COVID-19: COURT OPERATIONS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMICRevised 5/2/2022 - 9:32 am. Check with the Jury Commissioner's Office if you have any doubts. Courts normally begin their jury trials each morning at 9:30 AM. This notice provides guidance as to how to proceed if you think you are being targeted by this scam. If you are selected to serve on a jury, after the trial is over your service is also completed for at least a year and often longer. No one person has to know everything. (2) A statutory exemption from jury service must be granted only when the eligible person claims it. All visitors will also be required to self-screen by reviewing a health screening survey. You are eligible to serve as a juror if you are 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and a resident of the county or district where summoned. Your court may also pay for some travel costs. Jurors are asked to dress appropriately for a courtroom. Jury Duty | Superior Court of California | County of Alameda No. No. As a citizen you participate in an important public process and fulfill a civic obligation. All other face coverings including bandanas, gators, balaclavas, single layer masks and anything with a vent are not permitted. Recess for lunch between 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. If the excuse reason requires additional information, your jury service will If you cannot understand English, follow the instructions on the summons or contact the Jury Administration Office at (909) 884-1858. 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. If your report date is a Tuesday, following a holiday you may call anytime throughout the weekend after 5:30 p.m. on Friday. (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. You may also wish to contact the California Department of Industrial Relationsand/or theCalifornia Department of Education. Criminal cases generally last from two to three weeks or sometimes longer. Jury Services | Superior Court of California - County of San Diego All potential jurors are selected at random from lists. No one is exempt because of theirjob, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, or economic status. you are currently required to register as a sex offender based on a felony conviction (Penal Code 290). date for the required documentation. However, if you have received a pardon from the Governor and had your civil rights restored pursuant to California Penal Code sections 4852.01-4854, you may serve on a jury even if you have been convicted of malfeasance in office. Serving would be an extreme financial burden. Alcoholic beverages are also not allowed. WebJurors are essential to the administration of justice. Jurors who are E-Mail: jury@madera.courts.ca.gov. We read every comment! Madera, CA 93637 (4) Inconvenience to a prospective juror or an employer is not an adequate reason to be excused from jury duty, although it may be considered a ground for deferral. If you are disabled, you may request a permanent medical excuse. Rule 2.1009. The court and its staff must employ all necessary and appropriate means to ensure that citizens fulfill this important civic responsibility. states, "Jury service, unless excused by law, is a responsibility of check the website: WebThis act states that individuals are legally qualified for service if they: are citizens of the United States; are at least 18 years of age; are residents of the county; and have a sufficient If your request is not allowed on JPortal, you may need to contact the jury services office for further assistance by emailing jury@alameda.courts.ca.gov or by calling the Jury Services Division at 510-891-6031. Jury Duty - Home - Superior Court of California, County of Santa The California Education Codeat 44037, 48205,87036 protects teachers and some students as well. 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. While there is a minimum age of 18 for serving on a jury, there is no maximum age. The judge and court staff will explain delays when possible. Prospective jurors are paid fees and mileage beginning with their second day of service. The current reimbursement rate for mileage is $0.34/mileage and will be calculated from the jurors address to and from the assigned courthouse. They may be obtained from the jury staff at the completion of your 1st day of jury duty. Please be patient during this process, because a lot of people have similar concerns about time. This site is maintained by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts on behalf of the Federal Judiciary. Jury Duty in California If employed you MUST report to work until your group is called in. or malfeasance while holding public office. New Law Offers Exemption from Jury Duty Based on Age Dress as you would to go to a business meeting or a social function. Contact HRTraining@alameda.courts.ca.gov. Exemptions from jury service Some jurors may also need to talk to a professional about feelings that the trial may have brought up. Of course, the emergency must be significant. We suggest you wear comfortable clothing that fits with the importance and dignity of the courtroom. WebIs there a maximum age for jury duty in CA. Instead, the new law now makes persons previously convicted of a felony now eligible and qualified, unless. be postponed to allow you sufficient time to Note: Jurors that work for a federal, state, or local government agency, which includes county, city, and school districts who receive benefits, must waive their jury fees. Jury trials cannot be held unless citizens of the state in which the trial is held are willing to perform their civic duty. Students and Teachers may be rescheduled to the next school break. Effective 1/1/2020, if you have been convicted of a felony, you are eligible to serve as a juror if you arenot: The objective of the court is to provide an accurate cross-section of the county's population. Of these people, only convicted felons falling in certain categories (as noted in Senate Bill 310, effective January 1, 2020) cannot serve. When you enter the courthouse, you may go through a metal detector. Ignoring a summons in Alameda County can lead to serious consequences, including a fine of up to: $250 for the first offense $750 for the Jury service may be postponed for a period of up to 90 days from the original summons date. 