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 Marshall Ferguson

Judge Marshall Ferguson sits on the King County Superior Court, Washington's trial court of general jurisdiction for King County, which handles a broad range of civil and criminal matters.

Practitioners will find a general procedures document and a specific guide on estimating witness examinations in Judge Ferguson's published materials.

Common questions about Judge Marshall Ferguson's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Marshall Ferguson?

Courtesy copies are required for chambers copys. Details: delivery upon filing, by chambers drop off. Working copies should be submitted in paper to Judge Ferguson's mailroom C-203, clearly marked with Judge Ferguson's name and the case information.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Working Copies

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Marshall Ferguson?

Judge Marshall Ferguson's formatting rule includes file format docx and deliver proposed orders to the court by emailing them to the bailiff. All proposed orders must be provided to the Court in Word format by emailing them to the bailiff.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Non-dispositive motions

What must be included with non dispositive motion filings before Judge Marshall Ferguson?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. When setting non-dispositive motions without oral argument, parties must comply with all requirements of KCLR 7.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Non-dispositive motions

What must be included with estimate of witness examination filings before Judge Marshall Ferguson?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. An Estimate of Witness Examination is required for any trial expected to last longer than 10 trial days.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Trial procedures

How may parties contact Judge Marshall Ferguson's chambers?

Parties may contact Judge Marshall Ferguson's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. Parties must contact the bailiff with equipment questions at least 5 days before the trial date.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Equipment

Does Judge Marshall Ferguson require motion papers to be bundled?

No. The rule prohibits holding covered papers for bundling. A motion to shorten time must be submitted as 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 Marshall Ferguson?

No. Electronic filing is prohibited for the covered filings. Working copies may not be submitted via email unless the Court has given prior authorization.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Working Copies

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Marshall Ferguson?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Until the court grants a motion to shorten time, all responses and replies must be submitted as if the motion will be considered in the normal course.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Motions to shorten time

What rule applies to service for signed order before Judge Marshall Ferguson?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: method: service by email, recipient: all parties. Signed orders are delivered electronically to parties who provided email addresses; parties without an email on file must give the Court preaddressed, stamped envelopes for mail delivery.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Non-dispositive motions
Complete rules summary for Judge Marshall Ferguson

When setting non-dispositive motions without oral argument, parties must comply with all requirements of KCLR 7.

All proposed orders must be provided to the Court in Word format by emailing them to the bailiff.

Signed orders are delivered electronically to parties who provided email addresses; parties without an email on file must give the Court preaddressed, stamped envelopes for mail delivery.

Hearing date requests may be made by emailing the bailiff, and oral argument on motions is generally scheduled for Friday mornings.

Working copies should be submitted in paper to Judge Ferguson's mailroom C-203, clearly marked with Judge Ferguson's name and the case information.

Working copies may not be submitted via email unless the Court has given prior authorization.

Working copies must include proposed orders from each party in Word format.

An Estimate of Witness Examination is required for any trial expected to last longer than 10 trial days.

Parties planning to use videos, PowerPoint, ELMO, or easels should visit the courtroom and discuss set-up needs with the bailiff before the hearing or trial.

A motion to shorten time must be submitted as 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 as if the motion will be considered in the normal course.

A completed CD Request Form must be submitted to the Clerk's Office copy center to obtain a copy of a hearing or trial CD.

Parties must contact the bailiff with equipment questions at least 5 days before the trial date.

To schedule a wedding performed by Judge Ferguson, email the bailiff at ferguson.court@kingcounty.gov; weddings are available Monday through Friday after 4:30 pm, on weekends, and outside of court.

In every case expected to last more than 4 days, the Estimate of Witness Examinations must be submitted to Judge Ferguson no later than 10 court days before trial.

The Estimate of Witness Examinations must not be filed with the Clerk’s Office; it is submitted to the judge instead.

Time estimates on the form must be expressed in tenths of hours (e.g., .1, .2, .5, 1.0).

Counsel must confer no later than ten calendar days before the trial date to determine cross-examination time estimates for each party’s witnesses and prepare the Estimate of Witness Examinations.

Parties may use the court’s form or create their own, provided it includes all of the requested information.

Each additional party should create and complete the witness examination estimate information for that party’s own witnesses.

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