Rule 78.Clerks

CR 78 leaves the clerk's general powers and duties to RCW 2.32.050, but sets out several duties directly. The clerk's office must stay open during business hours every day except Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. Motions and applications in the clerk's office for issuing mesne process, issuing final process to enforce and execute judgments, and other matters that do not need the court's allowance or order are granted by the clerk as a matter of course — though the court can suspend, alter, or rescind what the clerk did if cause is shown. When a deposition transcript is filed under CR 5(i), the clerk endorses the filing date on the envelope and records it on the case history docket.

On judgments, the clerk enters judgment or decree following CR 58, recording the sum due or the relief awarded along with costs and disbursements still to be taxed — entry of the judgment itself is not held up while costs get taxed. If the winning party does not file a cost bill within 10 days after entry, the clerk taxes the statutory attorney fee, the clerk's fee, and the sheriff's fee on its own. If a cost bill is filed instead, the clerk enters the amount it claims, and any motion to retax those costs must be filed within 6 days after the cost bill was filed; for this purpose, a "cost bill" also covers an affidavit detailing disbursements. Finally, the clerk enters every bond, other than a cost bond, on the journal as soon as it is filed, and endorses the day, hour, and minute of filing on every affidavit or undertaking filed to obtain a writ of attachment.