Updated: June 23, 2021

Feedback Requested

  • 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.
  • To read the proposed rules in full, click on the rule to be taken to the Washington Court's website.
  • 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 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 29, 2021

On Dec. 11, 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.

 

Per Order No. 25700-A-1344, the Court has extended the comment period for an additional 90 days to July 29, 2021.

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

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

Comments Due Sept. 30, 2021

On June 3, 2021, the Court issued the following rule orders

Topic

Rule(s)

Jury Selection by Video Conference 

New GR 40

Presence of the Defendant

CrR 3.4

Trial by Jury or by the Court

CR 39

Rules Effective Upon Publication

An archive of the disposition of past proposed rules can be found on the Washington Courts website.

Topic(s)Rule(s)Date Ordered 

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
Court of Appeals and Court Recovery Task Force Appellate Committee Suggested Amendments to Rules of Appellate ProcedureRAP 6.3, 9.7, and New RAP 6.4

June 4, 2021

Organization as a Client and Declining or Terminating RepresentationRPC 1.13, Cmt. [4] and RPC 1.16, New Cmt. [16]

June 4, 2021

 

(effective Sept. 1, 2021)

Certifying Professional Guardians and ConservatorsGR 23

June 4, 2021

 

(effective Sept. 1, 2021)

Standards for Indigent Defense

Standard 14, CrR 3.1 stds., CrRLJ 3.1 stds., JuCR 9.2 stds., and MPR 2.1 stds.

June 4, 2021

 

(effective Sept. 1, 2021)

Mandatory Continuing Legal Education

APR 11

June 4, 2021

 

(effective Sept. 1, 2021)

Remission of Legal Financial ObligationsNew GR 39

June 4, 2021

 

(effective TBD)

CommunicationRPC 1.4

June 4, 2021

 

(effective Sept. 1, 2021)

Nonprofit and Court-Annexed Limited Legal Service Programs RPC 6.5

June 4, 2021

 

(effective Sept. 1, 2021)