The Court appreciates your willingness to serve in this vital role as a juror. It is a service only you and your fellow citizens can provide.

Complete and return your Jury Summons Questionnaire at least 5 days before the start of your service term.

Click Here to Complete your Summons Online 

Mail or Hand-Deliver completed Summons
Alternatively, you may mail or hand-deliver your completed questionnaire to the Clerk's Office located on the first floor in the Wahkiakum County Courthouse at 64 Main St., Cathlamet, WA 98612.

SERVICE TERM

Wahkiakum Jurors are summoned to a service term of one month per RCW 2.36.010(11). You are on-call for any jury trial scheduled during your month of service.  You do not need to report to court every day during your on-call month. If you are required to appear for jury selection, we will notify you by mail or by email (if you have signed up for email notifications).  

The juror summons will be mailed out approximately 3 weeks before your jury term begins and will state the month in which you will be called to serve for jury duty. (For Example: If you are called for jury duty in February, you will receive your summons in January.) You are on call for any jury trial scheduled during your month of service.  Since Wahkiakum County has less than 3,500 available jurors, it is very common for a juror to be summoned to serve more than once in any given year. 

REQUESTING EXCUSAL or POSTPONING JURY SERVICE

The Jury Questionnaire must be completed and returned, even if you have a request to be excused or asking your service term to be postponed. 

Postponement

If you are unable to serve during your scheduled month, you may postpone your jury service for up to six months. You may postpone/reschedule only once, and a new summons will be sent to you for the month you select.

Requesting Excusal

Click the following link for information regarding how to request to be excused from jury service and what documentation is required: HOW TO REQUEST EXCUSAL FROM JURY SERVICE.

Please be aware that previous excusals, unless you were permanently excused, do not guarantee that you will be excused again. Each request is reviewed individually and considered as though it is being submitted for the first time. The Court does not maintain records from prior years, including past summons, medical documentation, or earlier requests to be excused.  

Submitting a request to be excused does not mean you have been automatically excused. All requests are reviewed by the Court and you will receive written notification of the decision either by letter, postcard, or by email (if you are enrolled in electronic notifications).

HOW TO REPORT FOR JURY SERVICE:

When you have been summoned, trial updates are available both on this webpage and by calling the automated JURY LINE: 1-866-570-7276. 

Once a jury trial has been confirmed, the court handling the case, either District Court or Superior Court, will notify potential jurors who were summoned for that month when to appear in Court for jury selection. Jurors will receive a Letter to Appear for Service by mail or by email (if they have enrolled in electronic notifications), and this letter/email will provide important reporting instructions, including the date, time, and location to appear at the courthouse for jury selection.

REPORTING FOR JUROR SELECTION

If you have received a letter instructing you to report for juror selection, please arrive at the courthouse by the time indicated in the letter you receive, as all jurors must go through courthouse security, which includes passing through a metal detector and having bags searched. Jurors should not bring weapons of any kind and should allow extra time to complete the screening process. 

After passing through security, jurors will check in with court staff and be directed to a waiting area. Jurors will remain there until the jurors whose names were randomly selected are directed to the courtroom to participate in the voir dire process. 

Voir Dire

Once the randomized jurors are seated in the Courtroom, the Voir Dire process will begin. The Judge will tell you about the nature of the case, then introduce the lawyers and other parties involved in the case. The Judge will have all jurors take an oath in which you will promise to answer all questions truthfully. After all jurors are sworn in, the judge and the lawyers will question you and other members of the panel to find out if you have any knowledge about the case, any personal interest in it, or any feelings that might make it hard for you to be an impartial juror. This question process  is called Voir Dire, which means "to speak the truth."

Though some questions may seem personal, you should answer them completely and honestly. If you are uncomfortable answering them, tell the Judge. Questions are not asked to embarrass you. They are intended to make sure members of the jury have no bias or past experiences which might prevent them from making an impartial decision.

Impaneled Jurors

Once a person has been selected to serve on a trial as a juror, you are expected to be there every day until a verdict is reached and the Judge releases you. You must not discuss the case with anyone once you are selected and sworn on the case. You must not research the laws, history of the case, blog, or post on any form of social media as doing so may lead to a mistrial.

Alternate Jurors

Additional jurors may be chosen, known as alternates, so that if any members of the impaneled jury are unable to complete the trial for some reason, the trial can continue. Alternate jurors participate in the trial proceedings but do not take part in deliberations unless they have been called to replace a member of the impaneled jurors. 

Daily Schedule

Lunch breaks are taken each day and breaks are taken mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Jurors are sometimes also excused to the jury room if issues must be discussed or decided in the courtroom, outside of the jurors' presence. Typically the day ends approximately at 4:30pm but it is up to the Judge to determine when trial ends each day.