SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5253

As Passed Senate, January 30, 2002

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

Brief Description:  Increasing civil jury fees.

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

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Judiciary:  1/29/01, 2/6/01 [DP].

Passed Senate:  3/10/01, 46-0; 1/30/02, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Staff:  Aldo Melchiori (786‑7439)

Background:  In civil cases before district courts, a party demanding a jury pays a $50 fee for official services that is then taxed as costs against the losing party.  In criminal proceedings before a committing magistrate, a $25 jury fee is collected by the clerk.

Jury demand fees in superior court are not subject to division.  In district courts, however, the county treasurer, or city treasurer in the case of violations of city ordinances, remits 32 percent of the jury demand fees to the State Treasurer, who then deposits these fees in the public safety and education account.

Summary of Bill:  For all civil and criminal cases tried in courts of limited jurisdiction, a jury demand fee of $125 is collected.  Jury fees collected by courts of limited jurisdiction are not subject to division.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill brings civil jury fees into balance with comparable fees paid in superior court.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Judge Peter Lukevich, District and Municipal Court Judges Association.