than three (3) court days prior to the trial date.
Page 13 | RULE 11: EXHIBITS — C. DESCRIPTIVE LIST
Exhibit marking must be arranged no later than two court days before trial.
Counsel shall arrange with the Clerk for the marking of all exhibits no later than two (2) court days prior to the trial.
Page 13 | RULE 11: EXHIBITS — A. PRE-MARKING
Proposed questionnaires must be submitted to the Court no later than the Friday immediately preceding the week of trial.
Counsel must submit proposed questionnaires to the Court and serve copies on opposing counsel no later than the Friday immediately preceding the week of trial.
Page 16 | RULE 13: JURORS — 5. Additional provisions
If a complaint appears to have merit, the guardian ad litem or other subject must provide a written response within 10 business days of the request, addressing the issues identified by the reviewing Judge.
Make a finding that the complaint appears to have merit and request, via written letter, a written response from the guardian ad litem or other person against whom the complaint is brought within 10 business days, detailing the specific issues in the complaint to which the reviewing Judge desires a response.
Page 18 | RULE 14: GUARDIAN AD LITEM TRAINING, QUALIFICATIONS, AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE — C. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE — iii. Findings and Action on Complaint
A non-setting party that disagrees with the estimate in the notice must file its own estimate before the trial-setting date.
IF THE NON-SETTING PARTIES DO NOT AGREE WITH THE ESTIMATE IN THIS NOTICE THEY MUST FILE THEIR OWN ESTIMATE BEFORE THE TRIAL SETTING DATE.
Page 23 | APPENDIX ACLR 1(H)- NOTE FOR TRIAL
A list of available trial dates must be filed with the court before the trial-setting date.
A list of your available trial dates must be filed with the court before the setting date.
Page 23 | APPENDIX ACLR 1(H)- NOTE FOR TRIAL
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Jury instructions must be served by the Friday immediately before the week of trial.
Jury instructions shall be filed and served no later than the Friday immediately preceding the week of trial.
Page 3 | H. CIVIL TRIALS
The petitioner must serve the order on the respondent, who becomes subject to it upon service.
The petitioner shall serve a copy of the order on the respondent. The respondent is subject to the order from the time that it is served.
Page 6 | RULE 5: DOMESTIC RELATIONS MATTERS — AUTOMATIC MUTUAL TEMPORARY ORDER
Responsive affidavits and declarations must be served by noon three court days before the hearing, excluding holidays and weekends.
Each responsive affidavit or declaration shall not exceed ten (10) double spaced pages (exclusive of exhibits) and shall be served and filed no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) three (3) court days (excluding holidays and weekends) prior to the time set for the hearing.
Page 7 | C. AFFIDAVITS AND DECLARATIONS
The court will not consider an affidavit or declaration unless opposing counsel or self-represented litigants have timely received a copy.
No affidavits or declarations shall be considered by the Court unless opposing counsel or the self-represented litigants have been timely provided with copies.
Page 7 | C. AFFIDAVITS AND DECLARATIONS
Reply affidavits and declarations must be served by noon on the court day before the hearing, excluding holidays and weekends.
Reply affidavits or declarations shall be similarly filed and served no later than 12:00 noon on the court day (excluding holidays and weekends) before the hearing.
Page 7 | C. AFFIDAVITS AND DECLARATIONS
A party ordered to personally appear and show cause must receive at least five days’ notice of the hearing’s time and place.
Any such party must be given at least five days’ notice of the time and place of the show cause hearing.
Page 7 | E. SHOW CAUSE HEARINGS
The prosecutor must provide the defendant or defense counsel with copies of all criminal history information in the prosecutor’s possession by the scheduled omnibus hearing date.
The Prosecuting Attorney shall provide to the Defendant, either directly or through the Defendant’s counsel, a copy of all criminal history record information in a Prosecutor’s possession no later than the date scheduled for the Omnibus hearing.
Page 8 | C. Discovery
Strict-reply documents must be served by noon on the court day before the hearing, excluding holidays and weekends.
Any documents in strict reply shall be similarly filed and served no later than 12:00 noon on the court day (excluding holidays and weekends) before the hearing.
