Jury Service

How Jury Service Operates

Jurors are drawn annually by computer from the list of registered voters in the county who are at least eighteen years of age. There are four terms of court each of which is three months beginning January 1st. Jurors are selected to serve in one of those terms for the next year.

The Court sends notices and questionnaires to those who have been selected approximately thirty days before the term begins. Jurors are required to complete and return the questionnaire which is used by the attorneys and the Court to help expedite jury selection.

The jurors selected for a term are then divided into several lists. The Court alternates these lists during the term for trials. As a general rule, criminal trials are held on Mondays and Thursdays of the second and fourth weeks of the month, and civil trials begin on Mondays of the first week of the month. Jurors on each list are generally required to report two times during the term, although depending on the trial schedule, it could be more or less.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I be excused from jury service?

Jury service is a duty of citizenship that each person should perform. However, in cases of mental or physical conditions that prevent you from serving, or in cases in which service would constitute extreme hardship, the Court can excuse you. The Court requires a note from a physician describing your physical condition and how it would affect your ability to serve as a juror. The fact that you may miss work is not sufficient justification to be excused. Most criminal trials last one day, although some may last two or three days. Most people can serve for this period. If you are seventy-five years of age or older, you can be excused if you make a request in writing.

2. How long will I be subject to being called for jury duty?

You will be subject to call for one term of three months. If you are selected to serve on a jury for a criminal or civil trial, you will be excused from serving again during that term. If you are selected to serve on the grand jury, you will generally serve one day each month of the term. Grand Jury sessions generally last about a half day, although sometimes it is all day.

3. How often can I be called for jury duty?

You are not subject to serving for one year after the end of the term for which you were selected. If your name should be drawn during that time, contact the Court and your name will be removed from the list for that term.

4. How much will I be paid?

The County Commissioners have approved a rate of $10.00 per one half day and $20.00 per full day for each day of service.

5. How will I know when to report?

You will receive notice of the date approximately 10-14 days in advance by regular U.S. mail or by email if you prefer, of the date and time that you are to report for jury duty.

Your notice will have a telephone number to call the night before the date that you are to report after 6 p.m.to confirm that you must appear the next day. If you are to report on a Monday, you can call the Friday before after 6 p.m. You may also check the Court’s website for jury information.

6. What about parking?

The county does not have a visitor parking lot. You will have to park in public spaces around the courthouse or in other public parking spaces near the courthouse. You will receive a parking pass with your notice. Place this in the windshield of your vehicle when you park so that you will not be given a parking ticket.

7. What should I wear?

Wear comfortable clothing that is appropriate for appearing in Court. Shorts, tank tops, string tops, hats, culottes, sweat pants, flip flops and clothing with printing, pictures or symbols that are inappropriate or any other type of clothing that is disruptive to the court’s proceedings are not permitted. You will be sent home to change and return to Court if you appear wearing inappropriate clothing.

8. What hours will I serve?

Jurors are to report at 8:15 a.m. on the first day and court begins at 8:45 a.m. Jury selection is usually completed before noon. Those not selected are then excused. Normal hours for trials are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is a lunch break of at least one hour around noon and a break of 10-15 minutes in the morning and afternoon. It is possible that hours will vary depending on the progress of the trial. Once the jury begins deliberations, they may continue until the early evening hours depending on the trial.

If you have any questions, contact us as follows:

By telephone: (937) 393-2422
By fax: (937) 393-2989
By email: commonpleas@co.highland.oh.us