Court Rules
Judge Johanna Bender
Judge

Judge Johanna Bender

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Rules last changed:
King County Superior Court

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

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

Chambers

bender.court@kingcounty.gov
Scheduling
Hours: Weekday ceremonies at 4:30 PM; weekend ceremonies by arrangement
Phone

Chambers

206-477-1495
SchedulingEmergenciesTechnical Issues
Hours: Weekday ceremonies at 4:30 PM; weekend ceremonies by arrangement
No status inquiries
Filters:AllMandatoryFormattingOral ArgumentProposed OrdersElectronics

Document Format Requirements1 rule

Formatting

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

Judge Bender requires a Word version of all proposed orders.

Summary: All proposed orders must be submitted in Word format.

Required Format

DOCX

Wa King Judge Bender · Jan 2025
|SecRequests - Proposed orders and working papers

Document Filing Requirements3 rules

Filing Requirements

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

Any email request for a dispositive motion hearing must include: Case name and cause number; Names, phone numbers and email addresses of all counsel; Type of hearing and dates requested

Summary: Email requests for a dispositive motion hearing must include the case name and cause number, counsel contact information, and the type of hearing and dates requested.

Document Type

Email Request For Dispositive Motion Hearing

Content & Formatting
Case Number
Wa King Judge Bender · Jan 2025
|SecRequests - Dispositive motions and hearing requests
Filing Requirements

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

All non-dispositive motions will be considered by the Court without oral argument unless a party requests oral argument and the Court deems oral argument to be necessary. If you wish to request oral argument, please so indicate on the front page of your motion or opposition.

Summary: Non-dispositive motions are decided without oral argument unless a request is made and granted, and any request for oral argument must be indicated on the front page of the motion or opposition.

Document Type

Non Dispositive Motion

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Wa King Judge Bender · Jan 2025
|SecRequests - Non-dispositive motions
Filing Requirements

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

Parties must comply with all the requirements of KCLR 7 when setting motions without oral argument.

Summary: Parties must comply with all requirements of KCLR 7 when setting non-dispositive motions without oral argument.

Document Type

Non Dispositive Motion

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Wa King Judge Bender · Jan 2025
|SecRequests - Non-dispositive motions

Filing & Service rules

Electronic Filing Rules

Working copies of motions and declarations must be submitted via the e-filing portal or delivered to the Judges' Mailing Room (2D) at the Maleng Regional Justice Center.

Working copies of motions and declarations must be submitted via the e-filing portal or by delivery to the Judges' Mailing Room (2D) at the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC).

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

Page 1 | Requests - Proposed orders and working papers

Working papers may not be delivered by email or to the courtroom.

The Court cannot accept delivery of working papers by email or by delivery to the courtroom.

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

Page 1 | Requests - Proposed orders and working papers

Word proposed orders may be submitted either by email to bender.court@kingcounty.gov or through the e-filing portal's e-working copies application.

You may submit a Word copy of your proposed order by email to bender.court@kingcounty.gov. Alternatively, you may submit your proposed order via the e-filing portal by using the e-working copies application.

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

Page 1 | Requests - Proposed orders and working papers

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Until the Court grants a motion to shorten time, all responses and replies must be submitted as though the motion will be considered on the presumptive timeline.

Unless and until the Court grants the motion to shorten time, all responses and replies should be submitted as though the motion is to be considered on the presumptive timeline.

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

Page 1 | Requests - Motions to shorten time

Filing Bundling Requirements

Motions to shorten time are strongly disfavored, and the motion to shorten time must be submitted separately while the underlying motion is noted in the regular course.

Motions to shorten time are strongly disfavored and should only be used in extraordinary circumstances. If a party wishes the Court to consider a motion on shortened time, the underlying motion must be noted in the regular course, and a separate motion to shorten time should be submitted.

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

Page 1 | Requests - Motions to shorten time

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Motions to change a civil trial date, even when submitted by stipulation, must comply with Local Rule 40(e).

Motions for a change in trial date, even if submitted by stipulation of the parties, must be made in compliance with Local Rule 40(e).

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

Page 1 | Requests - Motions for change of civil trial date

Chambers Communication Rules

Motions must not be noted until the bailiff sends back confirmation that the hearing date is available.

Do not note your motion until the bailiff has sent back confirmation.

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

Page 1 | Requests - Dispositive motions and hearing requests

Dispositive motion hearings are held on Fridays and certain Thursday afternoons in one-hour slots, and parties must select a date, confirm all parties' availability, and then contact the bailiff to confirm the date.

Dispositive motions are heard on Fridays as well as certain Thursday afternoons. Judge Bender is available in one-hour slots. Please select a date and then check with all opposing counsel or pro se parties to make sure that the date works before contacting the bailiff. Doing so reduces the need to reschedule hearings due to conflicts. Once you have selected a date and confirmed all parties' availability, you must contact the bailiff to confirm the date is still available.

