Updated: April 15, 2021

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  • Pursuant to court order, the Washington State Bar Association notifies members and the public of proposed court rules that are available for comment. They are posted to this page.
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  • Please send comments by either U.S. mail to P.O. Box 40929, Olympia, WA 98504-0929, or by email to supreme@courts.wa.gov.

Comments due April 30, 2021

On April 1, 2020, the Court issued the following Rule Orders

Topic

Rule(s)

Withdrawal by Attorney

CR 71

On Dec. 3, 2020, the Court issued the following Rule Orders

Topic

Rule(s)

New Rules for Discipline and Incapacity (RDI), Rescission of Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct (ELC), Enforcement of Limited Practice Officer Conduct (ELPOC), and Enforcement of Limited License Legal Technician Conduct (ELLLTC) and various Conforming Amendments.

New Rules for Discipline and Incapacity (RDI), GR 1, Rescission of Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct (ELCs), Enforcement of Limited Practice Officer Conduct (ELPOCs), and Enforcement of Limited License Legal Technician Conduct (ELLLTCs), and Conforming Amendments to: GR 12.4, 12.5, 24, RPC 1.0B, 1.6, 1.15A, 5.4, 5.6, 5.8, 8.1, 8.4, 8.5, LLLT RPC 1.0B, 1.15A, 5.4, 5.8, 8.4, LPO RPC 1.0, 1.8, 1.10, 1.12A, APR 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, APR 15 Procedural Regulations 6, 22.1, 23, 24.1, 24.2, 25.1, 25.5, 28, New Suggested Rules APR 29 and APR 30

Access to Family Law and Guardianship

GR 22

Certifying Professional Guardians and Conservators

GR 23

Council on Public Defense's Indigent Defense Appellate Performance Guidelines

Standards Certification of Compliance for CrR 3.1, CrRLJ 3.1, and JuCR 9.2

Non-Profit and Court-Annexed Limited Legal Service Programs

RPC 6.5

On Dec. 11, 2020, the Court issued the following Rule Orders

Topic

Rule(s)

Amended New Rules for Discipline and Incapacity (RDI), Rescission of Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct (ELCs), Enforcement of Limited Practice Officer Conduct (ELPOCs), and Enforcement of Limited License Legal Technician Conduct (ELLLTCs) and various Conforming Amendments

AMENDED ORDER — New Rules for Discipline and Incapacity (RDI), GR 1, Rescission of Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct (ELCs), Enforcement of Limited Practice Officer Conduct (ELPOCs), and Enforcement of Limited License Legal Technician Conduct (ELLLTCs), and Conforming Amendments to: GR 12.4, 12.5, 24, RPC 1.0B, 1.6, 1.15A, 5.4, 5.6, 5.8, 8.1, 8.4, 8.5, LLLT RPC 1.0B, 1.15A, 5.4, 5.8, 8.4, LPO RPC 1.0, 1.8, 1.10, 1.12A, APR 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, APR 15 Procedural Regulations 6, 22.1, 23, 24.1, 24.2, 25.1, 25.5, 28, New Suggested Rules APR 29 and APR 30

On Jan. 8, 2021, the Court issued the following Rule Orders

Topic

Rule(s)

Mandatory Continuing Legal Education

APR 11

Amendments to the Admission to Practice Rules (APR) — LLLT

APR 4, 5, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 28 Appendix 28

Comments due June 14, 2021

On April 8, 2021, the Court issued the following Rule Orders

Topic

Rule(s)

Courthouse Facilitators

GR 27

Comments due July 1, 2021

On April 8, 2021, the Court issued the following Rule Orders

Topic

Rule(s)

Monetary Penalty Schedule for Infractions

IRLJ 6.2

Amendments to the Civil Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (CRLJ) and to the Evidence Rules (ER)

CRLJ 17, 56, 60, and ER 413

Comments due July 30, 2021

On April 8, 2021, the Court issued the following Rule Orders

Topic

Rule(s)

Informal Domestic Relations Trial (IDRT)

New GR 40

Comments due April 30, 2022

On April 8, 2021, the Court issued the following Rule Orders

Topic

Rule(s)

Amendments to the Rules of Appellate Procedure (RAP)

RAP 5.3, 10.2, 10.10

Task Force on the Escalating Cost of Civil Litigation

New CR 3.1, 16, 26, 77

Rules Effective Upon Publication

Court Rules that have been adopted and will be effective upon publication are listed below: 

Topic(s)Rule(s)Date Ordered 

Civil Arrests

GR 38

April 1, 2020

Respect for Rights of Third Person

RPC 4.4 [Comment 4]

April 1, 2020

Nonmember Lawyer Licenses to Practice Law

APR 8

April 1, 2020

Technical Correction - Content of Brief

RAP 10.3(h)

April 1, 2020

Technical Correction - Waiver of Fees and Charges in Civil Matters

GR 34

April 1, 2020

Pleas

CrR 4.2(g), CrRLJ 4.2(g), and JuCR 7.7

July 8, 2020

Commencement of Action

CR 3

July 8, 2020

Monetary Penalty Schedule for Infractions

IRLJ 6.2

July 8, 2020

Suspension of a Provision for LLLT Program

APR 28

Aug. 6, 2020 

Paralegal Certification Examination Requirement

APR 3, APR 5

Sept. 9, 2020

Pro Bono Status 

APR 1, APR 3, and GR 24

Oct. 7, 2020

Suggested Amendments to Rules of Appellate Procedure (RAPs), NEW RAP 18.17 and RAP Forms

RAP 4.2, 4.3, 10.4, 10.7, 10.8, 10.10(b), 12.4, 13.4, 13.5(c), 13.7(e), 16.7(c), 16.10(d), 16.16(e), 16.17, 16.21(c), 16.22, 17.4(g), 18.13A(h), 18.14(c), NEW 18.17, RAP Forms: 3, 4, 6, 9, 17, 18, 20, and 23

Dec. 3, 2020

Suggested Amendments to various General Rules (GRs), Criminal Rules (CrRs), Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (CrRLJs, IRLJs, and RALJs), Juvenile Court Rules (JuCRs), and Superior Court Special Proceedings Rules (SPRs).

GR 13, GR 30, CrR 2.2, CrR 2.3, CrR 3.2.1, CrRLJ 2.1 CrRLJ 2.3, CrRLJ 3.2.1, CrRLJ 3.6, IRLJ 6.7, RALJ 6.3.1, JuCR 7.3, and SPR 98.16W

Dec. 3, 2020

Remote Recording

GR 11.3

Dec. 3, 2020

Team Interpreting 

New GR 11.4

Dec. 3, 2020

Pleas - Written Statement 

CrR 4.2(g)

Dec. 3, 2020

AMENDED Remote Interpreting 

AMENDED ORDER: GR 11.3

Dec. 11, 2020

Suggested Amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPCs)

RPC 5.5, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5

Jan. 8, 2021

Suggested Amendments to the Limited License Legal Technician Rules of Professional Conduct (LLLT RPCs)

LLLT RPC 1.0B, 1.5, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5

Jan. 8, 2021

Special Conflicts of Interest for Former and Current Government Officers and Employees RPC 1.11 [Comment 2]April 8, 2021