Rule 38 – Right to a jury trial; demand

May 14, 2021 | Civil Procedure, Wyoming

(a) Right preserved. Issues of law must be tried by the court, unless referred as hereinafter provided; and issues of fact arising in actions for the recovery of money only, or specific real or personal property, must be tried by a jury unless a jury trial be waived, or a reference be ordered. All other issues of fact shall be tried by the court, subject to its power to order any issue to be tried by a jury, or referred.
(b) Demand.

(1) By Whom; Filing. Any party may demand a trial by jury of any issue triable of right by a jury by

(A) serving upon the other parties a demand therefor in writing at any time after the commencement of the action and not later than 14 days after service of the last pleading directed to such issue, and
(B) filing the demand as required by Rule 5(d). Such demand may be indorsed upon a pleading of the party.
(2) Jury Fees.

(A) District Courts.

(i) All demands for trial by jury in district courts shall be accompanied by a deposit of $50.00, if a six person jury is demanded, or $150.00, if a twelve person jury is demanded.
(ii) The jury fees in cases where jury trials are demanded shall be paid to the clerk of the court, and paid by the clerk into the county treasury at the close of each month, and
(iii) The clerk shall tax costs in each such case, and in all other cases in which a jury trial is had, a jury fee of $50.00, if a six person jury trial is held, or $150.00, if a twelve person jury trial is held, to be recovered by the unsuccessful party, as other costs, and in case the party making such deposit is successful, that party shall recover such deposit from the opposite party, as part of the costs in the case.
(B) Circuit Courts.

(i) All demands for trial by jury in circuit courts shall be accompanied by a deposit of $50.00.
(ii) The jury fees in cases where jury trials are demanded shall be paid to the clerk of the court, and paid by the clerk to the State of Wyoming Treasurer at the close of each month, and
(iii) The clerk shall tax as costs in each such case, and in all other cases in which a jury trial is had, a jury fee of $50.00, to be recovered of the unsuccessful party, as other costs, and in case the party making such deposit is successful, that party shall recover such deposit from the opposite party, as part of the costs in the case.
(c) Specifying issues. In its jury demand a party may specify the issues which the party wishes to be tried by a jury; otherwise the party shall be deemed to have demanded trial by jury for all the issues so triable. If the party has demanded trial by jury for only some of the issues, any other party — within 14 days after service of the demand or such lesser time as the court may order –may serve a demand for trial by jury of any other or all of the issues triable by a jury in the action.
(d) Waiver. The failure of a party to properly serve and file a jury demand as required by this rule constitutes a waiver by the party of trial by jury. A proper demand for trial by jury may not be withdrawn without the consent of the parties.

Wyo. R. Prac. & P. 38

Adopted effective March 1, 2017