Per GR 7(b) - Review and Comment (UPDATED 5/22/26): 

Benton / Franklin Counties Superior Court is distributing the proposed local court rules by posting them HERE on Benton/Franklin Counties website.  The same rules are also sent to the county prosecutor, the county clerk, a representative of the county public defender, and the local bar association (with a request that the association notify its members).

  • All comments on the proposal be submitted in writing to SCCourtManagement@co.benton.wa.us by JUNE 22, 2026. All comments received will be posted below.  
  •  After the comment period closes, the court may adopt, amend, or reject the proposal or take such other action as the court deems appropriate.
  • Comments last updated: 5.12.2026
    DATE COMMENT
    4.21.2026 LMR 1 – website should be on the website (after rules adopted) sections (B) and (C) only.   
    4.21.2026 LGR 11 - The rules state that an interpreter should be requested 2 weeks prior to trial...is noting the need for an interpreter in the Joint Pre-Trial Order considered notice of that? If not would it make sense to have trial readiness 2 weeks prior to trial so that we know we are going prior to having to request an interpreter? 
    4.23.2026 Local Juvenile Rule 1.8 - B and C were combined based on 2SHB 1205 with new language regarding the publication of Dependency or Termination of Parental rights proceedings and updates that the clerk of court is not responsible for publishing notice and puts the responsibility on the petitioner along with the cost.  This became effective January 01, 2026. 
    4.23.2026 Local Juvenile Rule 1.12 - A. Updated a change regarding juvenile offender matters will now have the bench copy be presented to Juvenile Legal Processing Unit and uploaded to jmotion for parties. 
    4.23.2026 Local Juvenile Rule 1.13 -  A. Due to separation of the Benton-Franklin Juvenile Court; updating contact information to be separated for the Legal Process unit in both respective counties. 3. Updated language to read to upload bench copies to jMotion.  Grammer correction. 
    4.23.2026 Local Juvenile Rule 2.3 - A. Updated name of the state department that occurred in June of 2018.  Corrected name of Department of Children, Youth, and Family Services.  DCYF 
    4.23.2026 Local Juvenile Rule 7.18 - B. 1. Updated to include language that the written reports are now uploaded to jMotion. 
    4.23.2026 Local Juvenile Rule 9.4 - B. Reports. Updated language to state in select proceedings, the guardian ad litem shall submit a written report.  Reports are not required or submitted by the guardian ad litem in all proceedings. 
    4.24.2026 Local General Rule 40 7 Local Guardian ad Litem Rule 5 - 

    Page 10 - LGR 40 - A - I think that "Information" should read "Informal"  

    Page 43 - VI(A)3: This section (A) is labeled as adult guardianships, but subsection (3) references minor conservatorships.  

      

    Page 44 - subsection C(1)a: Regarding GALs being "randomly selected." How are GALs "randomly selected"?  There should be a rotation to ensure fairness and accessibility. The provision of GAL names should not be a popularity contest or influenced by anything else. Further, providing "randomly selected" GAL names has the potential to result in an excessive workload and brings about significant conflict of interest concerns.
    4.29.2026 Local Management Rule 6 - 

    We respectfully submit the following comment regarding proposed Local Management Rule 6. 

      

    We note a potential ambiguity in proposed Local Management Rule 6(A)(1)(d), which requires that “[a]ll parties shall jointly respond within two (2) business days indicating which date(s) are acceptable.” The rule does not specify the event from which the two-day period runs. 

      

    From a calendaring and compliance perspective, it is unclear whether the response deadline runs from: (1) the date Court Administration sends the available dates, (2) the date of receipt of that communication, or (3) another event. Because the timing of email transmission and receipt may vary, the absence of a defined starting point from which to calculate the response period could lead to inconsistent interpretations and missed deadlines. 

     To promote clarity and uniform application, we suggest specifying the event from which the deadline runs. For example: 

     “All parties shall jointly respond within two (2) business days after receipt of email from Court Administration containing available dates …” 
    We believe clarifying this point will assist practitioners in accurately calculating deadlines and support efficient scheduling.  On behalf of Aderant Milana, a legal docketing and calendaring software provider serving practitioners and institutions nationwide, we appreciate the opportunity to provide this comment.  Thank you for your consideration.
    5.8.2026  Special Set Local Court rule:  under 4(d) on that page, we could add that they must give at least a week or so notice to request to strike unless there is an emergent circumstance, in which they would then need to provide the reasoning for cancelation.  - 5.12.26 follow up:  add that any requests to continue/strike without prior approval will require that request to be made at the time of the schedule special set.
       
    5.11.2026 Trial Priority/Readiness Local Court Rule:  "Subject to further court order." 
       
       
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  • PROPOSED 2026 BENTON & FRANKLIN COUNTIES LOCAL COURT RULES