Ordell v. Gaddis

This case concerns court commissioners and raises three main issues. First, can the superior court appoint commissioners pro tempore to sit in place of temporarily absent court commissioners who have been appointed pursuant to Const. art. 4, § 23 and RCW 2.24.010? Second, does Const. art. 4, § 23 limit each county to three court commissioners? Third, is a family law commissioner, appointed under RCW 26.12, a "commissioner" within the numerical limitation set by Const. art. 4, § 23?

The trial court held that the superior court had no authority to appoint pro tempore commissioners. Respondents…