Small Town News

Changes coming to simplify county jury duty process

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Jury duty in Klickitat County will be just a little bit different from now on, according to Klickitat County Clerk Saundra Olson.

"We've needed a fresh approach to the system," she said. "The county has set up a new process to encourage participation in jury duty, without having people concerned that their time could be too tied up."

The new system ensures that a juror's term of service will be just two weeks or one trial. Also part of the new procedure is that the date needed to serve will be immediately indicated on the summons.

Olson indicated that residents may feel reluctant to show up for jury duty with no sense of how long a commitment could be expected of them. The new system aims to take that uncertainty out.

Jurors are reminded that they need to keep the portion of the form with their date of service, as that will be the only notice sent to them of their date to appear.

Now, when a potential juror receives a questionnaire, the summons will be part of the form. The summons portion will have the date to appear right on it, so that jurors will know immediately when their jury term will be. There are call-in instructions on the summons for further information and instructions on reporting. Jurors also must remember to call that number in case the jury trial has been settled or cancelled and a jury is no longer needed.

Jurors will still need to fill out and return the questionnaire portion to the Clerk's Office immediately. A juror may request a change of jury term, but the questionnaire must be returned immediately to allow time for the request to be reviewed and a response mailed back.

"It's a misdemeanor not to show up for jury duty" Olson stated, adding that the county's goal is more to provide incentive, not pressure. Her written statement on the changes in jury service is encouraging. "We hope that shortening the term of service and advising of the date to report at the beginning," it says, "will make it easier for citizens to exercise their constitutional right and privilege of citizenship in the United States."

Anyone wanting more information regarding jury service can call the Clerk's Office at 773-5744.



Copyright 2009 The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 The Goldendale Sentinel Goldendale, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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