INTENT
In the early 1980s the concept of case processing time standards by which trial courts could gauge their performance began to develop. The Conference of State Court Administrators adopted standards in 1983 followed by the American Bar Association in 1984. In 1990 the National Center for State Courts and the Bureau of Justice Assistance released the Trial Court Performance Standards in which Standard 2.1, Case Processing, reads, in part: "The trial court establishes and complies with recognized guidelines for timely case processing . . ." In February 1989, the Board for Judicial Administration (BJA), in response to recommendations by the Court Management Council (CMC), formed the Case Processing Time Standards Committee. The Committee, composed of judges, clerks, administrators, and attorneys, developed standards which address the particular needs of the courts in Washington State. The intent of both the BJA and CMC is to provide the trial courts with advisory standards to assist the courts in developing internal goals that can and should be reached and maintained.
Definition of Time Frames Measured
Washington States case processing time standards address two phases in the life of a case:
Filing-to-Resolution Standards: The civil, domestic relations, probate, small claims and limited jurisdiction appeal filing-to-resolution time standards measure from the date of filing to the case resolution date by either trial verdict, notice of settlement or dismissal, or other dispositive action. Time during which a case is in a "suspended" status (e.g., awaiting arbitration, discretionary appeal, etc.) is excluded. The criminal and juvenile offender filing-to-resolution time standards measure from the date of filing in the instant court through the date of determination of the judgment whether by plea, verdict, or dismissal. Time during which a case is in a "suspended" status (e.g., discretionary appeal, out on warrant, etc.) is excluded.
Resolution-to-Completion Standards: Resolution-to-completion time standards measure the time following the resolution of the case to the actual completion of the case. For civil cases, "completion" occurs when papers have been filed stating the respective rights and claims of all parties to an action or suit (e.g., judgment, order of dismissal, or when a case is transferred to another jurisdiction for all subsequent adjudication and proceedings). For criminal cases, "completion" occurs with the filing of dispositive papers (e.g., judgment and sentence). For all cases, time during which a case is in a "suspended" status (e.g., out on warrant, appeal, etc.) is excluded.