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Court Rules
Judge Matt Lapin
Judge

Judge Matt Lapin

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

King County Superior Court

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Deposition Designations

Court-wide
  • As Directed in Pretrial Order

Filings >= 500 pages

Court-wide
  • Hand Delivery

Communication

Email

Chambers

lapin.court@kingcounty.gov
Scheduling
Phone

Clerk

206-296-7848
Phone

Clerk

206-296-9300
Status Inquiries
Phone
Court-wide

Chambers

Scheduling
Filters:

Document Filing Requirements2 rules

Filing RequirementsMandatory

In civil cases, all parties and counsel must work together to complete the Witness Examination Time Form.

Court's wording

In civil cases, Judge Lapin requires all parties and counsel to work together to complete the Witness Examination Time Form, and that form must be submitted together with other pre-trial memoranda 14 court days prior to trial.

Wa King Judge Lapin|SectionPre-trial requirements
Filing RequirementsImportant

If a party would like to request oral argument, the motion should be noted pursuant to the applicable court rules, simply noting in the upper right hand corner "Oral Argument Requested."

Document
Motion

Should include

  • Oral Argument Requested
Wa King Judge Lapin|SectionRequesting or setting oral argument for motions

Filing & Service rules

Electronic Filing Rules

All submissions should be made to Judge Lapin via e-working copies.

All submissions should be made to Judge Lapin via e-working copies.

Page 1 | Pre-trial requirements

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

The jointly completed Witness Examination Time Form must be submitted with the other pre-trial memoranda 14 court days before trial.

In civil cases, Judge Lapin requires all parties and counsel to work together to complete the Witness Examination Time Form, and that form must be submitted together with other pre-trial memoranda 14 court days prior to trial.

Page 1 | Pre-trial requirements

Deposition designations and objections, marked according to the court's guidelines, must be provided to the Court at least 7 days before trial along with other pre-trial materials.

If the parties intend to use depositions in trial, designations and objections shall be marked according to these guidelines. Deposition designations and objections shall be provided to the Court at least 7 days prior to trial, along with other pre-trial materials.

Page 1 | Pre-trial requirements

Trial memoranda, proposed jury instructions, and other trial submissions are due no later than 7 court days before trial.

All trial memoranda, proposed jury instructions, and other trial submissions are due no later than 7 court days prior to trial.

Page 1 | Pre-trial requirements

Courtesy Copy Requirements

No deliveries may be made directly to the courtroom unless arranged with the Bailiff; all deliveries must go to the Judges' Mailroom.

Unless arrangements have been made directly with Judge Lapin's Bailiff, no deliveries are to be made directly to the courtroom. All deliveries should be made to the Judges' Mailroom. (See mailing address above.)

Page 1 | No deliveries directly to the courtroom

Chambers Communication Rules

Dispositive motions must be scheduled by emailing the Bailiff (or calling if no email access) and are generally set on Friday mornings at 9, 10, or 11 am.

If you are setting a dispositive motion, you must e-mail the Bailiff and schedule time on Judge Lapin's calendar. If you do not have access to e-mail, please call the above number. Dispositive motions are generally set on Friday mornings (at 9 am, 10 am, or 11 am).

Page 1 | Requesting or setting oral argument for motions

Parties may not email Judge Lapin directly; all correspondence must be routed through the Bailiff.

Do not email Judge Lapin directly. All correspondence must go through the Bailiff.

Page 1 | Email

Hearings must be scheduled by phone or email at least 2 months before the requested hearing date.

Please call or email to schedule your hearing at least 2 months prior to the hearing date you would like to request.

Page 1 | Requesting or setting oral argument for motions

To obtain a hearing/trial CD, notify the Courtroom Clerk in advance or obtain it after the fact from the Clerk's Office copy center (206-296-7848), and lists of court-approved transcriptionists are available from the Clerk's Office.

If prior to the hearing or trial you know that you want a copy of the CD, notify the Courtroom Clerk, who will be able to provide the information needed at the end of the hearing. If at some time following the hearing or trial, you determine you need a copy of the CD, it may be obtained directly from the Clerk's Office copy center. The direct phone number is 206-296-7848. If you need to have a transcript created, a list of court approved transcriptionists is available from the Clerk's Office.

Page 1 | Court transcripts

For information about individual civil cases, contact the Clerk's Office main information desk at 206-296-9300.

Contact the Clerk's Office for information regarding individual civil cases.The main information desk can be reached by calling 206-296-9300.

Page 1 | Civil case information, forms, and documents

Contact the Court Clerk by email to get information on pre-numbering exhibits.

Please contact the Court Clerk by email to obtain information on pre-numbering exhibits.

Page 1 | Pre-trial requirements

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 44 rules apply across King County Superior Court. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Communication

All 15
  • Contact
    Email

    Parties must check with the Court before faxing or emailing documents or pleadings.

