Jury Service Specifics

INTRODUCTION TO JURY SERVICE


Reporting	Expectations	Parking	Postponement
Excuses	Pay	Weather	Information

Jury Service is an important civic responsibility.

Your name was selected at random from voter registration and driver's license records.

Your answers to the Juror Summons are evaluated to make sure you are eligible for jury service and not exempt.

To be eligible, you must be 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a resident of the county in which you are to serve as a juror, able to communicate in the English language and if you have been convicted of a felony, you must have had your civil rights restored.

For greater general information regarding jury service in Washington, please contact the Jury Office at (253)798-7557 to request a copy of 'Juror's Handbook to Washington Courts.'

REPORTING

FAQs

CLICK HERE for current reporting groups.

If you do not have internet access when you need to check for the next day call groups, call (253)798-7782 after 4:30 the evening before your scheduled appearance for reporting instructions and information.

Your reporting date is specified on the Jury Summons. You will report to Room 123 of the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, Washington. Your term of jury service is generally two weeks. This time may be extended if you are selected for a trial which may take longer than your original service requirement.

You should complete the Juror Information Form which is a part of the Summons and return as directed or click here to submit your Summons responses electronically. Your eligibility will be determined upon receipt of that information.

Failure to appear for jury duty is a misdemeanor pursuant to RCW 2.36.170.1.

EXPECTATIONS

FAQs

Every attempt is made to minimize the impact of jury service to the individual. Generally you will only be asked to report during the term of service as specified on the front of the summons.

HOWEVER if you should be chosen to serve as a juror, your time of service could be extended through the conclusion of the trial. An estimate of trial length will be given prior to selection.

You should plan to be available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., although you may be excused earlier.

PARKING

FAQs

Please DO NOT PARK where there are signs that read 'Permit Parking Only'. Parking space is very scarce near the County-City Building. A free Pierce Transit bus pass is included with each jury summons. We strongly encourage the use of public transportation.
Call Pierce Transit for bus information at (253) 581-8000 or 1-800-562-8109 or at the Pierce County Transit website.

Parking on the corner of 10th and 'I' Streets is no longer available.

There are a limited number of free parking spaces for jurors:

1. Parking will be in the public parking garage located on Yakima Avenue, between 10th and 9th Streets, on the first floor only, sections A and B; or

2. You may also park on 9th and 'I' Street, spaces 1-24 only; or

3. You may park on the street where one hour or more is indicated.

A detachable parking permit is also included with each jury summons. Place the permit on the dash of your vehicle. With this permit, jurors may park for free in the spaces above designated.

DO NOT PARK in areas where the sign says 'Permit Parking Only' or 'Zone Parking' - this does not qualify as jury parking.

If the parking permit is not visible on the dash, you may be ticketed and you will be responsible for payment of the ticket. Pierce County Superior Court is not responsible for any parking violations.

Handicapped parking is available in the public parking lot behind the County-City Building. Enter the parking lot from 11th street.

POSTPONEMENT

FAQs

Please do not request postponement by telephone. If postponement or excuse to another date is necessary, please include a written request with your juror information form.

Jurors who have requested a postponement will receive a letter identifying the 'new' report date. If you do not indicate on your summons a date when you would like to be deferred to, jury administration will schedule a new date within 90 days of your originally scheduled service.
You may also request a postponement online when you submit your responses to the juror information form electronically.

EXCUSES

FAQs

Please do not request excuse by telephone. If excuse or postponement to another date is necessary, please include a written request with your juror information form.

Jurors who are granted an excuse will receive a written acknowledgement prior to report date.

You can only be excused from jury duty for undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity or any reason deemed sufficient by the court. If you are asking to be excused for any medical reason, this must be accompanied by a current letter from your physician specifying the condition that prohibits you from serving. Without a doctor's letter your request to be excused for a medical condition will not be considered. Also, please note, the Court does not keep past medical certificates or letters on file.
If you are asking to be excused for a financial hardship, you need to have your employer attach a letter on their letterhead, stating they do not compensate you for jury duty and it would be a financial hardship for you.
Service on jury duty within the past year is also a valid excuse.

As an alternative to being excused, you may request to reschedule(postpone) your jury service. Please put your request in writing on the jury summons you received and mail the summons to the court.

PAY

FAQs

Jurors are paid $10.00 per day for each day served and mileage at the rate determined under RCW 43.03.060. You are paid for only the days you are required to report in.

Mileage is automatically calculated based upon the most distant location in your zip code. For zip codes which reflect a box number, mileage is calculated from the location of the post office.

Further information is available in the jury office, Room 123.

Checks should be received within three weeks of the end of the term of service.

WEATHER

Adverse Weather Days Policy

FAQs

Jurors on call but not assigned to a specific court department or seated in a trial:

If Tacoma School District #10 schools or schools in your district are closed due to adverse weather conditions, call before reporting. Call 253-798-7782 after 7:45 a.m. for tape-recorded instructions.

Jurors assigned to a specific court department or seated on a trial:

If Tacoma School District #10 schools or schools in your district are closed due to adverse weather conditions, follow the instructions provided by the Judge. If the Judicial department instructions are not available at the time of your call, leave your name and the number where you can be contacted as soon as information is available.

Adverse Weather

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAQs

For additional information about jury duty, watch 'Welcome to Jury Duty' on Government Access Channel 22 or 28 at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays or 9:30 p.m. on Sundays.

Jurors are welcome to bring their lunch. There is a refrigerator and two microwaves in the jury room as well as a vending machine that makes coffee, tea and cocoa. There is an espresso bar located next to the jury room and a deli on the 11th floor of the building as well as nearby restaurants.

Handicapped parking is available on Tacoma Ave South to the right of the County City Building in front of the Jail (corner of 9th and Tacoma Ave South).