SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5072

 

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Judiciary, January 29, 2001

 

Title:  An act relating to juror compensation.

 

Brief Description:  Establishing juror compensation.

 

Sponsors:  Senators Kline, McCaslin, Kastama, Thibaudeau, Fraser, Patterson, Winsley, Kohl‑Welles and Prentice.

 

Brief History: 

Committee Activity:  Judiciary:  1/23/01, 1/29/01 [DPS-WM].

Ways & Means:  3/6/01.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

 

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5072 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Kline, Chair; Constantine, Vice Chair; Costa, Johnson, Kastama, Long, McCaslin, Thibaudeau and Zarelli.

 

Staff:  Lidia Mori (786‑7755)

 

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

 

Staff:  Bryon Moore (786-7726)

 

Background:  Jurors in superior, district, and municipal courts may be paid up to $25 but not less than $10 for each day in attendance.  The $10 per day juror fee was first instituted in 1959 and proponents of this bill indicate that jurors in most jurisdictions receive $10 per day.

 

The Board for Judicial Administration believes Washington State relies on citizen jurors to make important decisions about law, business practice, and criminal matters and they should be compensated appropriately.

 

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Jurors in superior, district, and municipal courts receive $10 for the first day or partial day in attendance and $45 for each day or partial day after  that.

 

Superior court or courts of limited jurisdiction may establish a jury improvement fund.  Jurors  may contribute some or all of their juror fees to this fund and the court uses these funds for  enhancing juror services and accommodations.  The court keeps the fund separate from the  county=s general fund.

 

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill was not considered.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Available.

 

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

 

Testimony For:  There has been no change in juror compensation since 1959.  If the current juror compensation of $10 per day were adjusted for inflation, it would be about $55.  Our juries should be diverse.  If people cannot serve due to financial reasons, we are losing economic diversity.

 

Testimony Against:  None.

 

Testified:  Daniel J. Berschauer, Board of Judicial Administration; Larry Shannon, WA State Trial Lawyers Assn.; Sherry Appleton, WA Assn. of Criminal Defense Lawyers.