Jefferson County Superior Court Document Format Requirements

CRITICAL

The Domestic Relations Information Form must use the form in Appendix 4.

The Domestic Relations Information Form shall be in the form set forth on Appendix 4 attached to these rules.

CRITICAL

Parties must deliver the exhibits listed in the Joint Statement of the Evidence in binders with numbered tabs at least seven days before trial.

At least seven days prior to trial, the parties shall deliver their exhibits contained in their Joint Statement of the Evidence in binders with numbered tabs for pretrial processing.

CRITICAL

Supplemental jury instructions must include a title page and be numbered.

Supplemental instructions shall have a title page and be numbered.

CRITICAL

Paper bags alone are not acceptable packaging for exhibits.

Paper bags alone shall not constitute proper packaging.

CRITICAL

Firearms must be unloaded, have the breech mechanism or cylinder open, and have a secured trigger lock in place.

Firearms shall be unloaded, any breech mechanism or cylinder shall be open, and a secured trigger lock shall be in place.

CRITICAL

The award must use the form prescribed by the court in Exhibit C.

The award shall be prepared on the form prescribed by the court (Exhibit C).

CRITICAL

The exhibit list required when more than 10 exhibits will be marked must be in MS Word format.

Prior to trial,when either party will be requiring more than 10 exhibits to be marked, an Exhibit List in MS Word format shall be emailed to the Clerk.

CRITICAL

A complaint against a Guardian ad Litem or Court Visitor must be in writing.

The complaint must be in writing

CRITICAL

Blood-borne pathogens must be placed in sturdy plastic containers, with individual containers for vials or hypodermics, and labeled as potentially biologically hazardous.

Blood borne pathogens shall be packaged in sturdy plastic containers. If contained in a vial or hypodermic, each shall be placed in an individual sturdy plastic container. All items shall be labeled to identify the contents as potentially biologically hazardous materials.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Order or paper presented to judge for signature

Papers presented to a judge for signature must follow the stated signature placement requirements, attorneys must include their Washington State Bar Association membership numbers, and electronic signatures are acceptable.

10.2 Signature Requirements. Any order or other paper presented to a judge for signature shall contain a signature on the left-hand side of the page by the individual presenting the document. A place for the judge’s signature shall be below the last line of the order or other paper on the right-hand side of the page. Attorneys signing shall include their Washington State Bar Association Membership numbers. Electronic signatures are acceptable.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Documents presented for filing

Filed documents must satisfy the stated original-document, legibility, paper, font, GR 14, signature, copy-labeling, and no-staples requirements.

10.1 Format Requirements. All documents presented for filing shall be originals, typed or hand printed legibly using permanent ink on non-translucent paper suitable for Laserfiche scanning. The type size shall be no smaller than size 10 font. In all respects, documents shall conform with GR 14 standards. All original pleadings shall be first impressions with original signatures. Every paper other than the original filed with the clerk must be labeled “Copy.” Documents presented for filing shall contain no staples.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Electronically filed pleading

Electronically filed pleadings must follow the formatting rules for paper pleadings, including GR 14.

All electronically filed pleadings shall be formatted in accordance with the applicable rules governing formatting of paper pleadings, including GR 14.

CRITICAL

Proposed jury instructions must be filed with the clerk, numbered, annotated, and accompanied by a title page identifying the submitting party.

Proposed jury instructions shall be filed with the clerk and shall be numbered and annotated, and shall include a title page identifying the party who is submitting the proposed instructions.

CRITICAL

A large-scale exhibit must have an 8.5-by-11 reproduction or color copy provided for marking and filing as a substitute, with court permission.

An 8.5 x 11 reproduction or color copy of each large-scale exhibit must be provided and shall be substituted for marking and filing with permission of the court.

CRITICAL

Covered suppression motions must be written, and a bench copy must be provided to the court when filed; motions pursuant to rule 3.5 are excluded.

Motions to suppress physical, oral or identification evidence, other than a motion pursuant to rule 3.5, shall be in writing and a bench copy of said motion must be provided for the court at time of filing.

