GR 9 Cover Sheet for new General Rule:

Jury Selection by Videoconference

Name of Proponent--King County Superior Court. Our committee for drafting this rule: Judges Sean O’Donnell, Josephine Wiggs-Martin, Andrea Robertson, Brian McDonald, Melinda Young, Tanya Thorp, Sam Chung, Sandy Widlan, and Jim Rogers

Spokesperson--Judge O’Donnell or Judge Rogers

Purpose--Remote voir dire has become a standard business practice for King County Superior Court during the pandemic. Jurors prefer it. Their time is better used. In the old, in-person system, jurors have experienced long “wait” times, missed work, and faced expenses for childcare and parking in order to travel to court in person, assemble, and await instructions and directions. This new virtual method promises to improve the process and provide a more accessible, affordable, and efficient means for citizens from all walks of life to perform their civic duty and add their voices to this crucial process.

We believe that lawyers get better information as questionnaires are always given out. Our anecdotal experience is that jurors are more diverse in all aspects, racial, ethnic, economic. There is less "speechifying" by lawyers and more information gathering.

The proposed rule does not conflict with any known statute, case law or court rules. The proposed rule is intended to be harmonious with existing CrR 3.4(d), which currently allows video proceedings to be ordered in preliminary appearances, bail hearings and arraignments, and allows plea hearings by agreement. As the Court knows, a current emergency order allows for remote voir dire.

Hearing--We do not believe that a public hearing is necessary.

Expedited Consideration--As long as the emergency order remains in effect, expedited consideration is not necessary.