BILL REQ. #:  S-4455.1 

Read first time 01/21/08.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to exemptions from jury service based on age; 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, no person may be excused from jury service by the court except:
     (a) When the person is seventy-five years of age or older and notifies the court of the person's decision not to serve, in which case the person's name shall be removed from further consideration as a juror from the master jury list; provided that:
     (i) No person who is seventy-five years of age or older shall be required to apply for this exemption;
     (ii) The person may be reinstated to the master jury list by submitting a signed, written request asking to be reinstated; and
     (iii) Each court shall establish procedures to allow the person, or another person having a power of attorney or other legal authority to act in the person's behalf, to notify the court of the person's decision not to serve; provided that no person who is seventy-five years of age or older shall be required to make a personal appearance in court;
     (b) Upon a showing of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, or public necessity((,)); or
     (c) For 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.