Once your service is complete, you won't be summoned for jury duty again until North Carolina re-adds you to the potential juror pool. After parking, use the crosswalks to cross over to the Mecklenburg County Courthouse entrance at the corner of 4th and McDowell Streets. [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. 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. Court staff will give you additional information. United States District Court. A refrigerator and microwave are located in the Jury Assembly Room for your convenience. Applications for excuse from jury service must be made by submitting a written request to the Chief District Court Judge no later than 10 days before the first day of service. [3] The time and place for which applications for excuses will be heard must be publicly announced, and prospective jurors must be informed of this time and place. A juror who is lawfully notified to attend court is subject to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 if that juror either: fails to attend court in obedience to the notice without a reasonable excuse; or. [3] If the chief district court judge or the judge or trial court administrator (designated by G.S. Access to public records is available from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, by appointment only. There is a newer version of the North Carolina General Statutes . The potential juror must make their excuse request with the clerk of the superior court office or the office of the chief district court judge. 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. You can, however, claim payment if your earnings are in any way affected by your participation. AO 224. [3] The jury commission may also use names from other lists as long as those lists are deemed reliable by that commission. excuses for getting out of jury selection in NC, legally excused from jury duty in North Carolina, A resident of the county in which summoned, having been convicted of a felony, had their civil rights restored, Able to understand and communicate in the English language, Have not been adjudged non compos mentis (sound mind). Reviewed by: Michelle Seidel, B.Sc., LL.B., MBA. If sent to a courtroom or selected to sit on a trial, jurors will serve until released by the judge. If selected to serve on a trial that is completed before the end of the day, those jurors will return to the jury assembly area and may then be selected for service on another case. New or unexplained onset of cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, New or unexplained loss of taste or smell, New or unexplained muscle aches (not due to injury or exercise). A jury summons is an official court summons. Jurors should dress professionally and comfortably, but not too casually. The Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court's Office will be open to the public between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. While efforts will be made to reduce delays and to avoid long waiting periods, some waiting time should be anticipated. A business cannot penalize a worker for attending jury duty they cannot fire or demote that worker. Do you have a comment or correction concerning this page? Conclusion. Jury service is the solemn obligation of all qualified citizens. Reviewed by: Michelle Seidel, B.Sc., LL.B., MBA. Penalties for contempt of court include: Jurors should contact their jury foreperson if they wish to excuse themselves for a short term. You may be selected to serve as a juror on a criminal case or a civil case. All requests for excuse from jury service must be in writing. Excuses will be granted ONLY for reasons of compelling personal hardship. General InformationDeferral/Excusal: To request an excuse or postponement from jury service, please submit the information via Electronic Form located below, Mail, OR Fax. Grand jurors investigate accusations of crimes committed against the District of Columbia. If they do not, the court could hold them in contempt for ignoring the summons. North Carolina Jury Duty Summons Frequency: A juror will be exempt for a period of 2 years from the date on which they were discharged from their prior service. Common reasons senior citizens may be able to . If the grand jury panel returns an indictment, the party may then be charged and go to trial before a jury to determine their fate. You have a jury duty excuse letter from a doctor. Postal Service of the Court's decision. While jury duty is a civic requirement for all eligible citizens in North Carolina, the state restricts how often you can be summoned for jury duty in order to ensure a fresh jury pool and prevent undue hardship by being summoned too frequently. On-Site Child Care Your request CANNOT be handled by telephone. Juror Support Program While there are a number of ways to be legally excused from jury duty in North Carolina, failing to appear when summoned for jury selection or jury duty without an excuse is illegal, and can result in legal repercussions. If you serve more than five days, you will receive $40 per day. See G.S.9-6.1. Until you have received a response from the District Court Judge's Office, you are still . See G.S.9-6.1. Many judges do not allow anyone to come to court wearing halter or tank tops, cut-off jeans, shorts, or shirts with offensive wording. Residency: If you reside outside of the twenty four counties of the Middle District, you must submit an excuse request and a copy of a government issued photo identification such as a drivers license, passport or state issued identification card as proof of permanent residence. Face Covering Mandate and Other COVID-19 Protocols Lifted as 26th Judicial District (Mecklenburg County) Expands Court Operations, Weddings will be conducted by appointment only, Mecklenburg.Magistrate.Weddings@nccourts.org, Mecklenburg County Juror Orientation video, North Carolina Judicial Branch You, the Jurorvideo, jurymanagementoffice@mecklenburgcountync.gov, COVID-19 quarantine and isolation information, Juror Handbook: A Guide for Potential Jurors, Legal Notices, Disclaimers and Terms of Use, To access Criminal files by appointment, email, To access Civil files by appointment, email, To access Estate files by appointment, go to the. You will also be given additional information from the court staff. 2011 North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 9 Jurors. Elected public officials should submit proof of office documentation. All county residents are eligible for jury service except those who have served on the jury in the last two years, who are under eighteen years of age, who are physically or mentally incompetent, or who have been convicted of a . in Communications and English from Niagara University. North Carolina law prohibits employers from firing or demoting an employee because they serve as a juror. Jurors are directed to follow the instructions on the back of the jury summons as to the time and place to report for jury service. (Requirements and instructions are listed below. Food and Beverages If a meeting is canceled, the court will send the jurors a notice of that cancellation. Turn right out of the elevator and report to the Jury Assembly Room (5450). State law does not require that an employee receive full wages while serving. Usage is subject to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Citizens over the age of 75 can be exempt from jury service under this age exception.. A person who is seventy-five years of age or older may file affidavit requesting an exemption from jury service and shall be permanently exempt from jury service. It is not necessary to disclose the personal details of your specific medical condition. 