All U.S. Citizens who are over the age of 18, a resident of the county that issued the jury summons, and able to understand the English language are eligible to serve on a jury in the State of California. (c) All jurors for the Superior Court, in civil and criminal cases shall be reimbursed for mileage at the rate of thirty-four ($.34) per mile for each mile actually traveled in attending court as a juror after the first day, in going only. Please be advised that any requests for such information may be a scam. Do not leave the courtroom unless there is an emergency and the bailiff has been informed. Fees are paid at the end of a trial, at the rate of fifteen ($15) dollars per day and thirty four (.34) cents per mile, one way only from their home to the courthouse. I have a sufficient understanding of the English language. However, if you are 75 years of age or older, you may be excused from jury duty at your request no medical excuse required. Instead, the new law now makes persons previously convicted of a felony now eligible and qualified, unless. Also, please note the location. If you are qualified, please follow the directions on your summons and call in or report as instructed. If any person persists in talking to you about the trial or attempts to influence your judgment as a juror, tell the bailiff. You may call the Jury Commissioner's Office during our phone hours at (408) 808-6666 to speak to a jury clerk. Staff of the superior courts will never ask past or prospective jurors for personal information like financial history, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or Social Security numbers. Sacramento, CA 95814, Request Postponement / Excuse from Jury Service, Unlawful Detainer (Landlord/Tenant) E-Filing, e-Correspondence (Family Law Self-Help Assistance), Mediation Reports and Findings and Orders After Hearing, Penal Code section 830.1, 830.2(A) or 830.33(A), https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/jury/reporting.aspx, California Code of Civil We do not send out jury summons, receive or reject excuses from service, maintain jury lists, provide proof of service, process juror payments, or perform other jury-related tasks that are the responsibility of each court. Do not enter court facilities if you have answered yes to any of the questions in the health screening survey. Courts normally begin their jury trials each morning at 9:30 AM. You can also be excused if you don't meet the basic eligibility requirements for jury duty in CA. x}[s]vS%){&ON9@QD::nM.4v+Ih4};|7}{0o!9w!rpwg/"?\6Gc?tC%YM&v'\Og8{ X;|oB60Fwa6Vt\gA{=Mg_']s&& IbHB0~Ux$,IBM3$~E6v!IML(h`e7?QC?-'{*tpnuXnaMqy m;p_Oq]c}OW99JhE (v+h)%x[^MdHl0uCoH6/mZCavJp~gh/e53Dr@kM8/w gBM z@Yhib2B^T5z3A#/0GB~y2\r ~A!l$c3d [4\?MH3tpk;:e2xTHpS__$hB1Q7#M%6#. The work done by the courts affects all people, so it is important that all communities be a part of our justice system. Click here for more information. Please wear a mask or face covering, and dress appropriately. Please use the Courts juror portal, JPORTAL, where you can register and complete a set of juror eligibility questions as well as complete the questionnaire. If directed to report, plan to attend court as a juror from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No one is exempt because of theirjob, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, or economic status. (E) Whether material injury to or destruction of the property will so disrupt the economic stability of any individual as to be against the interests of justice. WebIf you have already rescheduled your jury duty once, the system will not allow you to reschedule again. Remember that you can postpone jury service to a more convenient time. The court and its staff must employ all necessary and appropriate means to ensure that citizens fulfill this important civic responsibility. Only law enforcement officers as defined in Sec 830.1 & 830.2(a) of California Penal Code (CCP 219) are statutorily exempt from jury service by virtue of their occupation. Administrative Oversight and Accountability, Director of Workplace Relations Contacts by Circuit, Fact Sheet for Workplace Protections in the Federal Judiciary, Chronological History of Authorized Judgeships - Courts of Appeals, Chronological History of Authorized Judgeships - District Courts. Instead call 510-891-6031 or emailjury@alameda.courts.ca.govto explain your condition and request a deferral of your jury service. However, you should let your employer and/or school know well in advance, as soon as you receive your summons. For instructions click here: Zoom instructions. There are two ways to receive a pardon: one is by applying for and being granted a Certificate of Rehabilitation and Pardon, and the second is through a Direct Application for Pardon. A doctor's note may be required. School employees and students are protected as well in different parts of the law. Civil cases will last from one to two weeks or sometimes longer. All potential jurors are selected at random from lists. FAX: (559) 675-7853 The average length is around five days. The presiding judge or jury commissioner of the court. This is the law. Jury Duty 101 is a free public resource site, and is not affiliated with the United States government or any Government agency. WebPursuant to California Rules of Court, section 2.1006, a mother who is breastfeeding a child may request that jury service be deferred for up to one year, and may renew that request While in a courtroom all cell phones and pagers should be turned off. 200 South "G" Street That is the law. California provides jurors with $15 every day starting on the second day of service, except employees of governmental entities who receive full pay and benefits from their employers while on jury service. Clerk's Office Appointments (Civil or Family), Child Custody, Guardianship and Domestic Violence Recommending Counseling, Pre-grants, Continuances, Drops, & Tentative Rulings, Archived General Orders Regarding COVID-19, Alameda - George E. McDonald Hall of Justice Livestreams, Dublin - East County Hall of Justice Livestreams, Oakland - Administration Building Livestreams, Oakland - Ren C. Davidson Courthouse Livestreams, Oakland - Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse Livestreams, San Leandro - Juvenile Justice Center Livestreams. You may request to be excused for hardship by logging on to our JPortal website. You should contact the courtin