Page 9 | RULE 9: PLEADINGS/MOTIONS — B. TIME FOR FILING
Covered motion, hearing, or trial materials must be served no later than 10 court days before the date the party wants the motion considered, unless a specific State or local rule provides otherwise.
Parties desiring to submit an application to the Court, legal brief, memorandum of authorities, and any supporting affidavits or other documents on a motion, hearing, or trial to be heard shall, unless otherwise particularized under a specific State or local rule, serve and file the same with the Clerk of the Court no later than ten (10) court days (excluding holidays and weekends) before the date the party wishes the motion to be considered.
Page 9 | RULE 9: PLEADINGS/MOTIONS — B. TIME FOR FILING
The Court will not consider documents unless opposing counsel or self-represented litigants have timely received copies.
No documents shall be considered by the Court unless opposing counsel or the self-represented litigants have been timely provided with copies.
Page 9 | RULE 9: PLEADINGS/MOTIONS — B. TIME FOR FILING
Responsive materials must be served by noon three court days before the hearing or trial, excluding holidays and weekends.
Any responsive materials shall be served and filed with the Clerk of the Court by 12:00 noon three (3) court days (excluding holidays and weekends) prior to the time set for the hearing or trial.
Page 9 | RULE 9: PLEADINGS/MOTIONS — B. TIME FOR FILING
Unless the making of copies is impractical, legible copies of exhibits shall be furnished to opposing counsel and the court and numbered the same as marked by the Clerk. This rule shall not apply to rebuttal or impeachment exhibits not required to be offered in the party’s case in chief.
Unless the making of copies is impractical, legible copies of exhibits shall be furnished to opposing counsel and the court and numbered the same as marked by the Clerk. This rule shall not apply to rebuttal or impeachment exhibits not required to be offered in the party’s case in chief.
Page 13 | RULE 11: EXHIBITS — B. COPIES
Counsel must serve copies of proposed questionnaires on opposing counsel by the Friday immediately preceding the week of trial.
Counsel must submit proposed questionnaires to the Court and serve copies on opposing counsel no later than the Friday immediately preceding the week of trial.
Page 16 | RULE 13: JURORS — 5. Additional provisions
Motions to rescind, modify, or renew a no-contact order must be noted to the motion docket and personally served on the respondent at least five days in advance.
Motions to rescind, modify, or renew a no contact order shall be noted to the motion docket and be served personally upon the respondent at least five days in advance thereof.
Page 20 | RULE 15: RESCISSION, MODIFICATION OR RENEWAL OF NO-CONTACT ORDERS
For a no-contact order issued in a criminal case, the Adams County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and defense counsel must also be served.
In the case of no contact orders issued in a criminal case, the office of the Adams County Prosecuting Attorney, and defense counsel shall also be served.
Page 20 | RULE 15: RESCISSION, MODIFICATION OR RENEWAL OF NO-CONTACT ORDERS
The Note for Trial must be served on all parties.
SERVE ON ALL PARTIES
Page 23 | APPENDIX ACLR 1(H)- NOTE FOR TRIAL
Motions in limine must be served pursuant to ACLR 5.
Motions in limine shall be filed and served pursuant to ACLR 5.
Page 3 | H. CIVIL TRIALS
Electronic filing and electronic service must comply with General Rule 30.
Electronic filing and service shall be in accordance with General Rule (GR) 30.
Page 5 | RULE 2: FILING
The complainant and the person complained against must receive written notice of the reviewing Judge’s decision after the response is received.
The complainant and the person against whom the complaint is brought shall be notified in writing of the reviewing Judge’s decision following the receipt of the response to the complaint.
Page 19 | Notice of Decision
If a no-contact order is rescinded, modified, or renewed, the Clerk of the Court must forward the resulting order to applicable law enforcement agencies.
If a no contact order is rescinded, modified, or renewed, the order rescinding, modifying, or renewing the original order shall be forwarded to applicable law enforcement agencies by the Clerk of the Court.
Page 20 | RULE 15: RESCISSION, MODIFICATION OR RENEWAL OF NO-CONTACT ORDERS
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Working copies of papers requiring thorough consideration must be delivered to the judge’s chambers, but need not be delivered before a hearing is set.
Working copies of papers requiring thorough consideration by the Court shall be delivered to the Judge’s chambers. Working copies need not be delivered until a hearing has been set in the cause of action involved.
