Kitsap Review

Kitsap County Superior Court issued the following announcement on March 31.

Given the significant number of identifies and projected cases of the disease in Washington, the severity of the risk posed to the public and staff, the recommendations of the Kitsap Public Health District, Governor Inslee’s March 23, 2020 “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” Order, and the authority granted by Supreme Court Orders No. 25700-B-602 ¶1 (March 4, 2020) and No. 25700-B-607 at ¶25 (amended Mar. 20, 2020), additional immediate action by the Kitsap County Superior Court and Kitsap County District Court is required.

NOW, THEREFOR, it is hereby -

ORDERED that effective immediately and until further Order of the Courts -

Precious Orders. All previous Emergency Administrative Orders remain in full effect.

• Signatures. In Addition to General Rule 30, digital signatures shall be authorize in all proceedings for the signing of all pleadings, motions, informations, criminal complaints, and affidavits of probable  cause in support on information and criminal complaints, declarations, and orders. Digital signatures may be made by a judge, commissioner, party, witness, law enforcement officer, or attorney.
• Digital Signature Definition. “Digital Signature” means a handwritten signature of an individual or  third party where the signatory conveys his or her permission to the third party to sign a document on his or her behalf in person, telephonically, by facsimile, email other similar electronic means of communication providing evidence of transmission
• “Third Party Signature” means a handwritten signature made by an authorized third party where the signatory conveys his or her permission to the third party to sign a document on his or her behalf in person, telephonically, by facsimile, email other similar electronic means of communication providing evidence of transmission, and that permission is reflected on the signature page by the third party.
• Third Party Permission Verbiage. Where a third party signs on behalf of another person, language substantially similar to the following shall be written directly under the third party’s signature where the signatory would have signed –                                                                                                                                                                                            “Signed by counsel for [defendant, plaintiff, etc.] after receiving permission from [defendant, plaintiff, etc.]”                                                                                                                Kitsap County Superior Court and Kitsap County District Court remain open

Original source can be found here.