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. 191 N. First St. Call the judge in your case if you feel harassed. Jury Duty Age 70 CaliforniaYou may contact Jury Administration at 909-884-1858 or 1-866-402-JURY (5879). You may not talk to witnesses, or do independent experiments. All potential jurors are selected at random from lists. For those individuals who will now be eligible for jury service and wish to serve, please remember that selection is random. There is no maximum age for serving jury duty according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Most hardships are addressed the first day of service with the Judge. Your verdict must be based only on evidence produced in court. ), * Parking options for Downtown Superior Courthouse. Selection is random. Reading material and handiwork may only be used while court is not in session. If the request to be excused is based on care provided to a sick, disabled, or infirm person, the prospective juror may be required to furnish verification or a method of verification that the person being cared for is in need of regular and personal care. The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) publishes a manual titledThrough the Eyes of the Juror: A Manual for Addressing Juror Stress. Jury Duty Laws in California - HSLDA Please make every effort to use public transportation whenever possible. Lastly, if any individual is incarcerated in any prison or jail, they are also disqualified from jury service. California law does not permit citizens to pay a fine in lieu of jury service; a fine may be assessed, but the citizen would still be required to reschedule jury service for a later date. Postponement may be available for health problems, pre-existing personal commitments that cannot be rescheduled, or scheduled paid vacation. In California, your employer is not allowed to penalize you for missing work for jury duty. You can also get out of jury duty, based on age which can range from 65 to 80 years old, depending on Superior Court of California. JOB and SCHOOL: You are notified, as require by law, that Labor Code section 230 states that no employer shall discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for taking time off as required by law on an inquest jury or trial jury if such employee, prior to taking such time off, gives reasonable notice to the employer that he/she is required to serve. Under no circumstances should you investigate the case on your own, either alone or with other jurors. You may not substitute someone else in your place for jury duty. Registrar of Voters or call (909) 387-8300, Department of Motor Vehicle or call 1-800-777-0133. 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. Tell us what you think about the new website. If you have already responded to a summons or have served in the past 12 months, contact your local jury office. However, the judge may order that the prospective juror wear appropriate clothing if they must return for further service. Additional information can be found through theCalifornia Grand Jurors Association. Click here for more information. Additional Resources for court staff, judges, attorneys, and the public. Remember: The trial cannot proceed until everyone is present. This prevents a trial based on secret evidence. Please consult an attorney for legal advice or your probation office for further guidance. endobj Also, thosewho are currently required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Section 290 of the Penal Code based on the felony conviction are not eligible for jury service. The only people who are exempt from jury duty are members of the Armed Forces who are on active duty, members of fire and police departments, and public officers of the government. 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. This change is effective January 1, 2020. % In the courtroom, please be alert and courteous. Return it to the court right away. Follow the directions on your summons to request a postponement. The judge will make the final decision. All you need is an open mind and a readiness to work with the other jurors to make decisions. I have a sufficient understanding of the English language. Jury Duty However, if you are 75 years of age or older, you may be excused from jury duty at your request no medical excuse required. The jury commissioner, in his or her discretion, may establish a longer period of repose. An individual who has not been convicted of a felony, or if convicted and civil rights restored, attach a copy of Certificate of Rehabilitation. teachers and breastfeeding mother will need to make their request in writing via: Jury Commissioner Do you have a comment or correction concerning this page? Inclusion on the list of eligible jurors does not guarantee that you will be immediately selected for jury service. Such groups may include persons over age 70; persons who have, within the past two years, served on a federal jury; and persons who serve as volunteer fire fighters or members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew. You can update your information and request a postponement using the. If you violate this rule, you could cause a mistrial. Be alert and courteous. 200 South "G" Street All persons accused of a crime or involved in a civil dispute have a constitutional right to have a jury decide their cases. The Superior Court uses the "One Day/One Trial" program under California Rules of Court, Rule 2.1002. Jury Duty California Superior Court, County of Santa Clara California Rules of Court: Title Two Rules After long and stressful trials, some jurors may feel disoriented. 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. Keep in mind that your initial jury duty summons is only for attending jury selection day, where it will be decided if you are to actually serve on a jury during the "Voir Dire" process. Usually it must be rescheduled during the same year and not exceed 90 days from the date of your origina summons week. Age The office is in the Main Courthouse and is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Jury Staff is available to assist sworn jurors beyond 3:00 p.m. as needed. WebAn amendment to the Code of Civil Procedure section 203, which defines who is ineligible for jury duty. You must be at least 18 years of age to serve.