Court staff will also give jurors additional information. Occasionally, a grand jury may extend to 18 months of service. Notify your employer as soon as you receive a jury summons and check with your employer regarding the payment policy for jury service. of excuses that may be considered, the information you must include in your written request, and any supporting documentation that is required. A grand jurys jurors are chosen from a master list of registered voters and licensed drivers, and picked by the jury commission from each county randomly. If you would like to request a temporary excuse, please wait until you have received a summons, not a questionnaire. All jurors will take an oath. Further, it is a scam if payment by telephone is demanded to satisfy the bench warrant. Jurors will be instructed as to whether they need to report at all or at a specific time. They must: Those who wish to be deferred, exempted or excused from serving on a jury in North Carolina can file a statement on the back of the summons at least five business days prior to their scheduled appearance at the courthouse. Until you have received a response from the District Court Judges Office, you are still required to appear at the county courthouse for jury duty on the specified summons date if your juror number is called. You also must include the bottom portion of your summons with your excuse request. Residents at least 72 years old may request an age exemption from jury duty by mailing their summons with their reason to the court with supporting age documentation. Jury Service ScamsWARNING: If you fail to appear, you cannot be fined by telephone or email. You may email the DAC directly by emailing. Obtain current reporting status or status of a request for deferral or excusal (submitted via website), Request a deferral, excusal, or disqualification, Print Employer Letter or Jury Service Verification Certificate, after jury service concludes. Persons 65 years of age or older who wish to be excused. This may be mailed or faxed to: Chief District Court Judge Prospective jurors commonly use the following ground to request jury duty exemptionNorth Carolina does not recognize them all: Jury service is an important civic function that supports one of the fundamental rights of citizens - the right to have their cases decided by a jury of their peers. Jurors may bring a book or other reading materials, needlework, crossword puzzles, stationery, or other materials to occupy their time. Proceed across the atrium to the public elevators and take the elevator to Level 5. Be 18 or older. Those who need to be excused for a longer term of more than three months will need the approval of a judge. The Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Courts Office will be open to the public between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Mail or fax requests can be submitted to: Chief District Court Judge North Carolina celebrates jurors all year and a special Juror Appreciation Month in July. May need to provide other appropriate relief, including, but not limited to, the employees reinstatement if they were discharged because of jury service. 9-6(b), and this must be done five business days before the date on which the person is summoned to appear. How can jurors make comments regarding jury service? Additionally, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes are readily available throughout the suite, and all seating and other high-touch areas are disinfected daily. A juror in North Carolina is paid for the time they serve jury duty: Potential jurors stay in a courthouse waiting area during jury selection on their first day. Any phone call stating that a (bench) warrant has been issued for your arrest due to not reporting for jury service is a scam. In the initial session of a countys criminal superior court after January 1 and July 1, nine names are selected from the master jury list. People who do not meet the legal exemptions can still submit an excuse request if they believe service will cause them undue hardship. Should I bring anything with me to the Courthouse? Your duty as a juror is to observe the trial and decide whether the accused is guilty or not. They must be: A prospective juror must not have been on a jury in the two years prior to receiving the summons or have served on a grand jury full term in the six years prior. As a juror, you are expected to maintain a professional and respectable appearance while performing your duties. 2011 North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 9 Jurors. View our newest version here. 2021 2020 2019 2018 2016 Other previous versions. [3], Process according to North Carolina General Statutes, "Jury Commissions, Preparation of Jury Lists, and Drawing of Panels", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_Carolina_Jury_Selection_Policies&oldid=694501174, This page was last edited on 9 December 2015, at 17:43. Have you experienced any of the symptoms in the list below in the past 48 hours? Electronic devices, such as cell phones, laptops, and iPads/tablets, are allowed in the courthouse. Panel selections can often last more than one day. The commission then draws prospective jurors names randomly and sends them a summons via U.S. mail. The primary caretaker of a disabled person or a person age 65 or older who cannot care for himself. This page explains the excuse request process only. Jury service is a mandatory civic duty, but if a person has an acceptable excuse for missing jury duty, they can let the court know and show supporting documentation. Lunch will not be provided; however, you may bring your own lunch. You can, however, claim payment if your earnings are in any way affected by your participation. Dress for court in a manner that maintains the dignity of the court. All requests must be submitted a minimum of seven (7) days prior to your jury service date. Those who make the cut as jurors must serve until the trial is completed, which could take a few days or several weeks, depending on the case. In Nevada, citizens 65-plus who live more than 65 miles from the courthouse can be exempted . The Lactation Room features a counter and cabinets, a sink with a "hot shot" water dispenser for sanitizing, a changing table, refrigerator, and a rocking chair. If you are selected to serve on a jury, you will be provided with the trial date, and must return to serve on the jury for the duration of the trial and deliberations. Are you isolating because you tested positive for COVID-19 or are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results? After parking, use the crosswalks to cross over to the Mecklenburg County Courthouse entrance at the corner of 4th and McDowell Streets. All rights reserved. Go through the security checkpoint. Federal jurors are paid $50 per day. 9-6(b) rejects the request for exemption, the prospective juror must immediately be notified of that decision by the trial court administrator or the clerk of court, and this can be done by telephone, letter, or in person. North Carolina jury selection policies are documented in the North Carolina General Statutes 9-1 through 9-9. A decision regarding your request will be returned via mail or email. Jury Forms. 