(1) The organized crime advisory board shall have the authority, by a three-fourths vote at a regularly constituted meeting, to petition the Washington state supreme court for an order appointing a special inquiry judge as prescribed by this section. Such vote may be on its own motion or pursuant to a request from the prosecuting attorney of any county. In the event of such request from a prosecuting attorney the board shall vote on the question promptly. A petition filed under this section shall state the general crimes or wrongs to be inquired into and shall state the reasons why said crimes or wrongs are such that a statewide special inquiry judge should be authorized to investigate. The supreme court may order the appointment of a statewide special inquiry judge, in accordance with the petition, for a term of six calendar months. Upon petition by the special prosecutor, and with the approval of the majority of the members of the organized crime advisory board, the supreme court, by order, may extend the term of the statewide special inquiry judge for three months. The term of the statewide special inquiry judge may subsequently be extended in the same manner for additional three-month periods.

     (2) If the petition is granted, the supreme court shall designate a judge of a superior court to act as a special inquiry judge. The supreme court shall ensure that sufficient visiting judges are made available to the superior court from which the appointment is made in order to compensate for any loss of judicial time.

     (3) All of the information and data collected and processed by the organized crime advisory board and the petition filed with the supreme court shall be confidential and not subject to examination or publication pursuant to chapter 42.56 RCW, except as provided by rules of the supreme court of Washington in the case of the petition.

[2005 c 274 § 204; 1980 c 146 § 3.]

NOTES:

     Part headings not law -- Effective date -- 2005 c 274: See RCW 42.56.901 and 42.56.902.