In re Appointment of Special Deputy Prosecuting Attorney

*779 ¶ 1 This case has its genesis in a dispute between the Franklin County Superior Court judges and the Franklin County clerk concerning the move to electronic court files. At issue is whether the Franklin County Superior Court judges validly issued an order of appointment under RCW 36.27.030, thereby securing their own special deputy prosecuting attorney to pursue a separate civil suit. For the reasons discussed below, we hold that the order is invalid; while the judges are free to sue the clerk, they must do so at their own expense.

*780 FACTS

¶ 2 In 2015, the Administrative Office of the Courts…