(a) The Bar of this Court
The bar of this court consists of those who have been admitted to practice before this court.
(b) Eligibility
An attorney is eligible for admission to the bar of this court if he or she is (1) a member in good
standing of the Washington State Bar, or (2) a member in good standing of the bar of any state
and employed by the United States or one of its agencies in a professional capacity and who,
while being so employed may have occasion to appear in this court on behalf of the United
States or one of its agencies.
(c) Procedure for Admission
(1) Admissions. With the exception of applicants for conditional admission, each applicant
for admission to the bar of this court shall file with the clerk a Petition for Admission to
Practice. The petition must include the certificates of two reputable members of the bar of
this court attesting to the petitioner’s good moral character. The certificates must be
completed by members of this court’s bar who either reside or maintain an office for the
practice of law in the Western District of Washington. The petition form and instructions
are available at www.wawd.uscourts.gov. The clerk will examine the petition and if in
compliance with this rule, the petition for admission will be granted.
(2) Conditional Admission. In the case of an attorney for the United States or one of its
agencies who is not a member of the Washington State Bar, he or she must file a Petition
for Conditional Admission to Practice, which can be downloaded from the court’s website,
and state the department or agency by which he or she is employed and the circumstances
justifying the proposed admission to the bar of this court. The right of such an attorney to
practice before this court is conditioned upon his or her continuing to be so employed. If a
conditionally admitted attorney ceases to be employed as an attorney for the United States
or one of its agencies, the conditional admission will be revoked and the attorney must file
a petition for admission as set forth in CrR 62.1(c)(1) and pay the applicable fee.
(d) Permission to Participate in a Particular Case Pro Hac Vice; Responsibilities of Local
Counsel
(1) Admission Pro Hac Vice. Any member in good standing of the bar of any court of the
United States, or of the highest court of any state, or of any organized territory of the
United States, and who neither resides nor maintains an office for the practice of law in the
Western District of Washington normally will be permitted upon application and upon a
showing of particular need to appear and participate in a particular case pro hac vice. The
party must also be represented by local counsel, who shall fulfill the responsibilities set
Criminal Rules
forth below. Attorneys who are admitted to the bar of this court but reside outside the
district need not associate with local counsel.
An application for leave to appear pro hac vice shall be promptly filed with the clerk and
shall set forth: (1) the name and address of the applicant’s law firm; (2) the basis upon
which “particular need” is claimed; (3) a statement that the applicant understands that he or
she is charged with knowing and complying with all applicable local rules; (4) a statement
that the applicant has not been disbarred or formally censured by a court of record or by a
state bar association; and (5) a statement that there are no pending disciplinary proceedings
against the applicant. This application, which can be downloaded from the court’s website,
must be filed electronically by local counsel. Applications filed under this rule will be
approved or disapproved by the clerk.
(2) Responsibilities of Local Counsel. To qualify to serve as local counsel, an attorney
must have a physical office within the geographic boundaries of the Western District of
Washington and be admitted to practice before this court.
Local counsel must review, sign, and electronically file the applicant’s pro hac vice
application. By agreeing to serve as local counsel and by signing the pro hac vice
application, local counsel attests that he or she is authorized and will be prepared to handle
the matter in the event the applicant is unable to be present on any date scheduled by the
court.
Unless waived by the court in addition to those responsibilities and any assigned by the
court, local counsel must review and sign all motions and other filings, ensure that all
filings comply with all local rules of this court, and remind pro hac vice counsel of the
court’s commitment to maintaining a high degree of professionalism and civility from the
lawyers practicing before this court as set forth in the Introduction to the Criminal Rules.
Criminal Rules
