Whether you're reporting to the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle or the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, the financial reality of jury duty in Washington State often catches people off guard.
Despite King County having one of the highest costs of living in the nation, the state of Washington mandates a jury fee of just $10 to $15 per day (King County typically defaults to $10). Yes, that is barely enough to buy a cup of coffee in Seattle.
The court does provide a mileage reimbursement for those driving to Kent or Seattle, usually calculated automatically based on your home zip code.
If you are summoned to the downtown Seattle courthouse, driving should be your absolute last resort. The court does not validate parking for the downtown location, and parking garages will cost you upwards of $30 a day. Take the bus, the Light Rail, or the Sounder train. King County usually provides transit passes or reimburses public transit costs—use them!
Washington state law strongly protects your job while you serve, but it does not mandate that your employer pay you. Fortunately, many tech and corporate employers in the Seattle area offer robust civic leave policies. Always check with HR. If you are an hourly worker who will lose income, you can request an excusal for undue hardship via the King County juror portal.
King County pays a very low $10 a day. Never drive to the downtown Seattle courthouse if you can avoid it, as parking is not covered and is extremely expensive.