26th Judicial District Announces Modified Court Operations: Weddings will be conducted by appointment only Monday throughFriday, from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse. For a small number of jurors, though, this may be more challenging than expected. (Requirements and instructions are listed below. Copies of leases, utility bills, etc. A jury summons is an official court summons. [3] The person must file a signed statement of the ground of the request, and this statement must include a brief explanation of the disability that interferes with the person's ability to serve as a juror. [3] The master list must be created from a record of all the registered voters and persons with drivers license records. Juror Information - Exemptions. [3] However, public access to juror information shall be limited to the alphabetized list of the names with no access to the addresses, which are confidential and not subject to discloser without an order of the court. Seek outside information about the case while theyre serving on the jury. Some people may disqualify themselves from serving on jury duty by taking advantage of an exemption; these exemptions must be specifically requested. Find information about jury service in this county. Jury selection is the procedure whereby persons from . Grand jurors serve for a total of 27 workdays. Court staff will make certain that you receive any emergency messages. For example, many judges do not allow anyone to come to court wearing halter or tank tops, cut-off jeans, or shirts with offensive wording and / or images. Jurors will take an oath before serving on a jury and will be given a badge to wear until the court releases them. View Sitemap. [3] The persons who are summoned may serve as jurors in either the superior court or district court or both for the week specified, and they will be discharged at the end of the weekly session(s), unless they are involved with a trial of a case, in which case they will be discharged when the trial is completed..[3], According to the North Carolina General Statutes, all persons are qualified to serve as jurors and to be included on the master jury list who are citizens of the State and residents of the county. How Are Potential Jurors Chosen in North Carolina? Protective Measures: Age: Individuals 70 years of age or older who do not wish to serve as a juror, should indicate their date of birth in a letter or on the, Hardship requests based on employment, transportation, distance to the courthouse, vacations, school schedules, or childcare are generally not considered valid grounds for excuse from jury duty. You should mail this form as soon as possible to U.S. District Court, 324 W. Market St., Greensboro, N.C., 27401 Attn: Jury. Read more in the Employers' Guide to Jury Service. You have a jury duty excuse letter due to a necessary medical procedure. Every odd numbered year, the jury commissioner shall prepare the master jury list, by merging records of registered voters and persons with drivers licenses, and any other lists the jury commissioner may deem reliable, for the biennium of jury service, to commence January 1st the following year. We have set up a jury information line at 1-800-246-7607 that provides detailed information on the types (medical, age, residence, etc.) The court staff will ensure that jurors get the message. [3] Once this list is created, the commission must merge the names from each source used and randomly select the desired number of names for the master jury list. A person who wishes to seek an exemption must do so at least five days before theyre scheduled to appear by writing their excuse on the back of the summons and including documents supporting their reason. Let us know in a single click. A new group of jurors are summoned each day of the week and, if selected to serve on a jury, a juror will serve for that day or for the length of a trial. You should be 18 years or older age and you live in the judicial district for one year. No employer may discharge or demote any employee because the employee has been called for jury duty, or is serving as a grand juror or petit . These nine people join nine other people already serving on the grand jury for the past for six months. It is not necessary to disclose the personal details of your specific medical condition. They are made up of 18 jurors who hear testimony and look at other evidence to determine whether an organization or individual should be formally charged with a crime. [3], The names of individuals who have been summoned for jury service as well as the dates on which the individuals have served must be noted on the master jury list. Who may serve as a juror? Jurors may bring their lunch. When you report to the courthouse, you may be required to watch a juror orientation video. (Texas Gov't Code 62.111. Requests sent by MAIL or FAX must include the completed bottom portion of summons and supporting documentation (instructions are included on the summons document). Those serving on a grand jury get $20 a day. See G.S.9-6.1. [3] The jury commission may also use names from other lists as long as those lists are deemed reliable by that commission. For your convenience, we have created several excuse forms described below, however, you are welcome to send in a typed or legible letter. Full-Time Student. Jury service in this county operates on the one-day / one-trial system. [3] The three-member committee chooses jurors from a master list that they compile using the policies that are given in G.S.