FAQs • Fife, WA • CivicEngage

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Municipal Court

1. I have been summoned for jury duty. How will I know when I need to report to Court?: Jury trials are generally held on Thursdays. You will need to call the Court each Wednesday after 5:30 p.m. during the month you are to serve. The number to call is 253-922-6635. There will be a recorded message that will either direct you to report for jury duty or will indicate that the jury trial has been cancelled.

2. How do I request to be excused from jury service?

Medical Exemption

You may be excused from jury service due to a medical exemption. Attach a letter from your physician to the juror questionnaire and return it to the Court.

Job-Related Exemption

A job related exemption requires a letter from your employer. Since jury service is for a very limited amount of time, your employer must show that your presence is vital and that your absence would create an undue hardship.

Eligibility & Postponements

You are eligible for jury duty, even if you do not live in Fife, as long as you live in Pierce County. However, if you are now living a great distance away and travel is a hardship, you may request in writing to be excused.

You can request a postponement of jury service by writing to:

Fife Municipal Court
3737 Pacific Highway E
Fife, WA 98424

3. Are jurors paid for their services?: Yes, jurors are compensated at a rate of $10 per day plus mileage. Checks for jury services are mailed within 30 days of jury service.

4. What kind of cases do Fife Municipal Court jurors hear?: Municipal Court jurors hear testimony and view evidence regarding misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases such as driving under the influence (DUI), driving while license suspended, theft, and assault. More serious felony cases such as robbery and homicide are handled in Superior Court. Jurors will not be hearing civil cases.

5. How are jurors selected?

Potential jurors are randomly selected and mailed a questionnaire to determine their eligibility. To be eligible for jury service a person must be a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age, a resident of Pierce County and able to communicate in English.

Eligible jurors are placed in a jury pool for six months. Each month, Fife Municipal Court calls a number of jurors from the pool to serve. Jurors receive a Jury Summons from the Court. Jury service is for a period of one month. Jurors are required to serve on only one trial during this time. The average trial is one day in duration.