(a) Courts Generally. Except as otherwise provided in section (c), these rules apply to all actions and proceedings in the courts of the state of Washington. The terms "judge" and "court" in these rules refer to any judge of any court to which these rules apply or any other officer who is authorized by law to hold any hearing to which these rules apply.

(b) Law With Respect to Privilege. The law with respect to privileges applies at all stages of all actions, cases, and proceedings.

(c) When Rules Need Not Be Applied. The rules (other than with respect to privileges, the rape shield statute and ER 412) need not be applied in the following situations:

(1) Preliminary Questions of Fact. The determination of questions of fact preliminary to admissibility of evidence when the issue is to be determined by the court under rule 104(a).

(2) Grand Jury. Proceedings before grand juries and special inquiry judges.

(3) Miscellaneous Proceedings. Proceedings for extradition or rendition; detainer proceedings under RCW 9.100; preliminary determinations in criminal cases; sentencing, or granting or revoking probation; issuance of warrants for arrest, criminal summonses, and search warrants; proceedings with respect to release on bail or otherwise; contempt proceedings in which the court may act summarily; habeas corpus proceedings; small claims court; supplemental proceedings under RCW 6.32; coroners' inquests; preliminary determinations in juvenile court; juvenile court hearings on declining jurisdiction; disposition, review, and permanency planning hearings in juvenile court; dispositional determinations related to treatment for alcoholism, intoxication, or drug addiction under RCW 70.96A; and dispositional determinations under the Civil Commitment Act, RCW 71.05.

(4) Applications for Protection Orders. Protection order proceedings under RCW 7.90, 7.92, 10.14, 26.50 and 74.34. Provided when a judge proposes to consider information from a criminal or civil database, the judge shall disclose the information to each party present at the hearing; on timely request; provide each party with an opportunity to be heard; and, take appropriate measures to alleviate litigants' safety concerns. The judge has discretion not to disclose information that he or she does not propose to consider.

(d) Arbitration Hearings. In a mandatory arbitration hearing under RCW 7.06, the admissibility of evidence is governed by MAR 5.3.

[Originally effective April 2, 1979. Amended effective January 1, 1980; August 27, 1980; September 1, 1989; September 1, 1992; September 21, 1999; January 2, 2008; September 1, 2008, September 1, 2010; December 10, 2013.] Comment 1101 [Deleted effective September 1, 2006.]