Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 44 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 15
  • Contact
    Email

    Parties must check with the Court before faxing or emailing documents or pleadings.

  • Contact
    Email to chambers

    Counsel/parties must jointly complete the Estimate of Witness Examinations form and email it to the bailiff at scott.court@kingcounty.gov as soon as possible.

  • Contact
    Email to chambers

    This policy governs only email communication with court staff and does not establish a preference for email over other forms of communication.

Filing Requirements

All 7
  • Applies to
    Estimate of witness examinations

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

  • Applies to
    Estimate of witness examinations

    Trial length estimates must assume 5 hours per full trial day and account for witness exams, jury questions in civil cases, opening and closing arguments, voir dire, and motions in limine.

  • Applies to
    Estimate of witness examinations

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

Formatting

All 6
  • Documents must follow local court rules for pagination.

  • Format
    PDF

    The deposition designation process must begin with a PDF of the transcript because the final marked product will be in PDF format.

  • The moving party must highlight its deposition designations in a single particular color (e.g., yellow).

E-Filing

All 5
  • New cases and additional documents may be filed online, by mail, or in person at the Clerk's Office.

  • Applies to
    Estimate of witness examinations

    The Estimate of Witness Examinations form must not be filed with the clerk's office; it is submitted to the bailiff by email instead.

  • Applies to
    Pleadings

    Parties may email the courtroom to ask whether the judge will accept pleadings, jury instructions, legal memoranda, and similar documents as email submissions, with acceptance at the judge's discretion.

About Judge Nelson K.H. Lee

Judge Nelson K.H. Lee is a judge 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 this judge's published procedures in the document titled 'lee'.

Common questions about Judge Nelson K.H. Lee's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Nelson K.H. Lee?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for motions. Details: delivery upon filing, by chambers drop off. Working copies for non-dispositive motions must be addressed to Judge Lee and delivered to the Judge's mailroom in Room C-203; copies delivered directly to the courtroom will not be accepted unless instructed by the Court.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Non-dispositive motions (Local Rule 7(b))

Does Judge Nelson K.H. Lee require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Yes. A pre-motion letter is required for rule 56. To schedule a dispositive motion hearing with oral argument, parties must first check with opposing counsel and then email the bailiff with the case name, cause number and type of hearing requested; hearings are set on Friday mornings with typically an hour for argument.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Dispositive motions (Motion for Summary Judgment, Local Rule 56, Civil Rule 56)

What page or word limits apply to settlement memorandum before Judge Nelson K.H. Lee?

Judge Nelson K.H. Lee's rule states these limits: 5 pages. Settlement conference memoranda or letters must be typewritten and 3 to 5 pages.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Settlement conferences

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Nelson K.H. Lee?

Judge Nelson K.H. Lee's formatting rule includes file format docx. Proposed orders must be submitted in Word format by email to the bailiff.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Non-dispositive motions (Local Rule 7(b))

What must be included with motion filings before Judge Nelson K.H. Lee?

The rule requires proposed order. A proposed order must be provided in Word format and emailed to the bailiff for non-dispositive motions.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Non-dispositive motions (Local Rule 7(b))

What must be included with settlement memorandum filings before Judge Nelson K.H. Lee?

The rule requires statement of facts. Parties must submit a settlement memorandum or letter at least 5 court days before the settlement conference outlining the factual background, prior negotiations, positions on outstanding issues, other relevant information, and their settlement proposal.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Settlement conferences

How may parties contact Judge Nelson K.H. Lee's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Nelson K.H. Lee's chambers. Settlement conferences are held Monday through Friday at 4:30 pm and must be scheduled by emailing the bailiff at least 2 weeks in advance.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Settlement conferences

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Nelson K.H. Lee?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Parties must confirm in-person attendance and provide their settlement memorandum or letter at least 5 business days before the settlement conference or the conference will be stricken from the Judge's calendar.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Settlement conferences

What service or proof of service rules apply before Judge Nelson K.H. Lee?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: timing: 48 hours before hearing. Attorneys must notify the court and opposing counsel at least 48 hours before the hearing to request a Zoom appearance, absent extenuating circumstances.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Zoom Protocols in Criminal Hearings
Complete rules summary for Judge Nelson K.H. Lee

To schedule a wedding with Judge Lee, call 206-477-1441 or email the bailiff at lee.court@kingcounty.gov for availability and fees.

Working copies for non-dispositive motions must be addressed to Judge Lee and delivered to the Judge's mailroom in Room C-203; copies delivered directly to the courtroom will not be accepted unless instructed by the Court.

A proposed order must be provided in Word format and emailed to the bailiff for non-dispositive motions.

Proposed orders must be submitted in Word format by email to the bailiff.

To schedule a dispositive motion hearing with oral argument, parties must first check with opposing counsel and then email the bailiff with the case name, cause number and type of hearing requested; hearings are set on Friday mornings with typically an hour for argument.

Parties must notify the bailiff immediately if the case settles or a hearing needs to be stricken from the Court's calendar.

Settlement conferences are held Monday through Friday at 4:30 pm and must be scheduled by emailing the bailiff at least 2 weeks in advance.

Parties must submit a settlement memorandum or letter at least 5 court days before the settlement conference outlining the factual background, prior negotiations, positions on outstanding issues, other relevant information, and their settlement proposal.

Settlement conference memoranda or letters must be typewritten and 3 to 5 pages.

Parties must confirm in-person attendance and provide their settlement memorandum or letter at least 5 business days before the settlement conference or the conference will be stricken from the Judge's calendar.

Parties must notify the court immediately if the case settles prior to the settlement conference.

Before filing a discovery motion, parties may optionally schedule a conference call with Judge Lee, who is available to counsel on both sides by phone within 1 to 3 court days of being contacted.

Attorneys must notify the court and opposing counsel at least 48 hours before the hearing to request a Zoom appearance, absent extenuating circumstances.

A Zoom appearance request must include an explanation for the need for the virtual connection.

More Judges in King County Superior Court

Adrienne McCoy
Judge
Aimée Sutton
Judge
Andrea Robertson
Judge
Angela Kaake
Judge
Averil Rothrock
Chief Judge
Benjamin Santos
Judge
Brian McDonald
Judge
Cindi Port
Judge