SB 5836
In CommitteeSenate
Superior court judge/Skagit
Adding an additional superior court judge in Skagit county.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill adds a fifth superior court judge to Skagit County to help manage caseloads. It updates state law to reflect the increased number of judges, but only if the state provides dedicated funding by June 30, 2026.
- Increases the number of superior court judges in Skagit County from four to five.
- Amends RCW 2.08.063, the statute that sets the number of judges per county.
- Includes a funding condition: the change only takes effect if specific funding is appropriated by June 30, 2026, in the state’s main budget law (omnibus appropriations act).
- Adds a sunset clause: if funding is not provided by the deadline, the law becomes null and void.
Who is affected
- Residents of Skagit County — Residents of Skagit County will have access to one additional superior court judge, potentially reducing case backlogs and wait times for court hearings.
- Skagit County Superior Court — The Skagit County Superior Court will gain one additional judicial position, increasing its total judges from four to five.
- State of Washington (Budget and Personnel Offices) — State government must allocate funding for the new judge’s salary, office, and related operational costs; if funding is not secured by June 30, 2026, the change will not take effect.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (3)
Adding a fifth judge will reduce case backlogs and wait times for civil and criminal matters, improving access to timely justice — especially for low-income residents, victims, and defendants held in pretrial detention awaiting resolution.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (amending RCW 2.08.063 to increase Skagit judges from 4 to 5)Faster case resolution supports due process rights by reducing delays in criminal trials and civil hearings, which disproportionately harms vulnerable populations (e.g., incarcerated individuals, domestic violence survivors seeking protection orders).
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Overview and affected groups (Skagit County residents)The state’s commitment to fund the new judge’s salary and operations ensures Skagit County is not forced to divert local property tax revenue or delay other essential services to accommodate the new judicial position.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Fiscal Impact (state funding commitment)
Potential Concerns (2)
The bill imposes a strict funding deadline (June 30, 2026) with a sunsetting clause, creating uncertainty for Skagit County’s judicial planning and potentially delaying case processing improvements if funding is delayed or omitted from the budget — even if the need is urgent and well-documented.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2 (funding condition and sunset clause)The state must fund the full cost of one additional judge ($150K–$200K/year), but the bill does not require matching local funding or provide flexibility for counties to absorb costs if state funds are delayed — shifting administrative burden to Skagit County if funding falls short.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Fiscal Impact section (state funding requirement)
Who Is Most Affected
Residents of Skagit County benefit from reduced court delays and improved access to justice, especially those involved in civil or criminal cases — including low-income individuals, incarcerated pretrial defendants, and victims seeking timely relief.
The court gains capacity to reduce case backlog and improve judicial efficiency, but faces risk if state funding is delayed or omitted — potentially leaving the position unfilled despite statutory authorization.
State government incurs an annual cost of $150K–$200K and must allocate budget authority by June 30, 2026 — a modest fiscal outlay but one that sets precedent for judicial staffing funding conditions.
Attorneys and litigants in Skagit County benefit from faster docket resolution, but those unable to afford legal representation gain the most — as delays disproportionately impact unrepresented parties.
Local law enforcement and corrections agencies benefit from faster case resolution, which can reduce pretrial detention time and associated costs — though they gain no direct funding from the bill.