The Yakima County Commissioners approved an agreement Tuesday, establishing new court protocols with the county's judges. .

For months now, Court Consultants and County Commissioners have been discussing ways to improve their working relationship so they can avoid the problems that are currently plaguing another Washington county. Grays Harbor Superior Court judges are suing their commissioners over budget cuts and the right to decide where the remaining money should go. The new protocols do not protect courts from future cuts but they will have more control over the budget, deciding who to hire and what programs to fund. The new protocols also set up Yakima County courts with a contingency fund. For the first time, the court system can save over $100,000 a year for emergencies.

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