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Jury Duty in Washington

Who can be excused from jury duty in Washington, what happens if you skip it, juror pay, and whether your employer must let you serve.

Short answer: In Washington a court may excuse a person from jury service only for undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity or another reason the court finds sufficient, for as long as the court thinks necessary. RCW 2.36.100

Who can be excused from jury dutyIn Washington a court may excuse a person from jury service only for undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity or another reason the court finds sufficient, for as long as the court thinks necessary. A person 80 or older who attests on the court's form (no doctor's note required) that they cannot serve for health reasons must be excused. A person excused for a particular term may be reassigned to another term within 12 months, and someone summoned again after already serving at least a week in the past 12 months may ask in writing to be excused.
The section in force on 2026-10-31 is labeled "Effective until January 1, 2027"; a new version takes effect on that date.
Source: RCW 2.36.100
Penalty for skipping jury dutyIn Washington, a person summoned for jury service who intentionally fails to appear as directed is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Source: RCW 2.36.170
Jury duty pay and your jobWashington employers must give an employee enough leave of absence to serve on a jury, and may not fire, threaten, coerce or harass an employee, or deny promotions, because the employee was summoned, responded or served. An employer who intentionally violates this is guilty of a misdemeanor, and an employee penalized can sue for damages and reinstatement plus attorney's fees. Jurors receive a county-set expense payment of $10 to $25 for each day of attendance plus mileage. The statute requires leave, but the sections reviewed do not require the employer to pay wages during service.
Source: RCW 2.36.165, 2.36.150

More Washington criminal law

FAQ

Who is exempt from jury duty in Washington?
In Washington a court may excuse a person from jury service only for undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity or another reason the court finds sufficient, for as long as the court thinks necessary. A person 80 or older who attests on the court's form (no doctor's note required) that they cannot serve for health reasons must be excused. A person excused for a particular term may be reassigned to another term within 12 months, and someone summoned again after already serving at least a week in the past 12 months may ask in writing to be excused.
What happens if you miss jury duty in Washington?
In Washington, a person summoned for jury service who intentionally fails to appear as directed is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Does your employer have to let you serve on a jury in Washington?
Washington employers must give an employee enough leave of absence to serve on a jury, and may not fire, threaten, coerce or harass an employee, or deny promotions, because the employee was summoned, responded or served. An employer who intentionally violates this is guilty of a misdemeanor, and an employee penalized can sue for damages and reinstatement plus attorney's fees. Jurors receive a county-set expense payment of $10 to $25 for each day of attendance plus mileage. The statute requires leave, but the sections reviewed do not require the employer to pay wages during service.

Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.