Page 10 | RULE 9: PLEADINGS/MOTIONS — D. DELIVERY OF WORKING COPIES
Sealing & Redaction Procedures
Complaints are confidential unless found meritorious, and records of complaints found not meritorious may be disclosed only by court order for good cause after notice and an opportunity to be heard.
A complaint shall be deemed confidential for all purposes unless the Judge reviewing the complaint has determined that the complaint has merit. Any record of complaints filed which are not deemed by the Judge to have merit shall be confidential, and shall not be disclosed except by court order, upon good cause shown, after the person against whom the complaint was brought has been given notice and an opportunity to be heard.
Page 19 | Confidentiality
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Reconsideration motions are submitted on the moving party’s briefs and affidavits only; opposing responses and oral argument are not allowed unless the Court directs otherwise.
A motion for reconsideration shall be submitted on briefs and affidavits of the moving party only. No response shall be submitted by the opposing party, nor shall oral argument be heard, unless the Court so directs.
Page 11 | RULE 9A: NEW TRIAL, RECONSIDERATION AND AMENDMENT OF JUDGMENTS — B. HEARING ON MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION
The Court must notify the parties at least 10 days before the hearing whether the motion is denied and the hearing stricken or argument and/or responsive pleadings will be allowed.
The Court shall notify the parties, not later than 10 days before the hearing, whether: (1) The motion has been denied and the hearing stricken; or (2) oral argument and/or responsive pleadings will be allowed.
Page 11 | RULE 9A: NEW TRIAL, RECONSIDERATION AND AMENDMENT OF JUDGMENTS — B. HEARING ON MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A continuance motion may be denied because of scheduling conflicts if the court was not given a list of available dates.
FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE COURT WITH A LIST OF AVAILABLE DATES COULD RESULT IN THE DENIAL OF ANY MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE BECAUSE OF CONFLICTS IN SCHEDULE.
Page 23 | APPENDIX ACLR 1(H)- NOTE FOR TRIAL
Chambers Communication Rules
Hearings requiring more than 30 minutes must be specially set by contacting the court administrator.
Hearings requiring more than 30 minutes shall be special set by contacting the court administrator.
Page 2 | RULE 1: SCHEDULING — CIVIL MOTION DOCKET
The parties must confirm court availability with the court administrator before noting CrR 3.5 and CrR 3.6 motions in the omnibus order.
The parties shall note CrR 3.5 and CrR 3.6 motions in the omnibus order, after confirming court availability with the court administrator.
Page 2 | RULE 1: SCHEDULING — ADULT CRIMINAL DOCKET
Counsel must arrange with the Clerk to mark all exhibits at least two court days before trial.
Counsel shall arrange with the Clerk for the marking of all exhibits no later than two (2) court days prior to the trial.
Page 13 | RULE 11: EXHIBITS — A. PRE-MARKING
Shelter Care hearings must be specially scheduled with the court administrator.
Shelter Care hearings shall be special set with the court administrator.
Page 3 | F. DEPENDENCIES
Courtroom recording and photography require the presiding judicial officer’s express advance permission, and permission requests must be made through the court administrator.
Video and audio recording and still photography are allowed in the courtroom during and between sessions only if permission has first been expressly granted by the judicial officer presiding in the courtroom. Requests for permission shall be made to the presiding judicial officer through the court administrator.
Page 4 | L. COURTROOM PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECORDING
Except for emergency or ex parte matters, parties needing interpreter services must notify the court administrator as early as possible.
Except for emergency or ex parte matters, parties requiring interpreter services shall provide the court administrator with as much notice as possible of the need for an interpreter.
Page 4 | K. INTERPRETERS
Questions about virtual or telephonic appearances should be directed to the court administrator.
Any questions regarding virtual or telephonic appearances should be directed to the court administrator.
Page 1 | RULE 1: SCHEDULING — TELEPHONIC/VIRTUAL APPEARANCES
Parties are advised to contact the court administrator in advance to confirm judicial officer and clerk availability for an ex parte matter.
Parties are advised to contact the court administrator in advance to ensure judicial officer and clerk availability to hear the ex parte matter.
Page 3 | G. EX PARTE MATTERS