(a) GENERAL. The responsibility to set policy and to oversee the administration of the Court resides in the elected and appointed judges of the Court. The judges, as outlined in these rules, delegate authority to an Executive Committee, a Chief Presiding Judge, an Assistant Presiding Judge, and a Chief Administrative Officer. The judges retain final authority to set, modify or terminate policy or the execution of policy by the Executive Committee or any of the parties listed above through the appeal process set forth in LARLJ 0.2 APPEALS.

(b) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Executive Committee shall consist of five (5) judges: the Chief Presiding Judge and the Assistant Presiding Judge, and three (3) judges, one from each of the three Administrative Divisions, the Division Presiding Judge. The Chief Presiding Judge, Assistant Presiding Judge and each member of the Executive Committee shall serve a term of two (2) years, from January 1st through December 31st, or until a successor shall be elected. Due to the restructuring of the District Court, which will occur on January 1, 2003, the Executive Committee’s term for the year 2003 will begin October 18, 2002. The Executive Committee is responsible for the establishment of policies regarding the administrative operations of the Court.

(c) CHIEF PRESIDING JUDGE. The Chief Presiding Judge is given the duties set forth in GR 29; is responsible for the supervision of the business of the Court and for ensuring that the business of the Court is conducted in accordance with these rules; shall propose policy to the Executive Committee; shall carry out the policies set by the Executive Committee; shall supervise the Chief Administrative Officer; shall be responsible for general supervision of the current budget; shall be responsible for the preparation of the yearly proposed budget for the Court; and after approval of the Executive Committee, shall present the budget to the County Executive and County Council. Should the County Council modify the proposed budget, the Chief Presiding Judge shall thereafter formulate and recommend a final budget to the Executive Committee for approval.

(d) ASSISTANT PRESIDING JUDGE. The Assistant Presiding Judge shall assist the Chief Presiding Judge and shall serve as Acting Chief Presiding Judge during the temporary absence or disability of the Chief Presiding Judge.

(e) DIVISION PRESIDING JUDGE. Each of the Court’s three Administrative Divisions shall have a Division Presiding Judge who shall have the responsibilities and the authority delegated by Presiding Judge under GR 29.

(f) CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER. The Chief Administrative Officer, under the supervision of the Chief Presiding Judge, shall have responsibility and authority, subject to delegation to Division Directors where the Chief Administrative Officer deems appropriate, over the hiring, supervision, discipline, and termination of all non-judicial personnel, shall seek to achieve uniform court, administrative and personnel procedures and shall seek to achieve overall cost savings where appropriate through centralization of tasks. The Chief Administrative Officer shall serve at the pleasure of the Executive Committee.

(g) DIRECTOR OF PROBATION SERVICES. The Director of Probation Services, under the supervision of the Chief Presiding Judge, shall have responsibility and authority for operations of the Probation Department as well as hiring, training placement, discipline and termination of personnel. Responsibility for establishment of policies regarding the operations of Probation shall be placed with the Executive Committee. The Director of the Probation Services shall serve at the pleasure of the Executive Committee.

(h) DIVISION DIRECTORS. Directors shall have such responsibility and authority as the Chief Administrative Officer deems appropriate, over the hiring, supervision, discipline, and termination of all non-judicial personnel located in the King County District Court Division to which they are assigned. Division Directors shall be hired by the Chief Administrative Officer only with the concurrence of the majority of the judges in the affected Administrative Division, and may be terminated by the Chief Administrative Officer only with the concurrence of the Executive Committee. Directors assigned to the Office of the Presiding Judge shall be hired by the Chief Administrative Officer only with the concurrence of the Chief Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge and may be terminated by the Chief Administrative Officer only with the concurrence of the Executive Committee. Provided, either the Chief Administrative Officer or a judge involved in the concurrence process may appeal a decision not to hire a Division Director to the Executive Committee.

(Amended 3/30/3007)