1. How was I selected for jury duty?
Citizens are selected at random from voter registration and driver's license and 'identicard' records.
To serve as a juror you must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Pierce County and able to communicate in English. If you have ever been convicted of a felony, you must have had your rights restored.
2. What should I do if I receive a jury summons in the mail?
READ THE SUMMONS!!!! The summons contains essential information about where, when and how to report for jury service.
After reading, please send your Summons back. Please mark the reason for an excusal. For postponements, please give us a new date within the next 4 months. To confirm your report date, return the Summons with your personal information filled out.
3. What if I cannot serve as a juror and need to be Postponed, Excused or am Not Qualified due to living outside of Pierce County, felon, language, or citizenship?
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 undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity or any reason deemed sufficient by the court. If you are asking to be excused for Medical Reasons, 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.
Service on jury duty within the past year, you are currently a full time student, lack of child or dependant care and military duty may also be valid reasons to ask to be excused from jury duty.
YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO SERVE IF:
- You are NOT a United States citizen
- You no longer live in Pierce County
- Convicted of a Felony
- Do not speak English
4. What should I bring with me when I report for jury duty?
Be sure to bring the portion of your summons that says 'JUROR' in bold letters with the Juror Badge number (with bar code), parking pass, etc. on it when you report in for jury duty.
Since there can be extended periods of time when you will not be required in the courtroom, you may want to bring a book or magazine. You may bring your laptop computer. There is free Wi-Fi internet access in the jury room. The jury room is equipped with games, puzzles, books, magazines and a movie room in which to watch videos.
DO NOT bring any metal silverware, items with a sharp edge, or heavy metal belts/buckles.
5. What should I wear for jury duty?
Dress comfortably, but not too casually. Dress for court as if you were going to work or to church. Many judges do not allow anyone to come to court wearing halter or tank tops, cut-off jeans, shorts, or shirts with offensive wording. Remember you will be acting as part of the court while serving as a juror, so dress appropriately. Also, you might want to wear layered clothing since courtroom temperatures may vary considerably, requiring the removal or addition of a sweater or jacket.
6. How long will I serve?
Two weeks or until dismissed by the court. Keep in mind, if you are chosen to sit as a juror, the trial may last longer than the two week term.
7. Do I get paid for jury duty?
The compensation for jury service is $10 a day for each day served, plus a mileage fee. You are paid only for the days you are required to report in and are present.
8. Where do I park when I report for jury duty?
Parking is limited. Parking is available in the public garage located on Yakima Ave., between 10th and 9th streets, FIRST level only. Please let the attendant know you are a juror.
Parking is available on 9th and I streets, spaces 1- 24 only.
You may park on the street in areas marked one hour or more. Be sure to display your parking permit on the dash of your vehicle. The parking permit is attached to your summons.
9. Where do I report and what happens?
The night before your service date, (usually Sunday evening) you should call the jury line (253) 798-7782 or you can check the internet at www.co.pierce.wa.us/jury and click on 'CURRENT REPORTING GROUPS'. Listen/look for your group number which is located on your summons. If your group number is called to report, then come to the County-City Building at 930 Tacoma Ave. S., between 11th and 9th streets at 8:30 a.m., Room 123. When you report in, you will be shown how to scan yourself in. About 9:00 a.m., a judge will begin the orientation to welcome you and to explain what to expect as a juror. You will also be given additional information from the court staff, and shown another short orientation video.
10. Is Security provided?
Security officers and a metal detector are at the entrance of the first and second floors. Everyone entering the building will be screened. Please DO NOT bring ANY sharp bladed instrument of any size to the County-City Building.
11. How long will I be at the courthouse?
The normal court hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There can be some variation depending upon the case you are serving on. If you are not chosen for a trial you could be excused anytime throughout the day.
12. How will I know if I have been excused, deferred or disqualified from jury duty?
We no longer send out a confirmation you have been excused or postponed.
You can check your status by logging back into our Jury Response phone line or the Jury response web site. You will be given a status of 'You have been excused', 'You are not qualified' (if there is a problem accessing our system, please call us) or 'You are not eligible' (because your jury service date is too far out in the future).
If you will be reporting for your Jury service date, it will say 'You are expected'.
13. What happens if I don't report for jury duty?
Failure to appear is a misdemeanor pursuant to RCW 2.36.170. If you do not report on your scheduled date, you will receive a notice indicating you have failed to appear and that it is a misdemeanor and you may be held in contempt of court.
14. Will I serve on civil or criminal trials?
Your selection for a case will be entirely random. You may sit on either type of case- civil or criminal trials in Superior, District or Tacoma Municipal Court..
15. Can I be late?
No.
Give yourself 30 minutes after arrival to find a parking space and to come through the County-City Building security check point.
Please be on time whenever you are told to report. This is especially important when serving on a case since the entire proceeding can be delayed because of the tardiness of one juror.
16. Will my employer fire me if I serve as a juror?
It is against the law, per RCW 2.36.165, for an employer to fire or demote or harass an employee because they serve as a juror. RCW 2.36.165(2) states 'An employer shall not deprive an employee of employment or threaten, coerce, or harass an employee, or deny an employee promotional opportunities because the employee receives a summons, responds to the summons, serves as a juror, or attends court for prospective jury service.' However, the law does not require that the employee be paid in full while serving.
17. What if my employer wants proof that I was serving on jury duty?
We provide workslips. This is a letter from us to you and will list the dates of your jury service.
You can print your own work slip by going to our website. Look for 'Print - Jury Attendance Report'. Input your badge number and date of birth. You or your employer can print a workslip listing the days you have been marked here into attendance for jury duty.
Call or come in and we will print a work slip for you. We will also mail, FAX or e-mail it to you.,
19. Can I smoke?
Smoking is permitted only in designated areas. Smoking is not permitted in the building.
20. How can my family reach me in case of an emergency?
On your first day of jury duty you will be given a number in case of an emergency. Give that number to your family members.
20. Will I be locked in a hotel during the trial?
It is extremely rare for a jury to be 'sequestered' or kept in a hotel during a trial. You should expect that you will be allowed to go home at the end of each court day.
21. Where do I have lunch?
Jurors are welcome to bring their lunch. There is a refrigerator and two microwaves in the jury room. There are also vending machines in the first and second floor lobbies. An espresso bar is located in the first floor lobby as well as nearby restaurants.
22. Can I volunteer for jury duty?
No. Jurors are randomly selected and summoned for Jury Duty.
Back to Top
