Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 36 rules apply across King County Superior Court. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Communication

All 14
  • Contact
    Email to chambers

    Counsel/parties must jointly complete the witness examination estimate form and email it to the bailiff at scott.court@kingcounty.gov as soon as possible.

  • Contact
    Email to chambers

    Each courtroom has a designated email address in the form [judge's last name.court]@kingcounty.gov that counsel (or their staff) must use when communicating with court staff by email.

  • Contact
    Email to chambers

    Commissioners' departments have no individual email addresses; the family law, ex parte, and mental health departments each share a single departmental email address.

Formatting

All 8
  • Time estimates on the form must be expressed in tenths of hours and the completed form must be totaled.

  • Trial length estimates must assume a 5-hour trial day and account for witness exams, jury questions in civil cases, opening and closing arguments, voir dire, and motions in limine.

  • Parties may use the court's form or their own form, provided it includes the requested information.

Filing Requirements

All 7
  • Applies to
    Witness examination estimate

    Counsel must confer to determine cross-examination time estimates for each party's witnesses and jointly prepare the form.

  • Applies to
    Witness examination estimate

    Each additional party must create and complete the witness examination information for that party's witnesses.

  • Applies to
    Witness examination estimate

    Failure to complete the form and disclose witnesses may result in exclusion of witnesses or other sanctions.

E-Filing

All 3
  • Applies to
    Witness examination estimate

    The witness examination estimate form must not be filed with the clerk's office; it is submitted to the bailiff by email instead.

  • Applies to
    Working copies of legal pleadings

    Email may not be used to deliver working copies of legal pleadings, including jury instructions, without prior permission of the court.

  • Applies to
    Exhibits

    Exhibits may be submitted digitally or in hardcopy, and the Order from Pretrial Conference in each case specifies which format is ordered.

About Judge David Whedbee

David Whedbee is a judge in the district division of the King County Superior Court, Washington's trial court of general jurisdiction for King County. The court handles a broad range of civil and criminal matters.

This judge's procedures are published through the court's general rules.

Common questions about Judge David Whedbee's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge David Whedbee?

Courtesy copies are required for working copys. Details: delivery not specified, by chambers drop off. Working copies are temporarily accepted only as e-working copies or hard copies via the Judges' Mailroom (Room C-203); emailed working copies are not accepted.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Working Copies

Does Judge David Whedbee require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge David Whedbee's rules set a pre-motion procedure for dispositive. Parties must not note a motion until the bailiff has emailed confirmation that the hearing has been scheduled.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Dispositive Motions and hearing requests

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge David Whedbee?

Judge David Whedbee's formatting rule includes file format docx and must be provided to the court at least 1 day prior to the scheduled hearing. Proposed orders must be provided to the court in MS Word format at least one day before the scheduled hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Dispositive Motions and hearing requests

What must be included with motion or opposition filings before Judge David Whedbee?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Non-dispositive motions are decided without oral argument unless a party requests it by including "ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED" on the front page of the motion or opposition.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Non-dispositive motions

What must be included with hearing request email filings before Judge David Whedbee?

The rule requires case number. Email requests for oral argument hearings must include the case name and cause number, contact information for all counsel or pro se parties, and the type of hearing with requested dates.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Dispositive Motions and hearing requests

How may parties contact Judge David Whedbee's chambers?

Parties may contact Judge David Whedbee's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email Whedbee.court@kingcounty.gov. Parties must not email Judge Whedbee directly; all correspondence must go through the bailiff.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Requests - Email

Is electronic filing required before Judge David Whedbee?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Stipulated orders, including agreed orders to continue a trial date, must be submitted via e-working copies or the judge's mailroom and are not accepted via email.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Stipulated Orders

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge David Whedbee?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. The Note for Motion and Proof of Service must be filed within 48 hours after confirming a hearing date.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Dispositive Motions and hearing requests
Complete rules summary for Judge David Whedbee

Parties must not email Judge Whedbee directly; all correspondence must go through the bailiff.

Emails to the bailiff are not forwarded to the judge, and even emails including all parties are treated as ex parte communication with the judge and are not permitted.

Stipulated orders, including agreed orders to continue a trial date, must be submitted via e-working copies or the judge's mailroom and are not accepted via email.

Working copies are temporarily accepted only as e-working copies or hard copies via the Judges' Mailroom (Room C-203); emailed working copies are not accepted.

Non-dispositive motions are decided without oral argument unless a party requests it by including "ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED" on the front page of the motion or opposition.

Hearing dates for dispositive motions must be requested from the bailiff via email.

Parties must not note a motion until the bailiff has emailed confirmation that the hearing has been scheduled.

The Note for Motion and Proof of Service must be filed within 48 hours after confirming a hearing date.

A working copy of the Note for Motion and Proof of Service must be provided within 48 hours after confirming a hearing date.

Email requests for oral argument hearings must include the case name and cause number, contact information for all counsel or pro se parties, and the type of hearing with requested dates.

Proposed orders must be provided to the court in MS Word format at least one day before the scheduled hearing.

A moving party that elects not to proceed with a motion must immediately notify the court to strike the hearing and file a Notice Striking Hearing per KCLCR 7(b)(4)(H).

Deliveries may not be made directly to the courtroom unless arranged with the bailiff; all deliveries must go to the judges' mailroom.

Trial will not begin unless a Joint Statement signed by all parties is submitted, per Local Civil Rule 4(k).

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