  • Contact
    Email to chambers

    Counsel/parties must jointly complete the Estimate of Witness Examinations form and email it to the bailiff at scott.court@kingcounty.gov as soon as possible.

  • Contact
    Email to chambers

    This policy governs only email communication with court staff and does not establish a preference for email over other forms of communication.

Filing Requirements

All 7
  • Applies to
    Estimate of witness examinations

    Counsel must confer to determine cross-examination time estimates for each party's witnesses and jointly prepare the form.

  • Applies to
    Estimate of witness examinations

    Please note that there are 5 hours in a full trial day and consider your witness exam totals, jury questions for the witnesses in civil cases, opening and closing arguments, voir dire, time for motions in limine, etc. when estimating the total trial length for your case.

  • Applies to
    Estimate of witness examinations

    If there are additional parties, each party should create and complete the required information for that party's witnesses.

Formatting

All 6

  • Documents must follow local court rules for pagination.

  • The opposing party must state its objections in a call-out box placed next to the highlighted designation being objected to.

  • The moving party must highlight its deposition designations in a single particular color (e.g., yellow).

E-Filing

All 5

  • New cases and additional documents may be filed online, by mail, or in person at the Clerk's Office.

  • Applies to
    Estimate of witness examinations

    The Estimate of Witness Examinations form must not be filed with the clerk's office; it is submitted to the bailiff by email instead.

  • Applies to
    Pleadings

    Parties may email the courtroom to ask whether the judge will accept pleadings, jury instructions, legal memoranda, and similar documents as email submissions, with acceptance at the judge's discretion.

More categories

View all King County Superior Court rules
About Judge Matt Lapin

Judge Matt Lapin serves on the King County Superior Court, Washington's trial court of general jurisdiction for King County, in a district division. The court handles a broad range of civil, criminal, and family matters.

Practitioners will find the judge's rules of conduct and general procedures in the published documents (lapin, lapin-rules-conduct.pdf).

Common questions about Judge Matt Lapin's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Matt Lapin?

No deliveries may be made directly to the courtroom unless arranged with the Bailiff; all deliveries must go to the Judges' Mailroom.

View ruleSource: page 1, section No deliveries directly to the courtroom

What must be included with witness examination time form filings before Judge Matt Lapin?

In civil cases, all parties and counsel must work together to complete the Witness Examination Time Form.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Pre-trial requirements

What must be included with motion filings before Judge Matt Lapin?

If a party would like to request oral argument, the motion should be noted pursuant to the applicable court rules, simply noting in the upper right hand corner "Oral Argument Requested."

View ruleSource: page 1, section Requesting or setting oral argument for motions

How may parties contact Judge Matt Lapin's chambers?

The rule lists email lapin.court@kingcounty.gov. Parties may not email Judge Lapin directly; all correspondence must be routed through the Bailiff.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Email

Is electronic filing required before Judge Matt Lapin?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. All submissions should be made to Judge Lapin via e-working copies.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Pre-trial requirements

What filing deadlines apply to trial memorandum, jury instructions, and trial submissions filings before Judge Matt Lapin?

Trial memoranda, proposed jury instructions, and other trial submissions are due no later than 7 court days before trial.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Pre-trial requirements
Complete rules summary for Judge Matt Lapin

If a party would like to request oral argument, the motion should be noted pursuant to the applicable court rules, simply noting in the upper right hand corner "Oral Argument Requested."

Parties may not email Judge Lapin directly; all correspondence must be routed through the Bailiff.

Contact the Court Clerk by email to get information on pre-numbering exhibits.

All submissions should be made to Judge Lapin via e-working copies.

Dispositive motions must be scheduled by emailing the Bailiff (or calling if no email access) and are generally set on Friday mornings at 9, 10, or 11 am.

Trial memoranda, proposed jury instructions, and other trial submissions are due no later than 7 court days before trial.

The jointly completed Witness Examination Time Form must be submitted with the other pre-trial memoranda 14 court days before trial.

In civil cases, all parties and counsel must work together to complete the Witness Examination Time Form.

Hearings must be scheduled by phone or email at least 2 months before the requested hearing date.

No deliveries may be made directly to the courtroom unless arranged with the Bailiff; all deliveries must go to the Judges' Mailroom.

To obtain a hearing/trial CD, notify the Courtroom Clerk in advance or obtain it after the fact from the Clerk's Office copy center (206-296-7848), and lists of court-approved transcriptionists are available from the Clerk's Office.

Deposition designations and objections, marked according to the court's guidelines, must be provided to the Court at least 7 days before trial along with other pre-trial materials.

For information about individual civil cases, contact the Clerk's Office main information desk at 206-296-9300.

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