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14
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EACH COURT SHOULD MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FACILITIES FOR JURORS WITH THE APPROPRIATE SEATING, WORK SPACE, REST ROOMS, LIGHT, AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL NECESSARY TO FACILITATE JURY SELECTION AND DELIBERATIONS.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO JURORS WITH DISABILITIES OR OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS. COURTS MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE FACILITIES TO ACCOMMODATE THESE NEEDS.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND FIXTURES ARE PURCHASED FOR THE JURY ASSEMBLY ROOM, JURY WAITING AREAS, JUROR REST ROOMS, THE COURTROOM, AND THE DELIBERATION ROOM.
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All People
Should Serve
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All people meeting the statutory requirements for jurors and summoned to duty should be expected to serve, except for those people excused for actual bias based on prior knowledge, prejudice, or familial relationships. Lack of the appropriate facilities should not preclude an otherwise qualified juror with a disability from serving.
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Some facilities lack the basic furnishings or appropriate atmosphere for jurors to gather and deliberate around a table. The Americans with Disability Act of 1990 (ADA) and Washington Jury Standard 14 define with specificity the minimum mandatory needs for jurors to meet and reach a fair verdict.
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Minimum Amenities
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Jurors should expect a fully accessible court facility with accommodations compliant with ADA standards and at least the following minimum amenities:
- Humane and comfortable conditions.
- Rooms and furnishings adequate to meet the numbers and needs of jurors.
- Separation from parties and witnesses.
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Ease of Use By
All People
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Basic furnishings and fixtures should be reviewed before purchase or replacement for ease of use by all people. Into the Jury Box: A Disability Accommodation Guide for State Courts, and The Courthouse, A Planning and Design Guide for Court Facilities, are excellent resources for courts to use when planning facility upgrades with jurors with disabilities in mind.
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References:
Washington statutes and court rules: CR 47 (i); CRLJ 47(b); RCW 4.44.160 (2); RCW 4.44.170 (2) and (3); RCW 4.44.300.
Don Hardenbergh, The Courthouse, A Planning and Design Guide for Court Facilities, pp. 39-41 (2nd ed. 1998).
Kristi Bleyer et al., Into the Jury Box: A Disability Accommodation Guide for State Courts, The American Bar Association and the State Justice Institute.
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