Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Judiciary Committee

SB 5253

Title:  An act relating to increasing civil jury trial fees.

Brief Description:  Increasing civil jury fees.

Sponsors:  By Senators McCaslin, Kline, Long, Constantine, Hewitt, Horn, Honeyford and Costa.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Raises the fee for demanding a jury in a civil trial in district court from $50 to $125.

$Raises the fee charged against a defendant convicted by a jury in a criminal trial in district court from $25 to $125.

Hearing Date:  3/27/01

Staff:  Bill Perry (786‑7123).

Background: 

A person who requests a jury in a civil trial in district court must pay a "jury demand" fee of $50.  (Juries consist of six persons in district court civil cases.  The fee for a six-person civil jury in superior court is $125.)  The local treasurer remits 32 percent of the district court civil jury demand fee to the state for the Public Safety and Education Account (PSEA).

A person who is convicted by a jury in a criminal trial in district court is charged a $25 jury fee.  (Juries consist of six persons in district court criminal trials.  The fee for a six-person criminal jury in superior court is $50.)  This district court criminal trial jury fee is not subject to the PSEA assessment.

Summary of Bill: 

The district court civil jury demand fee is increased from $50 to $125.

The district court criminal jury fee is increased from $25 to $125.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.