The state House of Representatives passed a bill Monday adding two extra Benton County District Court judges.
House Bill 1204 was the first bill introduced by freshman Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Kennewick, who took a traditional ribbing on the House floor when the measure came to a vote.
Members stood to declare tongue in cheek opposition to the measure, appearing to vote against it but then changing their votes at the last moment. The vote was 96-1.
The bill would allow the county to convert two court commissioner positions to judges, broadening the range of cases they can hear. Benton County currently has three District Court judges.
A companion bill introduced by Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, passed in the Senate. The Legislature next will have to decide which of the identical bills to enact.
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