Clark County Superior Court, Washington Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

For an argued summary judgment motion, counsel must notify the assigned department in person or by telephone by 4:30 p.m. two court days before the hearing, or the matter will be stricken.

In the event a motion for summary judgment is to be argued, counsel must notify the assigned department, in person or by telephone, by 4:30 p.m. two court days prior to the hearing; otherwise, the matter will be stricken.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

The party filing and serving the Statement of Arbitrability must promptly email a conformed copy and proof of payment to arbitration@clark.wa.gov.

The party filing and serving the Statement of Arbitrability must promptly send a conformed copy and proof of payment to arbitration@clark.wa.gov.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Phone

If a summary judgment motion is to be argued, counsel must notify the assigned department in person or by telephone by 4:30 p.m. two court days before the hearing, or the matter will be stricken.

In the event a motion for summary judgment is to be argued, counsel must notify the assigned department, in person or by telephone, by 4:30 p.m. two court days prior to the hearing; otherwise, the matter will be stricken.

CRITICAL

A participant scheduled on multiple co-occurring dockets must check in with the judicial assistant for each docket before it starts, or with the in-court clerk when it starts.

If a court participant is scheduled to appear on more than one co-occurring docket, the court participant must check in with the judicial assistant for each docket prior to the start of the docket, or with the in-court clerk at the start of the docket.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email

The party filing and serving the Statement of Arbitrability must promptly email a conformed copy and proof of payment to the stated arbitration address.

The party filing and serving the Statement of Arbitrability must promptly send a conformed copy and proof of payment to arbitration@clark.wa.gov.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

An email conveying substantive information to court staff must also be sent to opposing counsel, party, or court-appointed neutral, and must indicate that on its face.

If an attorney/party/court-appointed neutral is communicating substantive information to court staff, the email must also be sent to opposing counsel/party/court-appointed neutral and so indicate on its face.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Email communication remains subject to the prohibitions on ex parte contact with the court.

The prohibitions regarding ex parte contact with the court are fully applicable to email communication.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Case-related emails to court staff must use the department judicial assistant’s email address; the judicial officer’s individual email address is prohibited absent an express invitation.

The only address to be used by attorneys, self-represented litigants or others who need to communicate with court staff about a case is the individual department’s judicial assistant’s email address. Absent express invitation by the judicial officer, the judicial officer’s individual email address is not to be used.

CRITICALCivil cases

Emergency or temporary applications must be made to the assigned judge when available; if that judge is unavailable, they may be presented to the ex parte judge.

Applications for emergency or temporary orders or writs shall be made to the assigned judge when available. If unavailable, they may be presented to the ex parte judge.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Emails conveying substantive information to court staff must also be sent to opposing counsel, the opposing party, or the court-appointed neutral, as applicable, and must indicate that on their face.

If an attorney/party/court-appointed neutral is communicating substantive information to court staff, the email must also be sent to opposing counsel/party/court-appointed neutral and so indicate on its face. Substantive information includes information regarding the likelihood of settlement, the timing of witnesses, anticipated problems with scheduling, concerns regarding security and other case-specific issues.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Case-related email to court staff must use the department judicial assistant’s address, not the judicial officer’s individual address unless expressly invited.

The only address to be used by attorneys, self-represented litigants or others who need to communicate with court staff about a case is the individual department’s judicial assistant’s email address. Absent express invitation by the judicial officer, the judicial officer’s individual email address is not to be used.

INFO

Contact

Email

The email guidelines do not govern other forms of communication and do not give email preference over them.

This rule does not apply to the other forms of communication and does not establish a preference for email communication over any other form of communication.

INFO

If no opposition is anticipated, the assigned judge should be informed.

If no opposition is anticipated, the assigned judge should be so informed.

INFO

Contact

Email

A person may request a Registry pause by sending written notice to the Court Administrator; email is acceptable.

A person may request to be placed on “Pause” by sending written notice (email suffices) to the Court Administrator.

INFO

Contact

Email to chambers

Emailing the department is appropriate for routine matters including hearing dates, proposed orders, settlement-conference availability, and trial-equipment availability.

Email communication with the department is appropriate in the following typical situations: (A) To obtain a date for an in-court hearing; (B) To submit proposed orders; (C) To determine the judge’s availability for a settlement conference; (D) To determine the availability of equipment needed for trial (such as a video player or speaker phone);

INFOCivil cases

If no opposition is anticipated to a summary judgment motion, the assigned judge should be informed.

If no opposition is anticipated, the assigned judge should be so informed.

INFO

Contact

Email to chambers

Email is appropriate for the listed routine trial and filing questions, settlement advice, and similar matters ordinarily handled by calling court staff.

(E) To determine the judicial officer’s preference as to number of copies of jury instructions required for trial; (F) To advise the court of a settlement (to be immediately followed by formal written notice pursuant to CR 41(e); (G) To determine whether the judge will accept pleadings, jury instructions, legal memoranda, and the like, in the form of an email submission; (H) Other matters of a similar nature that would be appropriate to handle by way of a phone call to court staff.

INFO

Contact

Email to chambers

Email communication with the department is appropriate in the following typical situations: (A) To obtain a date for an in-court hearing; (B) To submit proposed orders; (C) To determine the judge’s availability for a settlement conference; (D) To determine the availability of equipment needed for trial (such as a video player or speaker phone); (E) To determine the judicial officer’s preference as to number of copies of jury instructions required for trial; (F) To advise the court of a settlement (to be immediately followed by formal written notice pursuant to CR 41(e); (G) To determine whether the judge will accept pleadings, jury instructions, legal memoranda, and the like, in the form of an email submission; (H) Other matters of a similar nature that would be appropriate to handle by way of a phone call to court staff.

Email communication with the department is appropriate in the following typical situations: (A) To obtain a date for an in-court hearing; (B) To submit proposed orders; (C) To determine the judge’s availability for a settlement conference; (D) To determine the availability of equipment needed for trial (such as a video player or speaker phone); (E) To determine the judicial officer’s preference as to number of copies of jury instructions required for trial; (F) To advise the court of a settlement (to be immediately followed by formal written notice pursuant to CR 41(e); (G) To determine whether the judge will accept pleadings, jury instructions, legal memoranda, and the like, in the form of an email submission; (H) Other matters of a similar nature that would be appropriate to handle by way of a phone call to court staff.

INFOCivil cases

Contact

Email

A person may request Pause by sending written notice to the Court Administrator; email is sufficient.

A person may request to be placed on “Pause” by sending written notice (email suffices) to the Court Administrator.