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

Page 1 | Requests - Dispositive motions and hearing requests

Wedding ceremonies are scheduled by emailing the bailiff at bender.court@kingcounty.gov or calling 206-477-1495, with weekday ceremonies at 4:30 PM and weekend ceremonies by arrangement.

Judge Bender is available for ceremonies Monday through Friday, at 4:30pm, at the Clark Children and Family Justice Center in Seattle. On weekends, she is available for ceremonies in Seattle at either the King County Courthouse or the Clark Children and Family Justice Center, in Kent at the Maleng Regional Justice Center, or other locations by agreement. Please email her bailiff at bender.court@kingcounty.gov or call 206-477-1495 for more information and scheduling.

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

Page 1 | Requests - Weddings

Additional hearing time is available for multi-party or complex litigation and must be requested from the bailiff when scheduling.

Judge Bender will provide additional time on hearings involving multi-party cases or complex litigation. Please advise the bailiff of your request when scheduling.

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

Page 1 | Requests - Dispositive motions and hearing requests

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.

About Judge Johanna Bender

Johanna Bender is a judge on the King County Superior Court, sitting in a district division. King County Superior Court is Washington's trial court of general jurisdiction, handling civil, criminal, family, and other matters for King County.

The provided filename does not indicate specific procedural topics; this judge's procedures are published through the court's general rules.

Common questions about Judge Johanna Bender's rules

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Johanna Bender?

Judge Johanna Bender's formatting rule includes file format docx. All proposed orders must be submitted in Word format.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Requests - Proposed orders and working papers

What must be included with non dispositive motion filings before Judge Johanna Bender?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Parties must comply with all requirements of KCLR 7 when setting non-dispositive motions without oral argument.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Requests - Non-dispositive motions

What must be included with email request for dispositive motion hearing filings before Judge Johanna Bender?

The rule requires case number. Email requests for a dispositive motion hearing must include the case name and cause number, counsel contact information, and the type of hearing and dates requested.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Requests - Dispositive motions and hearing requests

How may parties contact Judge Johanna Bender's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Johanna Bender's chambers. Dispositive motion hearings are held on Fridays and certain Thursday afternoons in one-hour slots, and parties must select a date, confirm all parties' availability, and then contact the bailiff to confirm the date.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Requests - Dispositive motions and hearing requests

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Johanna Bender?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. Motions to change a civil trial date, even when submitted by stipulation, must comply with Local Rule 40(e).

View ruleSource: page 1, section Requests - Motions for change of civil trial date

Does Judge Johanna Bender require motion papers to be bundled?

No. The rule prohibits holding covered papers for bundling. Motions to shorten time are strongly disfavored, and the motion to shorten time must be submitted separately while the underlying motion is noted in the regular course.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Requests - Motions to shorten time

Is electronic filing required before Judge Johanna Bender?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Working copies of motions and declarations must be submitted via the e-filing portal or delivered to the Judges' Mailing Room (2D) at the Maleng Regional Justice Center.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Requests - Proposed orders and working papers

What filing deadlines does Judge Johanna Bender set?

Until the Court grants a motion to shorten time, all responses and replies must be submitted as though the motion will be considered on the presumptive timeline.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Requests - Motions to shorten time
Complete rules summary for Judge Johanna Bender

Parties must comply with all requirements of KCLR 7 when setting non-dispositive motions without oral argument.

Non-dispositive motions are decided without oral argument unless a request is made and granted, and any request for oral argument must be indicated on the front page of the motion or opposition.

Dispositive motion hearings are held on Fridays and certain Thursday afternoons in one-hour slots, and parties must select a date, confirm all parties' availability, and then contact the bailiff to confirm the date.

Motions must not be noted until the bailiff sends back confirmation that the hearing date is available.

Email requests for a dispositive motion hearing must include the case name and cause number, counsel contact information, and the type of hearing and dates requested.

Additional hearing time is available for multi-party or complex litigation and must be requested from the bailiff when scheduling.

Motions to shorten time are strongly disfavored, and the motion to shorten time must be submitted separately while the underlying motion is noted in the regular course.

Until the Court grants a motion to shorten time, all responses and replies must be submitted as though the motion will be considered on the presumptive timeline.

Motions to change a civil trial date, even when submitted by stipulation, must comply with Local Rule 40(e).

All proposed orders must be submitted in Word format.

Word proposed orders may be submitted either by email to bender.court@kingcounty.gov or through the e-filing portal's e-working copies application.

Working copies of motions and declarations must be submitted via the e-filing portal or delivered to the Judges' Mailing Room (2D) at the Maleng Regional Justice Center.

Working papers may not be delivered by email or to the courtroom.

Wedding ceremonies are scheduled by emailing the bailiff at bender.court@kingcounty.gov or calling 206-477-1495, with weekday ceremonies at 4:30 PM and weekend ceremonies by arrangement.

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