Compensation
Jury Management will notify you of any delays as information becomes available. You should be prepared to wait. You may wish to bring a book, needlework, or other small hobbies to work on during those breaks. However, the courts request no newspapers be brought to the courthouse, and that you not read about or listen to any media publications about any court cases from the time you receive your summons until you have completed your jury service term.
Jury fees are set by the County Commissioners of each county. Spokane County's current fee is $10 per day of service. Mileage is paid at the State's current rate per mile. You will receive a debit card when you check-in for orientation on your first day. Payroll is processed weekly, and funds should be available within a week of the service date. If a juror serves during the second week of the jury term, a second payroll will be processed and funds added to the same debit card.
A Social Security number is required in order for us to pay jurors. This is required by the IRS for County auditing, and is used only for this purpose. Please be prepared to check or give us your number on orientation day. At no time will the jury coordinator or court staff person call you and ask for your social security number over the phone. Social Security Numbers are purged from the system within 6 weeks of service.
Jury fees are reportable on income tax returns under other income; however, no IRS forms will be sent to jurors unless a juror has received over $600 from jury service.
If a juror is receiving unemployment benefits, the $10 jury fee for each day will be subtracted from the unemployment benefits received for that week. The juror may need to provide a verification of juror days. Benefits will only decrease for those days that you report for jury service. A juror is expected to seek employment on days when he/she is not serving as a juror during that two-week term. See Employment Security Department website.
Some places of employment pay regular wages while an individual is serving on jury service. This is not a requirement however, and the decision to pay wages is entirely up to the business. If an employer does pay during absence due to jury service, they will normally require that you reimburse them for jury fees received. Jurors may need to check with their employer to see if the business reimburses wages while they are absent for jury service.
If jury payment has not been received within four weeks from the date of service, the juror should call the Court Administrator's Office and let the Jury Coordinator know.
Compensation
Jury fees are set by the County Commissioners of each county. Spokane County's current fee is $10 per day of service. Mileage is paid at the State's current rate per mile. You will receive a debit card when you check-in for orientation on your first day. Payroll is processed weekly, and funds should be available within a week of the service date. If a juror serves during the second week of the jury term, a second payroll will be processed and funds added to the same debit card.
Social Security Number
A Social Security number is required in order for us to pay jurors. This is required by the IRS for County auditing, and is used only for this purpose. Please be prepared to check or give us your number on orientation day. At no time will the jury coordinator or court staff person call you and ask for your social security number over the phone. Social Security Numbers are purged from the system within 6 weeks of service.
Taxable
Jury fees are reportable on income tax returns under other income; however, no IRS forms will be sent to jurors unless a juror has received over $600 from jury service.
Unemployment
If a juror is receiving unemployment benefits, the $10 jury fee for each day will be subtracted from the unemployment benefits received for that week. The juror may need to provide a verification of juror days. Benefits will only decrease for those days that you report for jury service. A juror is expected to seek employment on days when he/she is not serving as a juror during that two-week term. See Employment Security Department website.
Salary/Wage Reimbursement
Some places of employment pay regular wages while an individual is serving on jury service. This is not a requirement however, and the decision to pay wages is entirely up to the business. If an employer does pay during absence due to jury service, they will normally require that you reimburse them for jury fees received. Jurors may need to check with their employer to see if the business reimburses wages while they are absent for jury service.
Pay Complications
If jury payment has not been received within four weeks from the date of service, the juror should call the Court Administrator's Office and let the Jury Coordinator know.