(1) The court unification task force must include the following voting members:
(a) Two legislative members, one from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. Of the members appointed under this subsection (1)(a), one member must be the current chair of the civil rights and judiciary committee of the house of representatives;
(b) Two legislative members, one from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate. Of the members appointed under this subsection (1)(b), one must be the current chair of the law and justice committee of the senate;
(c) Three persons representing cities, appointed by the association of Washington cities as follows: (i) One person representing a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more inhabitants; (ii) one person representing a municipality with a population of 100,000 or more inhabitants, but fewer than 500,000 inhabitants; and (iii) one person representing a municipality with a population of fewer than 100,000 inhabitants;
(d) One person who is an elected county councilmember representing counties, appointed by the Washington state association of counties;
(e) One person representing court clerks, appointed by the Washington state association of county clerks;
(f) 14 members from the judicial branch, appointed by the chief justice in consultation with the board of judicial administration, supreme court, court of appeals, superior court judges association, association of Washington superior court administrators, Washington association of juvenile court administrators, district and municipal court judges association, district and municipal court management association, misdemeanant probation association, and access to justice board. Of the members appointed under this subsection (1)(f): (i) Three members must be appointed to represent the superior court judges association, with at least one member representing western Washington and at least one member representing eastern Washington; and (ii) three members must be appointed to represent the district and municipal court judges association, with at least one member representing western Washington and at least one member representing eastern Washington;
(g) One person appointed by and representing the tribal state court consortium;
(h) One person appointed by and representing the office of public defense;
(i) One person appointed by and representing the office of civil legal aid;
(j) One person appointed by and representing the administrative office of the courts;
(k) One person appointed by and representing the office of administrative hearings;
(l) One person appointed by and representing the Washington state bar association;
(m) One person appointed by and representing the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys;
(n) One person appointed by and representing the Washington state paralegal association;
(o) One person employed by and representing a community-based nonprofit organization that provides advocacy and support services, but not including legal representation, to court-involved individuals;
(p) One person appointed by and representing the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs;
(q) One person appointed by and representing an organization that represents survivors of gender-based violence;
(r) Two people who have lived experience as a litigant in a civil court matter and who are appointed by the office of civil legal aid. Of the members appointed under this subsection (1)(r): (i) One person must be from one of the five largest counties; and (ii) the other person must be someone who was unrepresented in their civil legal matter; and
(s) One person who has lived experience as a formerly incarcerated person appointed by the office of public defense.
(2) The court unification task force may include the following members:
(a) One person may be appointed by the governor within existing resources to represent the governor's office as a nonvoting member of the task force; and
(b) One person may be appointed by the attorney general within existing resources to represent the attorney general's office as a nonvoting member of the task force.
(3) The task force shall have two cochairs. One cochair must be the chair of the civil rights and judiciary committee of the house of representatives and the other cochair must be the chief justice of the supreme court. The cochairs shall set the agenda and provide leadership and direction for the task force. The cochairs shall request the Washington state bar association to provide staff support to the task force.
(4) Members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses. Legislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Reimbursement for nonlegislative members is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW. To ensure that the task force has diverse and inclusive representation of those affected by its work, task force members, including work group members, whose participation in the task force may be hampered by financial hardship may be compensated as provided in RCW 43.03.220.
[ 2026 c 199 s 3.]
Notes:
Findings—Intent—2026 c 199: See note following RCW 2.78.010.