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1. How do I know when to report for jury duty?

One month before your term of service begins, you will receive your summons and a notice of the jury trial dates for the month. You will be assigned a group number which will be located at the top of your summons. 

Getting More Information

The evening before each of these dates please call the jury information number at 800-722-4790 to determine whether your group is to report for jury duty. The recorded message will be available on weeknights from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. If you are scheduled to appear on a Monday, you can call the designated number anytime between 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Monday. 

Please note that it is highly unlikely that you will be asked to report on each of these dates as approximately 400 jurors have been summoned for the month.

2. What if I have an emergency or require a postponement?

If there is a grave illness in your family or an equally serious problem that would constitute an undue hardship or extreme inconvenience for you to appear in court on the dates specified, you must notify the jury clerk as soon as possible. Do not wait until the day your group is called.

3. How long do trials last? How long will I be there?

The judges try to seat their juries in the morning, therefore, if you are not seated on a case, you are normally released in the early afternoon. If you are a juror on a particular trial, you should plan on being at the courthouse until about 5 p.m.

The average trial length is one day in District Court, one day in Probate Court and three days in Circuit Court. Occasionally a case will last longer. The judge will inform you of the expected length of the case during jury selection.

4. What should I wear?

Please wear clothing that is conservative, clean and comfortable. Dress as if you were going to church or a job interview. Unacceptable items of clothing are:

• Baggy pants falling below the hips
• Bare midriffs
• halter tops
• Hats (unless for religious purposes)
• Miniskirts
• Muscle shirts
• Pants with holes
• Shirts with inappropriate language, depicting violence or sexual acts, or promoting drug or alcohol use
• Shorts
• Tank tops

5. Where should I park?

Please park in the public lot on the east side of the courthouse (1045 Independence Boulevard), and enter the courthouse through the doors nearest the chimes. Use the stairs or elevator to go to the lower level and follow the signs to the jury assembly room.

6. Can I bring my laptop, pager or cell phone with me?

These items may be used while you are waiting in the jury assembly room, however, they must be turned off in the courtrooms and during jury deliberation.

7. Can I bring food with me?

Coffee, sodas, snacks, and juice are available in vending machines near the jury assembly room and deliberation rooms. You may bring your own food, especially if you are diabetic or on a special diet. Open food and beverages are not allowed in the courtrooms. 

If you are seated on a jury, in Circuit Court, all jurors eat lunch together, compliments of the county. If you are seated on a jury for District or Probate Court lunch is on your own.

8. What else should I bring?

Please bring your summons. You may also bring books or magazines to read while you are waiting.

9. How am I compensated for my service?

You will be paid $15 plus mileage at the rate of $0.20 a mile for the first half day of service. Full day service is $30 plus mileage for the first day. Subsequent days of service are paid at the rate of $22.50 per half day or $45 per full day along with round-trip mileage. You will be compensated at the end of each day you are here.

10. What if my group is never called in during the month?

You do not have to report, and your term of service is over.