question where your jury service was/has been scheduled if you have a problem with your employer because of jury service. You may not talk to witnesses, nor do independent experiments. While there is a minimum age of 18 for serving on a jury, there is no maximum age. If you are already assigned to a courtroom, contact the courtroom directly. California Superior Court, County of Santa Clara Under no circumstances should you investigate the case on your own, either alone or with other jurors. Call the Interactive Voice Response Line at. All other face coverings including bandanas, gators, balaclavas, single layer masks and anything with a vent are not permitted. Jurors are instructed to call for reporting instructions after 5:30pm on the evening prior to their report date. Able to read and understand English. There is no limit to the number of times that you may serve in a lifetime. Meals are not provided during a trial or during deliberations. WebThe grand jury is different from a trial jury (known as a petit jury). Not have been called up for jury in the last 12 months or be currently involved in another trial. If any person persists in talking to you about the trial or attempts to influence you as a juror, inform the bailiff. An undue hardship is a difficult situation that prevents you from being able to serve. This prevents a trial based on secret evidence. Please check with your employer regarding your company's policy. Reading material and handiwork may only be used while court is not in session. When you serve on a jury, you make important decisions affecting other people's lives as well as your own community. Over the years the upper age limit for the judiciary has been reduced first to 75, then to 72 and now to 70 with the opportunities to sit beyond, either full time or part time, being reduced. The selection of persons for jury service is accomplished by The Civil Code of Procedure Section 215 provides: (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), on and after July 1, 2000, the fee for jurors in the superior court, in civil and criminal cases, is fifteen dollars ($15) a day for each days attendance as a juror after the first day. Q: Is there a maximum age limit? You should plan to attend court as a juror all day from approximately 8:00 - 5:00 p.m., depending on the court's schedule. Return it to the court right away. Superior Court of California, County of Madera Office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Most trials last 3-7 days, but some may go longer. All jurors receive at least 34 cents for each mile they travel to and from court, or they can receive up to $12 for using public transit. Jurors are given proof of their service and often certificates of appreciation or thank-you letters and then are released from jury service. After 5 P.M. on the Friday before your summons date and every night during your summons week, check our Jury Reporting Instructions pageor call (510) 879-3079 to receive reporting instructions. Beginning January 1, 2020, certain individuals with a criminal history may serve on California trial juries. However, some courts may excuse you if serving on a jury and missing work would cause undue hardship to either yourself or your employer. Be alert and courteous. If an employer requires a time in/time out work certificate, please notify the jury clerk upon checking in with us. (Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2007. The Court will be transitioning to Zoom for all remote appearances. However,if you have been convicted of a felony and are currently on parole, postrelease community supervision, felony probation, or mandated supervision for the conviction of a felony, youremain disqualified from jury service. endobj If a member of the media, a lawyer, or a friend or family member of one of the people involved in the case approaches you during the trial, let the judge know immediately. Do not provide this type of information to anyone claiming to be associated with the courts, and contact your local jury office if you receive this type of request. No. The Jury Services unit of the Superior Court of Alameda County does not call citizens to request payment for failing to appear for jury service. Click here to see information about how the transition will happen in each case type. states, "Jury service, unless excused by law, is a responsibility of citizenship". However, if you have been convicted of a felony and are currently on parole, postrelease community supervision, felony probation, or mandated supervision for the conviction of a felony, youremain disqualified from jury service. Free transit service may be available in your area. Can I Get Excused From Jury Duty Because I Work? Beginning June 15, 2021, all courthouses are open to the public and most in-person services are restored. All you need is an open mind and a readiness to work with the other jurors to make decisions. There are two ways to receive a pardon: one is by applying for and being granted a Certificate of Rehabilitation and Pardon, and the second is through a Direct Application for Pardon. The judge knows approximately how long the trial will take and he or she will give you an idea when your group is called for jury selection. A: There is no maximum age limit. The judge may have to set the next day's calendar and dispose of other cases. Jurors are essential to the administration of justice. For example, the U.S. District Court of South Carolina allows people over 70 to be excused, and the U.S. District Court of California allows those over 75 to submit a request to be excused based on age, as stated on their respective websites. (Shorts, tank tops or bare feet are not permissible.) In an emergency, the judge can excuse you at any time during the trial, even during deliberations, and an alternate can take your place. WebExcuse requests cannot be accepted on the date you are scheduled to appear for jury duty. Your court may also pay for some travel costs. Once you reach age 70 in Nevada, you are exempt from serving on a jury no matter where you live. Call the judge in your case if you feel harassed. Do you have a comment or correction concerning this page? IVR (Interactive Voice Response)-(510)729-8636-This service maybe used to process a deferral of your jury service, to obtain directions to each court location, reporting instructions for each court location, payment information regarding jury service, and