Wash. Gen. R. 21

(a) Generally. A court may be closed if weather, technological failure or other hazardous

or emergency conditions or events are or become such that the safety and welfare of the

employees are threatened or the court is unable to operate or demands immediate action to

protect the court, its employees or property. Closure may be ordered by the chief justice, the

presiding chief judge, presiding judge or other judge so designated by the affected court in their

discretion during the pendency of such conditions or events.

(b) Order and Notification. Whenever a court is closed in accordance with section (a),

the chief justice, presiding chief judge, presiding judge or other judge directing the closure of the

court shall enter an administrative order closing the court which shall be filed with the clerk of

the affected court. It shall also be the responsibility of the chief justice, the presiding chief judge,

the presiding judge or other judge so designated by the affected court to notify the Office of the

Administrator for the Courts of any decision to close a court. All oral notifications to the Office

of the Administrator for the Courts shall be followed as soon as practicable with a written

statement outlining the condition or event necessitating such action and the length of such

closure.

(c) Filings and Hearings--Time Extended. Reserved. See GR 3.