Court of appeals vacancies

AN ACT Relating to requiring senate confirmation of gubernatorial 1
appointments to vacancies on the court of appeals; and amending RCW 2
2.06.080, 43.06.092, and 43.06.094. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 2.06.080 and 1969 ex.s. c 221 s 8 are each amended 5
to read as follows: 6
(1) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a judge of the court, 7
the governor shall appoint a person to ((hold)) the office subject to 8
confirmation by the senate as provided in this section.9
(2) If the appointment is made during a regular legislative 10
session, the senate must hold the vote to confirm or reject the 11
appointment prior to the adjournment of the session.12
(3) If the appointment is made during a special session or while 13
the legislature is not in session, the senate must hold the vote to 14
confirm or reject the appointment at the earlier of either a special 15
session convened for the purpose of holding the vote or the next 16
regularly scheduled legislative session following the appointment.17
(4) An affirmative vote by at least two-thirds of all members 18
elected to the senate is required to confirm an appointee.19
(5) An appointee who is confirmed by the senate shall hold the 20
office until the election and qualification of a judge to fill the 21
H-1234.1
HOUSE BILL 1929
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Abell, Couture, Marshall, Chase, Barnard, Keaton,
and Griffey
Read first time 02/10/25. Referred to Committee on Civil Rights &
Judiciary.
p. 1 HB 1929
vacancy, which election shall take place at the next succeeding 1
general election and the judge so elected shall hold the office for 2
the remainder of the unexpired term. 3
(6) An appointee who is rejected by the vote of the senate may 4
not be reappointed to the same office for a period of at least two 5
calendar years from the date of the senate vote.6
Sec. 2. RCW 43.06.092 and 1981 c 338 s 2 are each amended to 7
read as follows: 8
(1) ((Any)) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of 9
this section, any gubernatorial appointee subject to senate 10
confirmation shall continue to serve unless rejected by a vote of the 11
senate. An appointee who is rejected by a vote of the senate shall 12
not be reappointed to the same position for a period of one year from 13
termination of service. 14
(2) Any person appointed by the governor to fill the unexpired 15
term of an appointment subject to senate confirmation must also be 16
confirmed by the senate. 17
(3) This section does not apply to gubernatorial appointees to 18
fill judicial vacancies as provided in RCW 2.06.080.19
Sec. 3. RCW 43.06.094 and 1981 c 338 s 1 are each amended to 20
read as follows: 21
Gubernatorial appointees subject to senate confirmation, other 22
than those who serve at the governor's pleasure and other than those 23
appointed to fill judicial vacancies as provided for in RCW 2.06.080, 24
may not be removed from office without cause by the governor prior to 25
confirmation except upon consent of the senate as provided for by the 26
rules of the senate. 27
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p. 2 HB 1929