Pierce County Superior Court's jury pay pilot closing

Pierce County Superior Court has announced that its jury pay pilot program is coming to a close. Paying jurors $100 a day instead of the customary $10 a day, the pilot began on Oct. 14 last year. The last trials with jurors participating in the pay pilot will begin the week of April 14, and the pilot is expected to fully wrap up by mid-May.

The Washington State Legislature created the $1.5+ million pay pilot program with support from the Washington State Supreme Court Minority and Justice Commission. The intention of the pilot was to explore whether increasing juror pay could help reduce barriers to service and thereby enhance the representativeness of jury pools.

Now a comprehensive study will be conducted by the Washington State Center for Court Research at the Washington Administrative Office of the Courts. The study will analyze the results of thousands of demographic surveys collected during the pilot and compare them to historical survey data previously provided by Pierce County jurors. This research will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of increased juror pay in achieving the court’s goals.

Recognizing that the transition back to the original compensation of $10 per day may present difficulties for many jurors, the court says it remains committed to exploring ways to support jurors while balancing the constraints of budget and resources and will continue to advocate for increased pay on a permanent basis. The court’s ability to perform its constitutionally required duties depends on the invaluable assistance of citizens who willingly perform their civic duty. 

Pierce County Superior Court is the second largest Superior Court in the State of Washington serving the citizens and visitors of Pierce County. The Court is staffed with 23 judges and 10 commissioners. There are two sites where court is held: the County-City Building at 930 Tacoma Ave. S. and Remann Hall Juvenile Court at 5501 6th Ave., Tacoma. For more information, visit piercecountywa.gov/122/Superior-Court.