Summary Judgment/Over-Ten-Minute Hearings

• BEGINNING 6/26/2026 - PLEASE SEE COURT'S MEMO AT:  MEMORANDUM/NOTICE RE: BENTON CIVIL DOCKETS
• Motions and Proceedings. See Local Civil Rule 56
• Confirmation by the Moving Party. Per LCR 56(A)(3) -In the event the moving party unreasonably refuses to continue the case, or the opposing party unreasonably is not prepared for the hearing, terms may be assessed. The moving party shall confirm with the Clerk that the motion will be heard on the date set during the time periods set forth in any rules or process.
  • The maximum for such motions may be changed by resolution of the judges. The moving party shall specify with particularity the documentary evidence, including depositions, on which the motion is based.
• Confirmation of Summary Judgment and Over-Ten-Minute Hearings. The moving party shall confirm with the clerk that summary judgment and over-ten-minute hearings will be heard on the date set during the following time periods:
  • Summary judgment and over-ten-minute hearings shall be confirmed in Benton County no sooner than Friday at 8:00 am and no later than Monday noon the week preceding the date the motion is noted for hearing. [from Friday 8:00 am to Monday 12:00 pm] Please see example below:

BENTON COUNTY:

• If Friday is a holiday, the deadline is moved to Thursday.
• If Monday is a holiday, the deadline is moved to Tuesday by 12:00 pm.

Summary judgment and over-ten-minute hearings shall be confirmed in Franklin County no sooner than Wednesday at 8:30 am and no later than Friday noon the week preceding the week in which the motion is noted for hearing. [from Wednesday 8:30 am to Friday 12:00 pm] Please see example below:

FRANKLIN COUNTY:

• If any of the days for confirming are a holiday, the deadline is moved to the next judicial day at the same time.

Confirmations may be by telephone, or by e-mail to: 

• Franklin County Clerk:  civilclerk@franklincountywa.gov

Per Local Court Rule 56(A)(4): The Clerk shall not allow more than two (2) Summary Judgment hearings to be confirmed for any one date. If there are two Summary Judgement matters confirmed for a date, only one (1) Over Ten matter shall be set. If a hearing date has only one (1) Summary Judgement matter set, the Clerk may set no more than two (2) Over Ten matters to that hearing date. No Summary Judgment and Over Ten docket shall have more than three (3) total matters set for hearing.

A moving party contacting the clerk to confirm a summary judgment for a date for which the maximum number of summary judgments and over-ten- minute hearings have previously been confirmed may continue the hearing to the next reasonably available setting and provide notice of the continuance to the other parties in the action and shall re-confirm the continued setting in accordance with the above processes. Twenty-eight (28) days’ notice is not required for setting a new hearing hereunder. The new hearing date may be after the last date specified for filing dispositive motions in the Civil Case Schedule Order, but in no event less than fourteen (14) days before trial.

• Argument Limitations.  Argument on the civil docket shall be limited to 30 minutes per case. 
• Continuance After Confirmation. Once confirmed, no summary judgment hearing shall be continued without permission of the presiding Judge, and the moving party must appear at the docket.