Klickitat and Skamania Counties Superior Court Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

For an argued summary judgment motion, moving counsel must notify the court administrator in person or by telephone by 4:30 p.m. two court days before the hearing or the matter will be stricken; if no opposition is anticipated, the assigned Judge should be informed.

In the event a motion for summary judgment is to be argued, counsel for moving party must notify the court administrator, in person or by telephone, by 4:30 p.m. two court days prior to the hearing; otherwise, the matter will be stricken. If no opposition is anticipated, the assigned Judge should be so informed.

CRITICAL

A party must provide ex parte matters to the Clerk's office, which arranges for judicial review with the court administrator.

(a) All matters that a party is requesting to be reviewed ex parte shall be provided to the Clerk's office. The clerk will arrange with the court administrator for a judicial officer to review the requested matter.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Ex parte restrictions apply to email; an email conveying substantive information to court staff must also be sent to opposing counsel or the opposing party and must identify that on its face.

The prohibitions regarding ex parte contact with the court are fully applicable to e-mail communication. If an attorney/party is communicating substantive information to court staff, the e-mail must also be sent to opposing counsel/party and so indicate on its face. Substantive information includes information regarding the likelihood of settlement, the timing of witnesses, anticipated problems with scheduling, concerns regarding security and other case-specific issues.

CRITICAL

An arbitrator must immediately notify the Court Administrator if refusing to serve or if grounds for disqualification exist.

An arbitrator must notify the Court Administrator immediately if refusing to serve or if any cause exists for the arbitrator's disqualification from the case upon any of the grounds of interest, relationship, bias or prejudice set forth in CJC Canon 3(c) governing the disqualification of judges.

CRITICAL

Before noting a summary judgment motion, the movant must obtain a specific date and time from the Court Administrator.

Prior to noting a motion for summary judgment, a specific date and time shall be obtained from the Court Administrator.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to clerk

Counsel in civil and criminal cases must email the Court Administrator when a case settles or will not proceed to trial, and the notice must confirm both parties’ agreement.

(e) Notice of Settlement. It shall be the obligation of counsel in all civil and criminal jury and non-jury cases to notify the Court Administrator when a case is settled or otherwise will not come on for trial as scheduled. Such notice shall be made by email to the Court Administrator and contain confirmation by both parties. At that time, the Administrator will strike the trial.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Submit a written interpreter request to the Court Administrator at least two weeks before the hearing or trial; it may be emailed, and extra advance notice is recommended in specified circumstances.

(b) Requesting an Interpreter. A written request must be to the Court Administrator at least two weeks in advance of hearing or trial. Requests can be emailed to the Court Administrator. More advanced notice should be provided for specialized languages, hearings anticipated to last longer than 20 minutes or if multiple interpreters needed. If these guidelines are not followed, an interpreter may not be available for the hearing and/or trial.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Case-related email to court staff must use the court administrator or administrative assistant's address; the judge's individual address may not be used absent the judge's express invitation.

The only address to be used by attorneys, pro se self-represented litigants or others who need to communicate with court staff about a case is the court administrator or administrative assistant's e-mail address. Absent express invitation by the judge, the judge's individual e-mail address is not to be used.

CRITICAL

At least 10 days before a scheduled trial, counsel or a self-represented party must contact the court administrator with the case and settlement status and whether trial is expected to proceed as scheduled.

Not less than ten (10) days prior to any scheduled trial, each counsel or self-represented party shall contact the court administrator to advise the status of the case and of settlement negotiations, if any, and whether it is anticipated trial will take place as scheduled.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

An email submitting bench or working copies to the judge must copy all parties, including on any attachments; an email that does not do so will be deleted without review.

E-mail submissions of bench or working copies to the judge requires that all parties to the case are copied in the e-mail, including any attachment. Any e-mail which fails to copy all parties will be deleted without review.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

Phone

(509) 773-5755

The parties must confirm by telephone or email with the Superior Court Administrator’s Office at least 10 court days before trial; Klickitat County confirmations may use the listed phone number.

(g) Confirmation of Trials. It shall be the responsibility of the parties to confirm that their trial will proceed on the scheduled trial date. Confirmation shall be made by telephone or email to the Superior Court Administrator's Office at least ten (10) court days prior to scheduled trial date. Confirmation for Klickitat County trials shall be made to (509) 773-5755 or superiorcourtadmin@klickitatcounty.org. Confirmation for Skamania County trials shall be made to (509) 427-3765 or bell@co.skamania.wa.us.

