Court Rules
Judge

Judge Elizabeth J. Berns

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

King County Superior Court

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Jury Instructions

  • 1 copy • Email
  • Email

All filings

Court-wide
  • Chambers Drop Off

Deposition Designations

Court-wide
  • Email • As Directed In Pretrial Order

Filings >= 500 pages

Court-wide
  • Hand Delivery

Communication

Email
Court-wide

Chambers

scott.court@kingcounty.gov
Email
Court-wide

Chambers

name.court]@kingcounty.gov
Scheduling
Email
Court-wide

Chambers

Scheduling
Phone
Court-wide

Chambers

SchedulingEmergenciesTechnical Issues
No status inquiries
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingProposed OrdersExhibitsBinders/TabsTRO/InjunctionCourtroom Conduct

Document Format Requirements2 rules

Formatting

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

All proposed orders should be submitted in MS Word format.

Summary: Proposed orders must be submitted in MS Word format so the judge can e-sign and e-serve them.

Required Format

DOCX

Wa King Judge Berns|SecRequests - General information
Formatting

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?

The official “Clerk’s Copy” exhibit binders for civil cases shall be separated by numbered tabs (per the Pre-Trial Order) and will be marked prior to the start of trial by the courtroom clerk.

Summary: In civil cases, Clerk's Copy exhibit binders must be separated by numbered tabs per the Pre-Trial Order and will be marked by the courtroom clerk before trial begins.

Wa King Judge Berns|SecExhibits - civil cases

Document Filing Requirements2 rules

Filing Requirements

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?

Objections to proposed Findings and Conclusions should be presented to the court in writing following the conclusion of the trial.

Summary: Objections to proposed Findings and Conclusions must be presented to the court in writing after the trial concludes.

Document Type

Objections To Proposed Findings Conclusions

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Wa King Judge Berns|SecPresentation of findings and conclusions
Filing Requirements

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?

The Findings of Fact should be limited to a statement of the essential ultimate facts and Conclusions of Law should be limited to the essential legal conclusions.

Summary: Findings of Fact must be limited to essential ultimate facts and Conclusions of Law to essential legal conclusions.

Document Type

Proposed Findings Conclusions

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Wa King Judge Berns|SecPresentation of findings and conclusions

Filing & Service rules

Electronic Filing Rules

Working papers must be submitted through the Clerk's Office Electronic Portal after e-filing; working copies are not accepted by email.

All working papers should be submitted by using the Clerk’s Office Electronic Portal submission, after e-filing your documents. Judge Berns does not accept working copies by email.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.

Page 1 | Requests - General information

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Proposed jury instructions must be served and filed before commencement of trial, per the local rules.

Proposed jury instructions shall be served and filed prior to commencement of trial, per the local rules.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.

Page 1 | Jury Instructions (CR 51 and CRR 6.15)

In non-jury cases, proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law must be submitted promptly after the trial or hearing concludes.

In non-jury cases, counsel/parties shall submit proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law promptly following the conclusion of the trial or hearing.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.

Page 1 | Presentation of findings and conclusions

Service and Proof of Service Rules

Orders are e-signed and e-served electronically, and parties are responsible for signing up for e-service through the Clerk's Office.

Judge Berns will then e-sign and e-serve orders electronically. Parties are responsible for signing up for e-service, through the Clerk’s Office.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.

Page 1 | Requests - General information

Courtesy Copy Requirements

An uncited set of jury instructions (Instruction No. ______, no proposing-party identification) with a cover page entitled 'Court's Instructions to the Jury' must be provided to the court, emailed to the bailiff in Word format.

Additionally, counsel/parties shall provide the court with one uncited copy (i.e., “Instruction No. ______”) with no identification as to the proposing party. The copy should also include a cover page entitled “Court’s Instructions to the Jury.” The court’s copy should be emailed to the bailiff and submitted in Word format.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.

Page 1 | Jury Instructions (CR 51 and CRR 6.15)

Proposed cited jury instructions must be provided as one hard copy and one electronic copy, numbered and identified by proposing party with supporting annotations, with the court's copy emailed to the bailiff in Word format.

