Pierce County has launched a pilot program to increase juror pay, which will now be $100 per day plus mileage reimbursement for those appearing at the County-City building. This initiative, running from October 14, 2024, through May 2025, replaces the previous $10 daily rate in Pierce County and most of Washington.
The pilot aims to determine if higher juror compensation reduces barriers to participation and enhances jury diversity. In collaboration with Pierce County, the Administrative Office of the Courts is distributing surveys to evaluate the impact of increased pay on jurors and demographic changes throughout the program.
Upon completion of the pilot, findings will be compiled into a report for presentation to the legislature in 2026. The Supreme Court Minority and Justice Commission anticipates delivering this report along with recommendations for a potential permanent adjustment to juror pay.
Funding for this seven-month pilot totals nearly $1.6 million from the legislature, covering $90 of each juror's daily rate while Pierce County funds the remaining $10. The last time juror pay was increased was in 1959.
Chris Gaddis, Pierce County Superior Court Administrator, emphasized that "the fact that the legislature has looked at this issue and that they've put $1.6 million into seeing if reducing this barrier...has the ability to increase the diversity of our juries, that's huge." He called it "a big win for the court system and it's a big win for the public."
A statewide survey by Seattle University found household income significantly affects jury service participation. It noted underrepresentation among Black, American Indian, and Alaskan Native respondents and identified conflicts or hardships as common barriers.
Laurie Louise Sale from AOC’s Office of Judicial and Legislative Relations expressed hope that a successful pilot would lead to an expanded jury pool: “People actually saying yes to summons because they're going to have more money...and feel that they can take a step away from their daily job position.”
The Washington State Minority and Justice Commission continues its efforts against racial bias in courts since its establishment by state lawmakers following a 1988 task force's findings on judicial bias.
Contact information is provided for Laurie Louise Sale (Pay Pilot Project Manager), Patric Haerle (Communications Officer), Wendy K. Ferrell (Judicial Communications Manager), and Lorrie Thompson (Communications Officer).