Rule Proposed for Tracking Capital Filings

The Superior Court Special Proceedings Rules - Criminal apply whenever the death penalty may be (or has been) imposed. For instance, instead of one appointed counsel, the defendant must have two, each with at least five years of experience. SPRC 2.

To improve the tracking of which proceedings are covered, the Supreme Court is proposing that prosecutors be required to notify the Washington State Office of Public Defense whenever they file a notice of special sentencing in aggravated murder cases (RCW 10.95.040) and then when they decide whether or not they will seek the death penalty or the time for filing expires. Proposed New Rule SPRC 8. Comments on the proposed rule are due by April 30.