to receive a work certification slip. If your answer is NO to any of the above statements you must review and complete the Request to be Disqualified section below. If your report date is a Tuesday, following a holiday you may call anytime throughout the weekend after 5:30 p.m. on Friday. The judge will take your privacy into consideration when making decisions about the case. However, many courts allow individuals over a certain age to submit written requests to be excused from jury duty based on age. This means that people are not required to come to court for more than one day of jury duty unless they are assigned to a courtroom for jury selection, or serve on a trial, more than once every 12 months. As a juror you participate in an important public process and fulfill a civic obligation. If the information you provide to these two sources is not identical you may receive two summonses or you may be summoned more often than others. The California Education Code (44037 and 8 7036) and Rule of Court 5.5(d)(7) protect teachers, other school employees, and students. Eating and chewing gum is not permitted. Please be patient during this process, because other jurors have similar concerns. If they cannot reasonably accommodate you, you may request to be excused from jury service. If you can't get out of attending jury selection, there are many ways to raise the odds that you will be excused after jury selection without being selected to serve on a jury. State law (Labor Code, Section 230) prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating against an employee for taking time off to serve as a juror if the employee, prior to taking such time off, gives reasonable notice to the employer of the requirement to serve as a juror. Please note that the above changes do not affect the eligibility and disqualification criteria for criminal or civil grand juries, as specified in Section 893 of the Penal Code. If you have a child or an adult under your care, you may ask for a postponement or excuse from jury service. % Courts use Department of Motor Vehicles and voter registration lists. However, local district courts may have their own policies and procedures that allow people over age 70 to request to be excused from jury duty, says the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. reside primarily in the judicial district for one year; be adequately proficient in English to satisfactorily complete the juror qualification form; have no disqualifying mental or physical condition; not currently be subject to felony charges punishable by imprisonment for more than one year; and, never have been convicted of a felony (unless civil rights have been legally restored). When you enter the courthouse, you may go through a metal detector. You may check reporting instructions using any of the following methods: If on the day you are required to report you are ill, have a fever, are experiencing chills, shortness of breath, or are experiencing other symptoms associated with COVID-19, please do not come to court. Heres what California law says about jury duty exemptions for homeschool parents. Once a sworn juror, you may obtain a work certificate: daily, weekly or at the completion of your jury duty stay with us. WebIf you're over 18 years old, you can be called for jury service. Jurors are warned that temperatures in courtrooms can vary widely (both cold and hot) and are encouraged to dress appropriately. For more information about Jury Duty, including answers to questions about jury selection, length of service, Of course it would not end there. I have NOT been convicted of a felony, OR I have been convicted of a felony, but am currently Effective January 1, 2020, Senate Bill 310 amended California Civil Code of Procedures 203(a). which would normally not be a reason to get out of jury duty. In accordance with Senate Bill 310, which changes the eligibility and disqualification criteria listed in Section 203 of the Code of Civil Procedure, having a felony conviction on your criminal record does not disqualify you from jury service. Code of Civil Procedure Section 481.200 provides: "Public entity" includes the state, the Regents of the University of California, a county, a city, district, public authority, public agency, and any other political subdivision or public corporation in the state. WebJury duty is mandatory for all U.S. citizens, so you cant skip it or postpone it without a just cause. All potential jurors are selected at random from lists. In any individual case, unless the person is aged 70 years or older, the prospective juror may be required to furnish verification or a method of verification of the disability or impairment, its probable duration, and the particular reasons for the person's inability to serve as a juror. No. Note: The California Labor Codeat LAB 230 protects jurors. The Presiding Judge or the Jury Commissioner, at mailing address 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113. Please see the Request for Postponement section below if you cannot serve for at least 10 days following Follow the directions on the summons for postponement or excuse. Although many courts offer parking for jurors, it is often scarce. If your information is incorrect, please contact either the Registrar of Voters or Department of Motor Vehicles at the numbers listed below. Some jurors may also need to talk to a professional about feelings that the trial may have brought up. Prospective jurors are paid fees and mileage beginning with their second day of service. The California Judicial Branch offers diverse career opportunities in a variety of fields including jury management, as well as court operations, finance, information technology, legal, facilitates, administrative support, and more. The date of your appearance is on the jury postcard you were mailed. The judge may have to set the next day's calendar and dispose of other cases. Superior Court of Alameda County will implement AB1981 which changes juror travel reimbursements effective January 1, 2023. During the orientation process, you will be notified that all cellular phones and pagers be silenced upon entering the courtroom. These conferences often help expedite the trial or to avoid the possibility of a mistrial. The judge must balance the requirement in the federal Constitution that guarantees people a public and speedy trial against the concerns jurors may have about privacy.