Chapter 2.24
JURIES AND JURY TRIALS

Sections:

2.24.010  Master jury list.

2.24.020  Jury term list.

2.24.030  Disqualification of jurors.

2.24.040  Juror summons.

2.24.050  Juror orientation.

2.24.060  Trial schedule.

2.24.070  Pretrial conference.

2.24.080  Juror confirmation.

2.24.090  Final jury selection.

2.24.100  Juror compensation.

2.24.110  Notice – Contempt of court.

2.24.010 Master jury list.

At least once a year, upon order of the municipal judge, the court clerk shall prepare or obtain a master list of names and places of residence of persons selected by random means from electoral rolls. If the master list becomes exhausted or the presiding judge believes it soon will become so, additional jurors may be added to the master list from the electoral rolls in the same random manner as before, and these persons may be summoned in the same manner as those added to the term jury list. (Ord. 2544 § 1, 1988)

2.24.020 Jury term list.

Not less than 10 days from the beginning of the jury term ordered by the municipal judge, a term jury list of names and places of residence of persons randomly selected from the master jury list shall be prepared. The number of names on the list shall be determined, as needed, by the municipal judge. (Ord. 2544 § 2, 1988)

2.24.030 Disqualification of jurors.

When it appears to the municipal judge that the person whose name is drawn is dead or resides out of the city, the ballot shall be destroyed. If it appears to the municipal judge, or he has good reason to believe, that a person whose name is drawn is temporarily absent from the city, or is ill, or is so engaged as to be unable to attend at the time of the trial without great inconvenience, the ballot shall be laid aside, the name not placed on the jury list for the trial for which the jury in being selected, but such ballot shall be returned to the jury box after the drawing is completed. (Ord. 2544 § 3, 1988)

2.24.040 Juror summons.

Not less than 10 days before the beginning of the jury term, the court clerk shall mail notice of summons, juror questionnaire, and information letter to each person on the term jury list. If the term jury list becomes exhausted or the presiding judge believes it may become so, additional jurors may be selected from the master list and added to the term jury list in the same random manner as before. These may be summoned either by written notice through the mail or by official personal delivery, at a reasonable period of time before attendance is required. (Ord. 2544 § 4, 1988)

2.24.050 Juror orientation.

At the time a person is summoned to serve as a juror, the municipal judge shall question the person to determine the eligibility of that person to serve as a juror. This may be accomplished by sending juror eligibility forms to each prospective juror by mail or official delivery along with the summons. Failure to complete and return the form with accurate information and by a specified date without a proper showing of just cause for such a failure can result in punishment for contempt. Review of the juror questionnaire shall usually be done at the juror orientation for each jury term. The municipal judge shall explain the duties of jurors, discuss the questionnaire with prospective jurors and determine the eligibility of a sufficient number for two jury panels for the term. (Ord. 2544 § 5, 1988)

2.24.060 Trial schedule.

An initial list of trials for each jury panel shall be distributed to eligible jurors that become members of a jury panel at the juror orientation. New or rescheduled trials may be added to the jury panel’s trial schedule by mail or actual notice at any time during the term. (Ord. 2544 § 6, 1988)

2.24.070 Pretrial conference.

The municipal judge shall schedule pretrial conferences at least three working days prior to each scheduled trial. A written, pretrial summary prepared by the city and defense counsel may be approved by the judge prior to the scheduled date of pretrial. If a pretrial summary is not approved in advance, the city attorney, defense counsel, and the defendant shall appear at City Hall at the scheduled pretrial date and time. The municipal judge may establish by order such forms and procedures deemed necessary for the pretrial conference. (Ord. 2544 § 7, 1988)

2.24.080 Juror confirmation.

Each juror shall be instructed to contact municipal court prior to each scheduled jury trial assigned to that juror and to record confirmation of their availability. After the pretrial conference, the municipal court clerk shall record the telephone message informing jurors of the final trial scheduled. The municipal court clerk shall prepare the jury list from juror confirmations for the municipal judge. (Ord. 2544 § 8, 1988)

2.24.090 Final jury selection.

At the time of trial, six confirmed eligible potential jurors shall be called by the municipal judge for to the jury box for voir dire examination by the city attorney and defense counsel. Potential jurors may be excused by the municipal judge for cause as defined under state law. Each attorney may exercise up to three preemptory challenges in the manner directed by the municipal judge. (Ord. 2544 § 9, 1988)

2.24.100 Juror compensation.

Jurors who appear at the trial and serve as jurors shall receive as compensation for such services the sum of $10.00 for each day of attendance upon the municipal court. (Ord. 2544 § 10, 1988)

2.24.110 Notice – Contempt of court.

When a jury is drawn, summons therefor shall be issued and mailed by the municipal judge. Any person notified to appear as a juror and disregarding such notice may be adjudged in contempt of court by the municipal judge. (Ord. 2544 § 11, 1988)