WARNING

Contact

Email

The request may be returned to Court Administration at the listed address or email address.

Return this to Court Administration no less than 5 days prior to hearing date. 205 S. Columbus Ave. Room. 206, Goldendale, WA 98620, or superiorcourtadmin@klickitatcounty.gov

WARNING

Do not send ex parte requests directly to the court administrator unless specifically requested; unrequested materials will be returned.

(b) Ex parte matter requests shall not be sent directly to the court administrator, unless specifically requested to by the court administrator. Any materials sent to the court administrator that were not specifically requested by the court administrator shall be returned to the party sending the materials to the court administrator.

WARNING

Contact

Phone

Before bringing ex parte paperwork to court for signature, call the Court administrator's office to arrange a time when the judge or designee is available.

(3) Parties bringing ex-parte paperwork to the Court for signature need to call the Court administrator's office to arrange a time when the Judge or his designee is available.

WARNING

Arrangements for playing an electronic exhibit must be addressed with Court Administration; the submission rule does not govern playback.

(This rule relates to the submission of the exhibit, not the playing of the file, which must be addressed with Court Administration.)

WARNING

If no opposition to a summary judgment motion is anticipated, the assigned Judge should be informed.

If no opposition is anticipated, the assigned Judge should be so informed.

WARNING

Coordinate out-of-county hearings through the Klickitat/Skamania County Court Administrator, who must notify the clerk's office of the hearing date and time.

(4) All hearings that are to be held in courts outside of the county where the case has been filed shall be coordinated through the Klickitat/Skamania County Court Administrator. The Court Administrator shall then notify the clerk's office in which the case has been filed of the out-of-county hearing, date and time.

WARNING

If a hearing is cancelled or continued, or interpreter services are no longer needed, the requesting party must immediately notify the Court Administrator; failure to notify at least two days beforehand or within another set timeframe, absent good cause, may result in interpreter costs if cancellation incurs a fee.

(c) Cancellation of Hearing. If a hearing is cancelled, continued or interpreter services are not needed for the hearing, the requesting party must immediately notify the Court Administrator. Failure to do so, absent good cause, at least two (2) days prior to the hearing/trial (or other time frame set by the Court Administrator) may result in the requesting party being charged for the cost of the interpreter if the interpreter cannot be cancelled without a fee.

WARNING

To schedule a courthouse facilitator appointment, contact the court administrator office; the facilitator will designate the meeting date and time.

Appointments shall be scheduled by contacting the court administrator office. The courthouse facilitator shall designate a date and time to meet with requesting party.

WARNING

Motions and other pre-trial proceedings are scheduled on the Law and Motion Docket unless another arrangement is made through the court administrator.

Motions and other pre-trial proceedings will be scheduled for hearing on a Law and Motion Docket, unless by prior arrangement through the court administrator.

INFO

Contact

Email

Email to the department is appropriate for the listed scheduling, availability, equipment, settlement, and similar matters; proposed orders or bench copies may be emailed if approved by the Court Administrator.

E-mail communication with the department is appropriate in the following typical situations: (i) To obtain a date for an in-court hearing; (ii) To submit proposed orders and/or bench copies (limited to 10 pages or less), if approved by Court Administrator; (ili) To determine the judge's availability; (iv) To determine the availability of equipment needed for trial (such as a video player or speaker phone); (v) To advise the court of a settlement (to be immediately followed by formal written notice pursuant to CR 41(e); and/or (vi) Other matters of a similar nature that would be appropriate to handle by way of a phone call to court staff.

INFO

Before noting a motion, attorneys and parties are advised to confirm the docket date and time by consulting the calendar, County Clerk, or court administrator.

Attorneys and parties are advised to consult the calendar, the County Clerk, or the court administrator to confirm Law and Motion Docket dates and times prior to noting a motion.

INFO

More advance notice is recommended for specialized languages, hearings expected to last longer than 20 minutes, or requests requiring multiple interpreters.

More advanced notice should be provided for specialized languages, hearings anticipated to last longer than 20 minutes or if multiple interpreters needed.