Rule 7. Grievance Procedures

GALR 7 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES Each court shall promulgate rules that set out or refer to policies and procedures establishing and governing the filing, investigating, and adjudicating grievances made by or against guardians ad litem or court visitors under Titles, 11, 13, and 26 RCW. The rules shall, at a minimum, comply with and address the following: (a) Clear and concise. The rules shall be clear, and concise and easily understood by both attorneys and non attorneys. (b) Separate procedures. The rules shall establish separate procedures addressing grievances or complaints filed during the pendency of a case, and grievances or complaints filed subsequent to the conclusion of a case. (c) Fair treatment of grievances. The rules shall establish procedures providing for fair treatment of grievances including appearance-of-fairness and conflict issues. (d) CASA grievance procedures. Where applicable, local rules shall accommodate the grievance procedures of Court Appointed Special Advocate(s) (CASA) or other volunteer program(s). (e) Confidentiality. The rules shall provide for confidentiality of complaints until merit has been found. (f) Response to complaint. The rules shall provide a procedure for any guardian ad litem or court visitor who is the subject of a complaint to respond to the complaint. (g) Complaint resolution time standards. The rules shall include a time limit during which a complaint must be resolved. The limit shall not be longer than 25 days for complaints filed while a case is pending or 60 days for complaints filed subsequent to the conclusion of a case. (h) Records of grievances. For its own reference purposes, the court shall maintain a record of grievances filed and of any sanctions issued pursuant to local court grievance procedure. (i) Removal from registry. When a guardian ad litem or court visitor is removed from a county’s registry pursuant to the disposition of a grievance, the court of that county shall send notice of such removal to the Office of the Administrator of the Courts, who shall on a regular basis, but not less than biannually, forward the information to the superior courts of each county in the state of Washington. (j) Implementation. Local court rules establishing a grievance procedure shall be filed in the manner provided in GR 7.