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. Then all jurors present will take an oath as jurors and be given a red juror badge to wear until they are released from jury duty by the judge. [3] Anyone who does not qualify under these terms are subject to challenge for cause. Talk about the case to anyone while serving as a juror. Acceptable excuses for missing jury duty are: An excuse from jury duty is granted only if a juror's service is contrary to the public welfare, health or safety, or the compelling personal hardship of that juror. During the voir dire process, each lawyer will ask the pool of potential jurors a series of questions about their background, beliefs, prejudices, or relationships with any party to the case. The first stage in jury selection is summoning a pool of potential jurors from the list of local citizens eligible to serve on a jury in North Carolina, as described above. 9-6(b). To serve as a Massachusetts juror, you must: Be a citizen of the United States. Penalties for Not Serving Jury Duty in North Carolina, The Rights of Convicted Felons in North Carolina, How to Write Request Letters for Jury Duty, NC Courts: Communication Rules for Jurors. While efforts will be made by the court to reduce delays in trial starts and to avoid long waiting periods, some waiting time should be anticipated while jurors are chosen to sit on a jury. Their exemption from jury duty is then at the discretion of the court. This will allow sufficient time to make arrangements to accommodate your request. Find information, training, and resources. Learn more about how to avoid jury duty scams. Who is eligible to serve as a juror in North Carolina courts? Dress comfortably, but not too casually. If you do not receive a letter in the mail indicating the status of your request at least 24 hours prior to your assigned jury date, you must comply with all the instructions indicated on your jury summons. Remember you will be acting as part of the court while serving as jurors, so dress appropriately. Generally, lunch begins at 12:30 p.m. and ends at 1:55 p.m., unless you are otherwise instructed by the Jury Coordinator or Judge. Speak and understand English well enough to be able to participate in a trial. The commissions then draw names at random to send a summons to prospective jurors via U.S. mail. Requests for any reason should be made as soon as possible, and in any event, at least five days before the reporting date. [3] In order to account for jurors whose duty has been deferred until this session, the clerk of superior court may decide to decrease the number of names on the randomized list. The North Carolina jury selection policies govern a process used to find a panel of jurors who will be fair and impartial to both sides during a trial. . The process of "Voir Dire", the actual act of jury selection, is how judges, defense attorneys, and prosecutors actually choose the individuals who will sit on the juries for upcoming criminal and civil cases. Residents of the county where the summons was issued. Parking Information: Free parking is available at the Liberty Plaza parking deck. Winston-Salem, NC 27120 Exemptions: You may be exempt from jury service if you are employed on a full time basis as an elected public official, are a member of any governmental police or regular fire departmentor a member in active service of the armed forces of the United States. When reporting to the courthouse, the potential juror will likely watch an orientation video. . Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Jury Forms. Upon request of the court, medical documentation of any disability may be submitted. To be eligible to serve as a juror you must meet the following qualifications: What if I can't serve on the date I have been told to report to the courthouse? Served on a grand jury in the previous six years. Most cases last 3-5 days. (Requirements and instructions are listed below.). Federal jurors are paid $50 per day. It is your responsibility to monitor your mail for a CONFIRMATION letter from the District Court Judges Office to determine if your request has been approved or denied. How Are Potential Jurors Chosen in North Carolina? COVID-19 SCREENING AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES. The Jury Management Office hopes the interactive website is user-friendly and is an efficient way to obtain important information about your jury service. Jurors serve on a petit or grand jury, as indicated on the summons. Juror Handbook Electronic devices, such as cell phones, laptops, and iPads/tablets, are allowed in the courthouse. We value your feedback! Rules for jurors regarding mobile devices, electronic communication, internet use, and social media. For your convenience, we have created several excuse forms described below, however, you are welcome to send in a typed or legible letter. There may be various reasons why jurors feel confused or upset after a trial. Check in with the jury staff when you arrive. We have set up a jury information line at 1-800-246-7607 that provides detailed information on the types (medical, age, residence, etc.) . To access the Lactation Room, please see one of the Jury Coordinators. It's important to check each court's specific guidelines. If a juror has a family emergency while serving, they can be reached through court staff, who will see that they get the message. Electronic Devices / Internet Access Notice of Excuse. They get reminders mailed to them approximately one week before each scheduled meeting. If a family emergency occurs while you are serving, you may be contacted through the Clerk of Courts office or at an emergency number given to you by a bailiff. Jurors selected for a trial that takes several days will need to be present each day during the trial. Court staff will also give jurors additional information. You should dress comfortably, but not too casually. "Every year, thousands of Pennsylvanians attend jury . The Jury Act, which is set out at Title 28, U.S. Code, Sections 1861-1878, calls for random selection of citizens' names from voters lists or from voter . Should I bring anything with me to the Courthouse? of excuses that may be considered, the information you must include in your written request, and any supporting documentation . Notify your employer as soon as you receive a jury summons and check with your employer regarding the payment policy for jury service. Any person summoned as a juror who is a full-time student at an out of state educational institution and who wishes to be excused or who is 72 years or older and who wishes to be excused, deferred, or exempted, may make the request without appearing in person by filing a signed statement of the ground of the request at any time five business days before the date upon which the person is summoned to appear.