Pacific and Wahkiakum Counties Superior Court Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

The party requesting an interpreter must notify Court Administration 48 hours before any change to a hearing date that requires an interpreter.

It shall be the requesting party's responsibility to notify Court Administration 48 hours before any change of hearing date(s) that require an interpreter.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

Counsel must call the Court Administrator’s Office in advance to schedule an ex parte presentation.

Counsel shall call the Court Administrator’s Office in advance to schedule presentations.

CRITICAL

Counsel for an indigent party must notify the Court Administrator’s Office about hearings requiring an interpreter, and Court Administration must receive at least 48 hours’ notice before a hearing requiring an interpreter is stricken.

It shall be the responsibility of the indigent party’s counsel to notify the Court Administrator’s Office of any hearings scheduled that require an interpreter. Court Administration must be notified at least 48 hours before any hearing to be stricken, requiring an interpreter.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

With court approval, a motion or hearing may be held remotely or on a non-motion day; remote hearings are limited to matters without testimony or significant oral argument, and the request must be emailed at least five business days before the hearing.

With approval of the court, motions and hearings may be heard by remote conference or set on days other than motion days. Remote hearings may be approved only if there will be no testimony or significant oral argument. Request for consideration of a remote appearance must be sent by email to the Court Administrator’s Office at least five business days before any scheduled hearing date.

CRITICAL

The person requesting an interpreter must arrange for the interpreter’s presence at hearings by contacting the Court Administrator’s Office.

In all cases where an interpreter is required, it shall be the responsibility of the person requesting an interpreter to make arrangements to have an interpreter present at hearings by contacting the Court Administrator’s Office.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

An electronic, unnumbered, uncited set of proposed jury instructions in Word format must be emailed to Court Administration.

1. Email Court Administration an electronic copy containing an unnumbered, uncited set of the proposed instructions in Word format.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Submit the remote-appearance request to Court Administration by email for approval.

Submit the request to Court Administration for approval: courtadmin@co.pacific.wa.us

WARNING

Parties must work with the Clerk to verify the numbering of proposed exhibits.

Parties shall work with the Clerk to verify the numbering of their proposed exhibits.

WARNING

A Guardian Ad Litem may communicate privately with the judicial officer only for the listed purposes, including a life-protecting emergency.

During the pendency of a case, the Guardian Ad Litem shall communicate privately with the judicial officer only for purposes of obtaining special instructions from the judicial officer as to the scope of the Guardian Ad Litem's investigation, to communicate an agreement of the parties, to present agreed orders, to obtain an ex parte restraining order or ex parte contempt show cause order for the protection of the Guardian Ad Litem's client, to get access to sealed or confidential court files, or in an emergency to protect the life of the Guardian Ad Litem's client.

WARNING

The Guardian Ad Litem should notify the parties or their counsel of private communications and their content within a reasonable period.

In all such cases, the Guardian Ad Litem should notify the parties or their counsel of such communications and the content within a reasonable period.

WARNING

Attorneys should not seek ex parte orders without notice to opposing counsel when that counsel has appeared formally or informally.

Attorneys should not ask the court for ex parte orders without notice to opposing counsel if counsel has appeared formally or informally.

WARNING

If the trial’s allocated time will be inadequate, the parties must promptly notify the Court Administrator’s Office and state how much time is needed.

If it becomes apparent that the time allocated for a trial will not be adequate to complete the trial, the parties shall promptly notify the Court Administrator’s Office of that fact and of the time necessary to complete the trial.

WARNING

Before the jury is empaneled, counsel must notify the trial judge which record portions require rulings and identify other record-reading matters needing resolution.

Counsel shall notify the trial judge before the jury is empaneled of those portions of the record upon which the trial judge will be asked to rule and any other matters relating to the reading of the record that need to be resolved before trial.

WARNING

At the outset of trial, the parties must advise the court which exhibits have been stipulated for admission.

At the outset of the trial, the parties shall advise the court as to which exhibits have been stipulated for admission.

INFO

A guardian or conservator may ask Court Administration for periodic review without oral argument or appearance; if granted, the review may be rescheduled and an unanticipated objection may require an appearance.

Waiver of hearing. A guardian and/or conservator may request, through court Administration that periodic review be considered without oral argument or appearance. If such a request is granted, the review may be rescheduled and appearance required if there is an unanticipated objection to the report on the hearing date.

INFO

The Notice of Digital Exhibit Declaration form is available on the Superior Court website or by contacting the court or Clerk’s office.

The Notice of Digital Exhibit Declaration form can be found on the Superior court website or by contacting the court or Clerk’s office.

INFO

Parties may contact the court for instructions on uploading a digital exhibit bench copy.

Parties may contact the court for instructions on how to upload a digital exhibit bench copy.

INFO

Emergency matters may be presented at any time and may be presented to a Judge Pro Tem or Court Commissioner if the court is unavailable.

Emergency matters may be presented at any time. They may be presented to a Judge Pro Tem or a Court Commissioner if the court is unavailable.

INFO

Parties may skip the trial-setting appearance if they provide the Court Administrator with their unavailable dates before the hearing.

PARTIES DO NOT NEED TO APPEAR FOR TRIAL SETTING IF THEY HAVE PROVIDED THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR WITH A LIST OF THE UNAVAILABILITY DATES BEFORE THIS HEARING.

INFO

Contact Court Administration to schedule terminal access to the law library’s online resources.

Contact Court Administration to schedule a date and time for terminal access.