Let’s do a quick exercise. How are you feeling? Heart rate good? Optimistic about the rest of the day?

Now, how do you feel after I say the words: JURY DUTY?

Ugh! What is it about that summons in the mail that makes us cringe so much? The disruption to our schedule? The waiting around? The other jurors? 

One thing that certainly doesn’t help is the insultingly low pay. Most jurors in the state of Washington have been paid $10 per day since 1959. For people just getting by, serving can be a huge financial burden. And that’s contributing to a lack of diversity among jury pools. 

Pierce County Superior Court is trying out a way to make serving more attractive… by paying jurors $100 per day, in a first-of-its kind state-funded pilot program, running likely through next May.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes 

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

GUESTS:

• Chris Gaddis - Pierce County Superior Court Administrator
• Laurie Sale - Project Manager with the Administrative Office of the Courts with the Pierce County juror pay pilot program

RELATED LINKS: 

• Pierce County Launches Juror Pay Pilot, New Daily Rate Will be $100 Through May - WA State Courts
• Pierce County to begin paying jurors $100 a day • Washington State Standard
• 2023 Statewide juror demographic survey