Counsel or parties shall provide one hard copy and one electronic copy of the proposed cited instructions, numbered and identified as to proposing party, along with supporting annotations. The court’s copy should be emailed to the bailiff and submitted in Word format.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.

Page 1 | Jury Instructions (CR 51 and CRR 6.15)

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

    Time estimates on the form must be expressed in tenths of hours and the form must be totaled once completed.

  • Applies to
    Estimate of witness examinations

    Trial length estimates must assume 5 hours per full trial day and account for witness exams, jury questions in civil cases, opening and closing arguments, voir dire, and motions in limine.

  • 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.

Formatting

All 6

  • Documents must follow local court rules for pagination.

  • Format
    PDF

    The deposition designation process must begin with a PDF of the transcript because the final marked product will be in PDF format.

  • 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 Elizabeth J. Berns

Judge Elizabeth J. Berns sits on the King County Superior Court, Washington's trial court of general jurisdiction for King County.

This judge's procedures are published through the court's general rules; no individual procedure documents are listed.

Common questions about Judge Elizabeth J. Berns's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Elizabeth J. Berns?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for jury instructions. Details: by email. Proposed cited jury instructions must be provided as one hard copy and one electronic copy, numbered and identified by proposing party with supporting annotations, with the court's copy emailed to the bailiff in Word format.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Jury Instructions (CR 51 and CRR 6.15)

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Elizabeth J. Berns?

Judge Elizabeth J. Berns' formatting rule includes file format docx. Proposed orders must be submitted in MS Word format so the judge can e-sign and e-serve them.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Requests - General information

What must be included with proposed findings conclusions filings before Judge Elizabeth J. Berns?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Findings of Fact must be limited to essential ultimate facts and Conclusions of Law to essential legal conclusions.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Presentation of findings and conclusions

What must be included with objections to proposed findings conclusions filings before Judge Elizabeth J. Berns?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Objections to proposed Findings and Conclusions must be presented to the court in writing after the trial concludes.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Presentation of findings and conclusions

Is electronic filing required before Judge Elizabeth J. Berns?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Working papers must be submitted through the Clerk's Office Electronic Portal after e-filing; working copies are not accepted by email.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Requests - General information

What filing deadlines apply to jury instructions filings before Judge Elizabeth J. Berns?

Proposed jury instructions must be served and filed before commencement of trial, per the local rules.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Jury Instructions (CR 51 and CRR 6.15)

What rule applies to service for orders before Judge Elizabeth J. Berns?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: method: e-service, recipient: all parties. Orders are e-signed and e-served electronically, and parties are responsible for signing up for e-service through the Clerk's Office.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Requests - General information
Complete rules summary for Judge Elizabeth J. Berns

Working papers must be submitted through the Clerk's Office Electronic Portal after e-filing; working copies are not accepted by email.

Proposed orders must be submitted in MS Word format so the judge can e-sign and e-serve them.

Orders are e-signed and e-served electronically, and parties are responsible for signing up for e-service through the Clerk's Office.

In civil cases, Clerk's Copy exhibit binders must be separated by numbered tabs per the Pre-Trial Order and will be marked by the courtroom clerk before trial begins.

Proposed jury instructions must be served and filed before commencement of trial, per the local rules.

In non-jury cases, proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law must be submitted promptly after the trial or hearing concludes.

Findings of Fact must be limited to essential ultimate facts and Conclusions of Law to essential legal conclusions.

Objections to proposed Findings and Conclusions must be presented to the court in writing after the trial concludes.

Proposed cited jury instructions must be provided as one hard copy and one electronic copy, numbered and identified by proposing party with supporting annotations, with the court's copy emailed to the bailiff in Word format.

An uncited set of jury instructions (Instruction No. ______, no proposing-party identification) with a cover page entitled 'Court's Instructions to the Jury' must be provided to the court, emailed to the bailiff in Word format.

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