OLYMPIA, Wash. – Hoping to alleviate growing case backlogs and public safety concerns, Rep. Gloria Mendoza (R-Grandview) has introduced House Bill 2412 to add a ninth Superior Court judge in Yakima County.
“I’ve been working closely with Yakima County commissioners and members of the court. Our judges are overwhelmed, and the backlog is real,” Rep. Mendoza said in a release by Washington State House Republicans. “With only eight judges handling thousands of cases, adding a ninth judge will help ensure cases are heard promptly, and people are not kept in the system longer than necessary.”
Yakima County Superior Court has operated with eight judges for nearly three decades. A Washington State Judicial Branch report indicates Yakima County is among the fastest-growing counties in the state, with court filings climbing significantly.
The Administrative Office of the Courts reports rising filings in guardianships, civil protection orders, juvenile matters and criminal cases, Mendoza added.
“If judges aren’t always able to hear cases soon enough, that can mean people are held longer than they should be,” Mendoza said. “That’s not fair, especially if the person being held is innocent of the charges. Justice delayed is justice denied.”
The Judicial Branch estimates the cost of adding a ninth judge at about $220,000 per year, with expenses shared by the state and Yakima County.
House Bill 2412 has been referred to the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee for consideration.
