(1) Each district court shall designate one or more persons as
judge pro tempore who shall serve during the temporary absence,
disqualification, or incapacity of a district judge or to serve
as an additional judge for excess caseload or special set cases. The qualifications of a judge pro tempore shall be the same as
for a district judge, except that with respect to RCW 3.34.060(1), the person appointed need only be a registered voter
of the state. A district that has a population of not more than
ten thousand and that has no person available who meets the
qualifications under *RCW 3.34.060(2) (a) or (b), may appoint as
a pro tempore judge a person who has taken and passed the
qualifying examination for the office of district judge as is
provided by rule of the supreme court. A judge pro tempore may
sit in any district of the county for which he or she is
appointed. A judge pro tempore shall be paid the salary
authorized by the county legislative authority.
(2) For each day that a judge pro tempore serves in excess
of thirty days during any calendar year, the annual salary of the
district judge in whose place the judge pro tempore serves shall
be reduced by an amount equal to one-two hundred fiftieth of such
salary: PROVIDED, That each full time district judge shall have
up to fifteen days annual leave without reduction for service on
judicial commissions established by the legislature or the chief
justice of the supreme court. No reduction in salary shall occur
when a judge pro tempore serves:
(a) While a district judge is using sick leave granted in
accordance with RCW 3.34.100;
(b) While a district court judge is disqualified from
serving following the filing of an affidavit of prejudice;
(c) As an additional judge for excess case load or special
set cases; or
(d) While a district judge is otherwise involved in
administrative, educational, or judicial functions related to the
performance of the judge's duties: PROVIDED, That the
appointment of judge pro tempore authorized under subsection
(2)(c) and (d) of this section is subject to an appropriation for
this purpose by the county legislative authority.
(3) The legislature may appropriate money for the purpose of
reimbursing counties for the salaries of judges pro tempore for
certain days in excess of thirty worked per year that the judge
pro tempore was required to work as the result of service by a
judge on a commission as authorized under subsection (2) of this
section. No later than September 1 of each year, each county
treasurer shall certify to the administrator for the courts for
the year ending the preceding June 30, the number of days in
excess of thirty that any judge pro tempore was required to work
as the result of service by a judge on a commission as authorized
under subsection (2) of this section. Upon receipt of the
certification, the administrator for the courts shall reimburse
the county from money appropriated for that purpose.
[1996 c 16 § 1; 1994 c 18 § 1; 1993 c 330 § 1; 1986 c 161 § 4; 1984 c 258 § 302; 1984 c 258 § 19; 1983 c 195 § 2; 1981 c 331 § 9; 1961 c 299 § 22.]
NOTES:
*Reviser's note: RCW 3.34.060 was amended by 2002 c 136 § 1, deleting subsection (2)(b).
Severability -- 1986 c 161: See note following RCW 43.03.010.
Court Improvement Act of 1984 -- Effective dates -- Severability -- Short title -- 1984 c 258: See notes following RCW 3.30.010.
Legislative intent -- 1984 c 258 §§ 302-340: "It is the intent of the legislature to assure accountability, uniformity, economy, and efficiency in the collection and distribution by superior, district, and municipal courts of fees, fines, forfeitures, and penalties assessed and collected for violations of state, statutes, and county, city, and town ordinances." [1984 c 258 § 301.]
Court Congestion Reduction Act of 1981 -- Purpose -- Severability -- 1981 c 331: See notes following RCW 2.32.070.