H-3515.2  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2593

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State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Representatives Ogden, Carlson and Schual‑Berke

Read first time 01/17/2000.  Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

Exempting physicians from jury duty.

    AN ACT Relating to exempting physicians from jury duty; and amending RCW 2.36.100.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 2.36.100 and 1992 c 93 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Except for a person who is not qualified for jury service under RCW 2.36.070, and except as provided in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, no person may be excused from jury service by the court except upon a showing of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity, or any reason deemed sufficient by the court for a period of time the court deems necessary.

    (2) At the discretion of the court's designee, after a request by a prospective juror to be excused, a prospective juror excused from juror service for a particular time may be assigned to another jury term within the twelve-month period.  If the assignment to another jury term is made at the time a juror is excused from the jury term for which he or she was summoned, a second summons under RCW 2.36.095 need not be issued.

    (3) When the jury source list has been fully summoned within a consecutive twelve-month period and additional jurors are needed, jurors who have already served during the consecutive twelve-month period may be summoned again for service.  A juror who has previously served may only be excused if he or she served at least two weeks of juror service within the preceding twelve months.  An excuse for prior service shall be granted only upon the written request of the prospective juror, which request shall certify the terms of prior service.  Prior jury service may include service in superior court, in a court of limited jurisdiction, in the United States District Court, or on a jury of inquest.

(4) Beginning on the effective date of this act, and ending July 1, 2005, a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW who practices in an area that has been designated by the federal government as a health personnel shortage area shall be excused from jury service upon the written request of the physician.  A request to be excused under this subsection shall be accompanied by such documentation of licensure as the court may require.

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