HomeMy WebLinkAboutContractAgreement re: Jury Study
November 28, 2022
AGREEEMENT BETWEEN RESEARCHERS
AND TRIAL COURTS REGARDING PARTICIPATION IN STATEWIDE JURY STUDY
The Legislature has appropriated funding for a statewide demographic survey of prospective
jurors. The purpose is to obtain a better snapshot of prospective jurors throughout the state and to
obtain a data point for proposals that will increase jury service. The judicial branch, through the
Administrative Office of the Courts Minority and Justice Commission, is overseeing the survey.
The State Court Administrator has entered into a contract with the following researchers
(hereinafter “Researchers”) to conduct the survey by analyzing the survey responses and to
provide a report on such findings:
1.Pete Collins; Associate Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology &
Forensics, Seattle University
2.Brooke Gialopsos; Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice,
Criminology & Forensics, Seattle University
3.Bailey Tanaka; Graduate Student, Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology &
Forensics, Seattle University
Renton Municipal Court (hereinafter “Court”) enters into a data sharing agreement with the
Researchers in order to permit Researchers to properly analyze the survey responses. As part
of this agreement, the Researchers named above are authorized to obtain demographic survey
responses and jurors’ unique juror identification number or badge number. The method of
collecting the unique identification number must be conducted in a manner that preserves juror
anonymity. The Court shall not disclose the name, address, or date of birth of any juror to the
researchers. Any information obtained about a juror (name, address, date of birth, or any other
information that potentially identifies a juror) shall be considered confidential and Researchers
shall not disclose such information to anyone. Researchers shall not disclose any personally
identifiable demographic information to the Court, but they may disclose the unique juror
identification numbers or badge numbers to the Court. The Court may provide information on
how far a juror advanced in the selection process by unique juror identification number or
badge number to the researchers. This is intended to allow Researchers to determine if
demographics play a role in the elimination of jurors as they proceed from summons through
the jury process.
Researchers agree the unique juror identification number is confidential and shall not be
disclosed to anyone outside the research team and the court absent a court order. If a legal
request or subpoena for the Researcher’s data is made to the Researchers, the Researchers will
give immediate notice to the Presiding Judge and the Administrative Office of the Courts.
Researchers are also required to maintain all of the data related to this project, including the
unique juror identification number or badge number, in a secure location both physically and
electronically. Any publication of the survey results shall not include the unique juror
identification number or any information that risks protecting juror anonymity.
CAG-23-060
Agreement re: Jury Study
November 28, 2022
Superior Court will not gather any data that is not gathered at the time of entry of this Order,
such as information about which jurors are excused for hardship, for cause, etc.
This agreement shall expire December 31, 2023. Any deletions or additions of names to this
agreement will require the presentation of an amended agreement noting all changes. All
agreements shall be approved by the Superior Court Presiding Judge, or a judge designated by
Presiding Judge to sign in his/her absence. The Clerk will file the agreement in the
Administrative General Order file.
Violation of any of the above provisions shall terminate the researcher’s ability to collect juror
demographic data and be reported to the State Court Administrator and the Presiding Judge.
Dated:
________ ____________________________________
Kara Murphy Richards
Presiding Judge - Renton Municipal Court
Peter Collins
______________________
Brooke Gialopsos
3/3/2023