Okanogan County Superior Court Document Format Requirements

CRITICAL

Parties using court-prepared mandatory forms must follow the published format and style rules, including use of Odyssey codes.

Where the Administrative Office of the Court has prepared mandatory forms, the parties shall comply with the format and style rules for mandatory forms as published by the Administrative Office of Courts, including use of Odyssey codes. See: http://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/?fa=forms.static&staticID=4

CRITICAL

Use the mandatory Washington Courts form unless Okanogan County has adopted an alternate; if neither form exists for a necessary purpose, parties may develop their own.

Mandatory forms available from the Washington Courts’ website shall be used unless Okanogan County has adopted an alternate form. If no mandatory form or Okanogan County form exists for a necessary purpose, the parties may develop their own form.

CRITICAL

Margins

top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in

Format

DOCX

The document must be provided to the trial judge no later than the day before trial and must use the specified file format and formatting.

to the trial judge not later than the day prior to commencement of trial in the following format: (a) Microsoft Word Format (.docx) (b) 1” Page Margins (b) 12pt. Font (c) Calibri Style Font Theme

CRITICAL

The court's Automatic Temporary Restraining Order form may not be modified unless a motion to modify is presented to the court.

Any modification of the court’s form shall not be allowed unless a motion to modify is presented to the court.

CRITICAL

Motions and supporting pleadings must use applicable mandatory forms, follow GR 14's format, and meet GR 31's requirements.

All motions and pleadings in support thereof, shall use mandatory forms where applicable, follow the format required by GR 14, and meet the requirements of GR 31.

CRITICAL

At the conference, each document and exhibit must be marked using consecutive numerals for the plaintiff and the defendant.

- (b) Mark each document and exhibit using consecutive numerals for the plaintiff and the defendant.

CRITICAL

Proposed jury instructions must be filed as an unnumbered original without citations and a hard copy bearing a proposed number and supporting citations.

Consistent with CrR 6.15, all parties shall file with the trial judge an original and one hard copy of their proposed instructions. The original shall not be numbered nor include any citations of authority. The hard copy shall contain a proposed number only and any citation of authority in support of the instruction. Authorities may include any number from any published book of instructions or case name and citation.

CRITICAL

Remote participants must observe the same decorum and respect required at an in-person court appearance.

3. Hearing etiquette. Remote proceedings are still Court hearings, and the same decorum and respect required for a physical appearance is required for a remote appearance.

CRITICAL

Filed documents must be legible; typed or computer-printed documents must use at least 11-point type and be double-spaced.

All filed documents shall be legible. If typed or computer printed, documents shall be in 11 point or larger type and double-spaced.

CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

The parties must provide the Judicial Assistant an electronic Word .docx copy of their instructions at the beginning of trial.

The parties shall provide a copy of their instructions electronically in Word .docx file format to the court’s Judicial Assistant at the beginning of the trial.

WARNING

Remote participants must not lie down or recline unless they require a reasonable accommodation due to physical disability, and should avoid walking around.

b. Unless you require a reasonable accommodation due to physical disability, do not lay down or recline while appearing remotely for court proceedings. Also avoid walking around, as that can be very distracting for the judicial officer and other participants.

WARNING

The guardian's name on the acceptance of appointment must be typed or printed exactly as it appears in the order.

The guardian name(s) must be typed or printed on the acceptance of appointment exactly as it appears in the order.

WARNING

Remote participants must download Zoom before the hearing and test their video and audio settings.

Download the Zoom application prior to the hearing and test your video and audio settings.

WARNING

All working copies must display the hearing date and time.

ALL WORKING COPIES MUST HAVE THE HEARING DATE AND TIME ON THEM.

WARNING

Remote participants must dress and act appropriately for court and must not wear hats, sunglasses, or clothing with potentially offensive or inappropriate slogans or phrases.

a. Dress and act in a way that is appropriate for court proceedings. Do not wear hats, sunglasses, or clothing with slogans or phrases that might be considered offensive or inappropriate.

WARNING

Remote participants must ensure they have a stable internet connection or phone line.

1. Equipment. Ensure that you have a stable internet connection, or phone line.

WARNING

Remote participants must not interrupt or speak over others.

Do not interrupt or speak over others.

WARNING

Remote participants should appear from a private, quiet, distraction-free, relatively professional location and avoid places with background conversation or interruptions.

2. Location. Choose a location that is private, quiet, free of distractions and looks relatively professional. Avoid places where people are talking in the background or may interrupt you.

WARNING

Remote participants must use an appropriate background and should avoid distracting backgrounds and backlighting.

a. Either use an appropriate virtual background or blurred background or be situated in a location with an appropriate background. Please avoid backgrounds/virtual backgrounds that are distracting. Also avoid backlighting, such as being in front of a window.

WARNING

Remote participants must not eat, smoke, chew gum, or drink anything other than water.

b. Do not eat, smoke, chew gum or drink anything other than water.

WARNING

Remote participants must know how to control their microphone and camera.

Ensure that you know how to mute and unmute yourself and turn your camera off or on.

WARNING

The two copies provided to the Judicial Assistant must be formatted as one cited and numbered copy and one uncited, unnumbered, and unstapled copy.

Each party shall also provide one cited and numbered copy and one un-cited, un-numbered and un-stapled copy of instructions to the court’s Judicial Assistant for the judge’s use.

WARNING

Remote participants should speak clearly and slightly more slowly than usual.

c. Speak clearly, and at a slightly slower pace than you would normally speak.

INFO

When multiple devices are used in the same room, participants are advised that feedback can often be addressed by activating only one device’s microphone and speaker or using a headset or earbuds.

c. If more than one device (computer, phone or tablet) is used in the same room, feedback can be a problem. Frequently this can be fixed by having the microphone and speaker of only one device active at a time. Headsets/earbuds can also solve this problem.

INFO

If noise or hearing is a concern, participants may consider using a headset or earbuds or ask the host to turn on closed captioning.

Consider the use of a headset or earbuds if noise or hearing is a concern or ask the host to turn on closed captioning.

INFO

Participants who wish to speak may raise their hand using the reactions button or by raising their physical hand.

If you would like to indicate your desire to speak, you may use the ‘reactions’ button to raise your hand, or you may raise your physical hand.