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How was I selected for jury duty?
Jurors are selected at random from lists of
voter registrations,
driver
licenses and Washington State
identification cards for residents of Cowlitz County. The lists are
combined and duplicate names are eliminated. Cowlitz County summonses
between 550 to 600 jurors per two week term.
Why is jury duty important?
The United States Constitution and the
Washington State Constitution guarantee all people the right to trial by
an impartial jury. Justice ultimately depends in large measure on the
jurors who serve in our courts.
What is my duty as a juror?
As a juror, you must be fair and
impartial. A jurors' actions and decisions must be free of any bias or
prejudice. Jurors must apply the law given by the judge to the facts
given during the trial to make a decision in a case.
Who is eligible for jury duty?
Jurors must:
- Be a citizen of the United States
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Reside in Cowlitz County
- Be able to communicate in the English
language (RCW
2.36.070)
- Not be a convicted felon or if
convicted, must have had his/her rights restored
Who can be excused from jury
duty?
Very few people are excused from jury
duty. Jurors will be excused only upon a demonstration of undue
financial hardship or extreme inconvenience or
for other reasons provided by law. (RCW
2.36.100) Any juror wishing to be excused from service must complete
both sides of the profile that is attached to the jury
summons.
If there is a medical
problem, a juror needs to provide a physician's written verification on a
prescription pad or letterhead signed by a doctor which details why the
juror cannot serve, and the length or duration of the illness or
problem. After the request has been reviewed by a Judge, a notice will
be sent via mail informing the juror of the Judge's decision.
Cowlitz County has a policy that if a
citizen is 75 years old or more asking to be excused
from jury duty for either age or health problems, a physician's
verification will not be required.
If a juror has vacation
plans or special appointments and/or events during the term that he/she
is scheduled for jury duty, he or she could ask to have their jury duty
postponed to different week up to four months away.
Any request to be
excused from jury duty must be placed in writing on the back of the
juror profile and sent back to the Clerk's Office. Please do not call
the Clerk's Office asking to be excused over the phone as phone requests
cannot be considered.
Are jurors paid for service?
Jurors are paid $10 per day and .405 cents for round-trip mileage. Checks are usually mailed four to six
weeks after the jury term ends. Call the Jury Management Clerk, Sue,
at 577-3034 with any questions regarding compensation.
How long does an average case
last?
Typically, Superior Court jury trials are
one to two days in duration. If seated on a Municipal or District Court
trial, a juror may serve a day or less. Please note that if selected as
a juror for a case, a juror will be required to serve
until the case is completed, even if it's beyond the two week jury term.
Is there a dress code?
Shorts and tank tops are not allowed.
Shirts with offensive language are also not allowed. Hats cannot be worn
in the courtroom.
Will my employer let me off work
for jury service and do they have to pay me my normal wages while I am
on jury duty?
By state law an employer must
allow a juror time off from work to serve on jury duty. It also says
employers, "shall not deprive an employee of employment or threaten,
coerce, or harass an employee or deny an employee promotional
opportunities" for serving as a juror. However, an employer is
not required to compensate the difference in pay for jury
service. (RCW
2.36.070)
Is my summons for Superior or
Municipal Court?
The summons is not for a specific court.
There is one jury management system for both courts.
Will I be sequestered in a hotel
room?
Cowlitz County has not had a sequestered
jury panel since 1984.
Is day care provided?
Unfortunately it is not provided.
Where do I park?
Parking is free. There is parking on the
east and south sides of the Hall of Justice. Handicap parking is
available directly in front of the building on the river side.
What if I have an emergency?
Because a jurors' absence could delay a
trial, it is important that jurors report each day they are required to.
If a real emergency occurs--a sudden illness, accident or death in the
family--tell the court staff immediately so that the trial can be
scheduled accordingly.
What types of cases may I hear?
Jury trials are either criminal or civil.
Civil cases:
Civil cases are disputes between private citizens, corporations,
governmental agencies or other organizations. Usually, the party that
brings the suit is asking for monetary compensation for some alleged
wrong that has been done. For example, a homeowner may sue a
contractor for failure to fix a leaky roof or people who have been
injured may sue the person or company they feel is responsible for the
injury.
The party that commences the lawsuit is
called the plaintiff, the party being sued is called the defendant.
There may be a number of plaintiffs or defendants in the same case.
Criminal cases:
A criminal case is brought by the state, city or county against one or
more persons accused of committing a crime. In these cases, the state,
city or county is the plaintiff and the accused person is the
defendant. The defendant is informed of the charges through a charging
information filed by the plaintiff.
What happens during a trial?
Events in a trial usually happen in a
particular order, however the order may be changed by the judge.
Following is the usual order of events:
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