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 Johanna Bender

Johanna Bender is a judge on the King County Superior Court, sitting in a district division. King County Superior Court is Washington's trial court of general jurisdiction, handling civil, criminal, family, and other matters for King County.

The provided filename does not indicate specific procedural topics; this judge's procedures are published through the court's general rules.

Common questions about Judge Johanna Bender's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Johanna Bender?

Courtesy copies are required for order on non dispositive motions. Details: 1 copy, delivery upon entry of ruling. If oral argument is not granted, parties receive a courtesy copy of the Court's order on the non-dispositive motion once a ruling is entered.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Non-dispositive motions

Does Judge Johanna Bender require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Johanna Bender's rules set a pre-motion procedure for non dispositive. Non-dispositive motions are decided without oral argument unless a party requests argument and the Court deems it necessary.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Non-dispositive motions

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Johanna Bender?

Judge Johanna Bender's formatting rule includes file format docx. All proposed orders must be submitted in Word format.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Proposed orders and working papers

What must be included with motion filings before Judge Johanna Bender?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Parties must comply with all requirements of KCLR 7 when setting motions without oral argument.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Non-dispositive motions

What must be included with motion or opposition filings before Judge Johanna Bender?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A request for oral argument must be indicated on the front page of the motion or opposition.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Non-dispositive motions

How may parties contact Judge Johanna Bender's chambers?

Parties may contact Judge Johanna Bender's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. Before scheduling a dispositive motion hearing, parties must confirm the date with all opposing counsel or pro se parties and then contact the bailiff to confirm the date is still available.

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

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Johanna Bender?

Judge Johanna Bender's rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. A request to shorten time must be made by a separate motion while the underlying motion is noted in the regular course.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Motions to shorten time

Is electronic filing required before Judge Johanna Bender?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Working copies of motions and declarations must be submitted via the e-filing portal or delivered to the Judges' Mailing Room (2D) at MRJC; email and courtroom delivery are not accepted.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Proposed orders and working papers
Complete rules summary for Judge Johanna Bender

Parties must comply with all requirements of KCLR 7 when setting motions without oral argument.

Non-dispositive motions are decided without oral argument unless a party requests argument and the Court deems it necessary.

A request for oral argument must be indicated on the front page of the motion or opposition.

If oral argument is not granted, parties receive a courtesy copy of the Court's order on the non-dispositive motion once a ruling is entered.

Before scheduling a dispositive motion hearing, parties must confirm the date with all opposing counsel or pro se parties and then contact the bailiff to confirm the date is still available.

Parties must not note their dispositive motion until the bailiff sends back confirmation of the hearing date.

Email requests for a dispositive motion hearing must include the case name and cause number, counsel names with phone numbers and email addresses, and the type of hearing and dates requested.

Additional hearing time is available for multi-party or complex litigation, and parties should advise the bailiff of the request when scheduling.

Motions for restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, revisions, and class certification hearings are granted oral argument.

Motions to shorten time are strongly disfavored and should only be used in extraordinary circumstances.

A request to shorten time must be made by a separate motion while the underlying motion is noted in the regular course.

Until the Court grants a motion to shorten time, all responses and replies must be submitted on the presumptive timeline.

Motions to change the trial date must comply with Local Rule 40(e), even when submitted by stipulation.

All proposed orders must be submitted in Word format.

A Word copy of a proposed order may be submitted by email to bender.court@kingcounty.gov.

Proposed orders may alternatively be submitted through the e-filing portal's e-working copies application.

Working copies of motions and declarations must be submitted via the e-filing portal or delivered to the Judges' Mailing Room (2D) at MRJC; email and courtroom delivery are not accepted.

Wedding ceremony scheduling inquiries may be made by emailing the bailiff at bender.court@kingcounty.gov or calling 206-477-1495.

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