INTRODUCTION TO JURY SERVICE |
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Jury Service is an important civic responsibility.
Your name was selected at random from voter registration and driver's license records.
Jury Duty can be a two week commitment.
Your answers to the four step Juror Response phone line (253) 798-8808 or Juror response web page qualifies you for jury service or exemption.
* 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.' |
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CLICK HERE for current reporting groups.
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You should have received a Blue postcard, responded and been sent a summons if you accepted. Your summons will have your juror group number, parking pass and/or bus pass.
24 hours prior to your Summons Date, check the Reporting Groups by Internet or phone line. Call (253)798-7782 after 5:00 pm the evening before your scheduled appearance. Listen carefully for your group number. THe message includes several sections.
1. The group numbers called in for the next day.
If you did not hear your group number, then listen to the rest of the message for your instructions.
2. Group # to Group #, please call Tuesday for Wednesday?s information.
Continue calling for both weeks.
Do not call if you are wearing two badges and already belong to a court case.
Your reporting date and group number 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 four Step Juror Response process by calling (253) 798-8808 or by logging into the Juror Summons response web page. At this time, you will accept, postpone or request to be excused from jury duty.
NOTE: YOU CAN ONLY REQUEST AN EXCUSAL THROUGH THE JUROR RESPONSE WEB PAGE.
Failure to appear for jury duty is a misdemeanor pursuant to RCW 2.36.170.1.
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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 of the jury panel.
You should plan to be available for most of your first week, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
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Please read all of the parking information.
We have 120+ parking spaces available for jurors. You can park on the street for the day with the official juror parking pass. Due to limited parking we encourage the use of Pierce Transit Bus System. Your jury summons has a ticket attached. More tickets are available once you arrive for jury service.
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.
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Parking:
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 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
'Permit Parking Only'
'Zone Parking' - this does not qualify as jury parking.
Tickets:
We are not responsible for juror's tickets. 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.
Disabled parking is available in the public parking lot behind the County-City Building. Enter the parking lot from 11th Street. Please bring the card from the machine to the Jury Office for validation along with your American Disabilities Card. |
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To postponement to another date, please follow the directions on the Blue Postcard you received by logging into the 4 Step Response System. Complete all 4 steps verifying your personal contact information, qualifying as a juror to Step 4. Here you will see where you can accept, postpone or be excused.
NOTE: YOU CAN ONLY REQUEST AN EXCUSAL OR POSTPONEMENT THROUGH THE JUROR RESPONSE WEB PAGE OR A LETTER.
You may request a postponement online by logging into the Jury Response web page or by calling our Jury Response phone line at (253) 798-8808 (one time only). Select any Monday within the next 6 months. If you require an additional postponement, send your written request to Jury Administration, Room 123, 930 Tacoma Avenue, Tacoma, Washington 98402
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If you are not able to login to the Juror Response Web page to request an excusal or you need to postpone to another date beyond six months, please send a written request along with your juror badge number to the return address provided on your Blue postcard or the Jury Summons form.
LETTER FORMAT:
- Employment or Health provider letterhead
- Name
- Badge Number
- Short explanation
- Your signature you are in agreement with this request to be excused.
You can only be excused from jury duty for:
- Medical Reasons
- Undue hardship
- Extreme Inconvenience
- Public Necessity
- Or any reason deemed sufficient by the court
If you are asking to be excused for Medical:
You need to submit a letter from your healthcare provider stating due to a medical condition you are unable to serve at this time. Without a doctor's letter your request to be excused for a medical condition will not be considered. Please note, the Court does not keep past medical certificates or letters on file.
If you are asking to be excused due to Employment Conflict or a Financial Hardship:
You need to submit a letter from your employer on their letterhead, stating they can not release you from your duties at this time or they do not compensate you for jury duty and it would be a financial hardship for you. The letter should be signed by you and your employer.
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These Excusals are available on our website or you can send a letter:
- Under the age of 18
- Jury duty within the past year
- Currently a full time student
- Lack of child or dependent care
- Military Duty - may also be a valid reason to ask to be excused from jury duty.
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Jurors are paid $10.00 per day for each day served and mileage at the rate determined under RCW 43.03.060. You are only paid for the days you are present for jury duty.
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.
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Adverse Weather Days Policy |
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.
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For additional information about jury duty, watch 'Welcome to Jury Duty' on PCTV Channel 22 on Saturdays at 6:00 p.m.
Jurors are welcome to bring their lunch. There is a refrigerator and two microwaves in the jury room. There is an espresso bar located in the 1st floor lobby as well as nearby restaurants.
Jurors are welcome to bring laptops and cell phones. However, you can only use them in the Jury room or lobby area. We also have Wi-Fi and plug-ins available for our jurors.
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