CRITICAL

Drugs must be placed in sealed containers that prevent or reduce emissions and labeled to identify their contents.

Drugs shall be placed in sealed containers to prevent or reduce emissions from the container. They shall be labeled identifying the contents.

CRITICAL

Sharp or pointed portions of dangerous weapons must be sheathed to prevent injury or contact.

Dangerous weapons shall have any sharp or pointed portions sheathed in a manner to prevent injury or contact with the sharp or pointed portions.

CRITICAL

Exhibits containing blood-borne pathogens, drugs, firearms, or dangerous weapons must be properly packaged and labeled before the court or clerk accepts them.

Exhibits containing blood borne pathogens, drugs, firearms or dangerous weapons shall be properly packaged and labeled before acceptance by the court or clerk.

CRITICAL

Pleadings, motions, and other papers presented for filing must be on 8½-by-11 paper and printed on one side only; the clerk may refuse nonconforming papers.

All pleadings, motions and other papers presented for filing with the clerk shall be on 8-l/2 x 11 paper and shall be printed on one side only. The clerk may refuse to file any papers not in conformance with this rule.

CRITICAL

The parties must present binders of proposed exhibits to the clerk’s office.

The parties shall present to the clerk’s office binders containing proposed exhibits.

CRITICAL

When the award is filed, the arbitrator must submit a payment request on the court-prescribed form.

(b) Form. When the award is filed, the arbitrator shall submit to the Court Administrator a request for payment on a form prescribed by the court. Request for compensation must be received by the Court Administrator no later than thirty (30) days from the date of filing the arbitration award.

CRITICAL

A request for trial de novo must not refer to the award amount and must substantially follow Exhibit D.

(a) Form. The request for a trial de novo shall not refer to the amount of the award, including any award of costs or attorney fees, and shall be substantially in the form of (Exhibit D) and must be signed by the party.

WARNING

If record documents have already been scanned, a digital copy of the record must be provided to the court in addition to the paper record.

If documents in the record have already been scanned a digital copy of the record shall be provided to the court in addition to the paper record.

WARNING

Marking on exhibits should only be made after receiving the court's permission to do so.

Marking on exhibits should only be made after receiving the court's permission to do so.

WARNING

Discovery-produced documents and items properly received as exhibits must not be included in the court file.

Documents or copies produced during discovery, including interrogatories, and other items that should properly be received as exhibits shall not be included in the court file.

WARNING

Proposed general questions submitted to the court must be in writing.

The parties shall submit all proposed general questions to the court in writing at the pre-trial conference.

WARNING

A notice of issue must use a court-approved form, such as the form in Appendix 3.

The notice of issue must be on a form approved by the court such as that in Appendix 3.

WARNING

The bench-copy email subject must identify the judge, hearing date, case name, and cause number, and the body must identify who is delivering the papers.

Bench copies for the court shall be emailed to courtadmin@co.jefferson.wa.us at least 48 hours prior the motion hearing. The subject line shall contain the name of the judge hearing the motion, the date of the hearing, the case name and cause number. The body of the email shall include by whom these papers are to being delivered. The court administrator will notify the parties if hard copies are required by the court.

WARNING

Digital or video documents may not be filed, but may be considered as exhibits if admissible.

Documents in a digital or video format are not acceptable for filing, but may be considered as exhibits if admissible.

WARNING

GR 20 governs security in handling exhibits, and the court may also order withdrawal and substitution on its own initiative.

GR 20, governing security in handling exhibits shall apply, with proviso the Court may also order withdrawal and substitution on its own merit.

INFO

For cause shown, the court may permit a copy to replace an original document admitted into evidence.

For cause shown, the court may permit a copy of any document admitted in evidence to be substituted for the original.

INFO

Additional pages may be attached if necessary to describe settlement negotiations.

(attach additional pages if necessary)

INFO

Electronic signatures are acceptable for filings under this rule.

Electronic signatures are acceptable.