Civil procedure includes the procedures and rules that govern civil (non-criminal) litigation in state and federal courts. Many states have rules of civil procedure written by the state supreme court, for example, and other states include their rules of procedure in state statutes enacted by the state legislature.
In Washington State, civil procedure is governed by a combination of state statutes and rules created by the Washington State Supreme Court. The primary set of rules governing the procedures in civil cases in the state courts is the Washington State Rules of Civil Procedure (CR). These rules outline the procedures for filing a lawsuit, serving process, conducting discovery, and other pre-trial and trial procedures. Additionally, the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) contains statutes that address various aspects of civil law and procedure, such as limitations on actions, and specific procedures for certain types of cases. For federal cases, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) apply to civil litigation in the U.S. District Courts located in Washington. These federal rules are designed to provide consistency and fairness in the civil litigation process across all federal courts.