Washington State Courts - Jury Commission

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Accommodating Citizens Called to Jury Service

12	THE COMMISSION VIEWS A FEE INCREASE AS ITS HIGHEST PRIORITY. CITIZENS REQUIRED TO PERFORM JURY SERVICE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FAIRLY AND APPROPRIATELY. LEGISLATION SHOULD BE DRAFTED REQUIRING THAT CURRENT FEES BE RAISED, WITH THE INCREASE FUNDED BY THE STATE. LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE OR PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING. JURORS COULD DONATE THEIR FEES AND EXPENSES TO A COURT JURY IMPROVEMENT FUND.
	Jurors in most jurisdictions have not received a raise since 1959 when the $10 per day juror fee was first instituted. Adjusted for inflation, that $10 fee would have increased to $55 by 1999. The Commission considers it unacceptable that this state’s citizens are required to perform one of the most important civic duties at a rate that does not remotely approach minimum wage. In order to fairly compensate those most burdened by jury service, while still considering the current fiscal environment in the local jurisdictions, the Commission proposes the following:
Juror Fees Increased to $45	Juror Fees: The juror fee should remain at $10 for the first day of service. From the second day forward, juror fees should be increased to $45 per day. Localities will be responsible for paying the $10 fee on the first day, and for funding $10 of the $45 fee from day 2 forward. The $35 increase, starting with day 2 of service, should be funded by the state. Any portion of a day in which a juror is required to report to a court facility should be considered a full day.
Mileage Reimbursement	Transportation Expenses: 1. Jurors will continue to be reimbursed for mileage. At the court’s discretion, mileage may be calculated based on their home address zip code.
Transportation and Parking	2. Courts should be encouraged to provide or pay for transportation and parking. Local governments should be encouraged to cooperate with the courts to ensure parking is available to jurors at minimal or no cost. This would be a locally implemented option.
Citizens Should Be Paid Immediately	Fee/Expense Disbursement: Jurors should be paid immediately—optimally within one week after service. Payments should be made immediately in cash where possible to reduce the administrative costs of generating drafts, warrants, or checks.
Jury Improvement Fund	Fee/Expense Donation: Jurors may donate their fees and expenses to a court Jury Improvement Fund. This fund would be used, at the local court’s discretion, for jury-related improvements. This fund should not be part of the jurisdiction’s general fund and should not be used to supplant the jurisdiction’s jury expenses.
	This state’s citizen jurors are long overdue for an increase in fees. The Commission’s challenge was to create a proposal that would more equitably spread the burden of this fee increase. Where the Commission would recommend that $45 be paid for each day of service, its actual recommendation is that the fee remain at $10 for the first day in an attempt to balance a citizen’s responsibility to perform this civic duty with government’s fiscal responsibility. Washington State relies on citizens to make its most important decisions about law, business practice, and criminal matters. Jurors should be compensated appropriately for this crucial civic duty. Local jurisdictions should not solely bear the financial burden for funding an activity that is essential to provide justice for all.
	References: David C. Brody, et al., Juror Survey Results, 1998-1999, p. 9 (85% of jurors surveyed were paid by their employers during jury service).