Court of Appeals - Current Law

Article IV, State Constitution; RCW 2.06

The Court of Appeals is a non-discretionary appellate court; it must accept all appeals filed with it. Most cases appealed from superior courts go directly to the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals has authority to reverse (overrule), remand (send back to the lower court), modify, or affirm the decision of the lower court. The court decides each case after reviewing the transcript of the record in the superior court and considering the arguments of the parties. Generally, the court hears oral arguments in each case but it does not take live testimony. Decisions of the Court of Appeals are appealed to the Supreme Court. The court is divided into three divisions, each of which serves a specific geographic area of the state: Division I is located in Seattle; Division II is located in Tacoma; and Division III is located in Spokane.

Agency Mission

The Court of Appeals, pursuant to Article IV, Section 30 of the Washington State Constitution and Chapter 2.06 RCW, is the state's non-discretionary appellate court with authority to reverse (overrule), remand (send back to lower court), modify, or affirm the decisions of the lower courts. The court's mission remains one of providing an independent, accessible, and responsive forum for the just resolution of disputes.
Request 44,671,000
Net change from current biennium 2,463,000 Increase
Percent change from current biennium 5.8% Increase

Operating Budget: Summary

Appropriated Funds

2019-21 Appropriations Appropriated Funds Expenditures
Amount Estimated Balance   2017-19 Actual 2019-21 Estimated 2021-23 Proposed
41,946,000 General Fund - State 34,777,817 41,946,000 44,644,000
(262,000) State Building Construction Account - State 262,000 27,000
1,492,000 1,492,000 Pension Funding Stabilization Acct - State 1,477,000
43,438,000 1,230,000 Total Appropriated Funds 36,254,817 42,208,000 44,671,000

Non-Appropriated Funds

2019-21 Non-Appropriated Funds Expenditures
Amount Balance Non-Apropriated Funds 2017-19 Actual 2019-21 Estimated 2021-23 Proposed
Savings Incentive Account - Nonappropriated 11,212
Total Non-Appropriated Funds 11,212

Capital Budget: Summary

  Appropriated Funds Expenditures
Amount Estimated Balance   Actual Estimated Proposed
27,037 27,037 State Building Construction Account - State 248,019
27,037 27,037 Total Appropriated Funds 248,019

Operating Budget: Program Summary

Program Title Actual Estimated Proposed
Actual Estimated Estimated Proposed Proposed
Annual Total 18,349,022 20,968,653 8,250,857 22,270,000 22,374,000

Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium

Actual Estimated Proposed
Amount Percent Amount Percent Amount Percent
2,216,460 6.5% (7,046,520) (19.4%) 15,424,490 52.8%

Employment Summary

  Actual Estimated Proposed
  2018-19 Actual 2019-20 Estimated 2020-21 Estimated 2021-22 Proposed 2022-23 Proposed
FTE Staff Years 133.7 135.8 132.1 139.9 141.3