Have jury duty or court in Pierce County during the pandemic? What you need to know
Pierce County courts announced changes Thursday in response to the risk of coronavirus, and encouraged people suffering from a respiratory illness to stay home.
Courts also asked employees and visitors to increase handwashing and hand sanitizer use, cover coughs and sneezes, keep six feet from others when possible, and frequently disinfect surfaces.
Jury duty
Vulnerable Pierce County jurors will be excused in response to the risk of coronavirus, the Superior Court, District Court and Tacoma Municipal Court said in a press release.
That includes pregnant jurors, jurors who are 60 or older and don’t want to report, those with weakened immune systems and those with chronic health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes.
Jurors who qualify and want to be excused or postpone their jury duty should email pcjuryoffice@piercecountywa.gov.
There also will be fewer jurors called starting March 16, and two jury orientation rooms will be used to allow for social distancing.
Jurors assigned to a department who have symptoms should call the number provided by the judicial assistant. Jurors who aren’t assigned to a department should call Jury 253-798-7782.
Puyallup Municipal Court jurors for the month of March have been excused. Jury trials have also been canceled for this month in Fife.
Pierce County Superior, District and Tacoma Municipal Court dates
Besides jurors, anyone supposed to be in court who has COVID-19 symptoms should call the court or the person who subpoenaed them.
In Superior Court, anyone in trial or who has a hearing scheduled should contact the judicial assistant for that department.
Those who have a hearing scheduled before a commissioner should call 253-798-6697.
Those with any other Superior Court criminal matters should call 253-798-2988.
For District Court matters, call 253-798-7487 or use the “live chat” on the District Court website.
Tacoma Municipal Court can be reached at 253-591-5357.
Fife Municpal Court dates
Those with symptoms who have a hearing should call 253-922-6635, according to the court’s website.
Juvenile Court dates at Remann Hall
People with symptoms who have a matter at Remann Hall should call 253-798-7900.
Lakewood Municipal Court
The court posted online: “Municipal Court functions will be open during normal business hours. Any changes to court hours or limiting of proceedings will be updated on our website.”
Puyallup and Milton Municipal Court dates
Those who are ill and need to ask for a continuance should talk to their attorney or the court at 253-841-5450, the court’s website said.
Western State Hospital hearings
Those with matters at Western State Hospital who have symptoms should call 253-756-2951.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 12:41 PM.
