[3] The jury commission shall continue to make decisions as to mental or physical competency of prospective jurors. It is on your questionnaire or summons right next to a bar code. Receive or send digital communication regarding the case while serving as a juror. 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 . If a prospective juror fails to appear or ignores a summons, they may be found in contempt of court and fined up to $50. G.S.9-6.1 There are some acceptable reasons an individual can be excused from jury duty, but they must make a request with the clerk of the superior court office or the office of the chief district court judge where they will serve. For women, this means a professional-looking pair of pants or a skirt, cardigan, sweater, twinset, or shirt. Send or receive digital communication about the case. Who is eligible to serve as a juror in North Carolina courts? Residents of the county where the summons was issued. 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. PO Box 351 There are valid excuses for not attending jury duty in the state of North Carolina, including: An excuse from jury duty is granted only if the individuals service is contrary to the public welfare, health or safety, or would cause compelling personal hardship of the juror. In North Carolina, jurors meet up to three days per month. Therefore, the prospective juror should notify their employer as soon as they receive the summons to find out about their employers payment policy for jury duty. Mentally and physically competent. Requests sent by MAIL or FAX must include the completed bottom portion of summons and supporting documentation (instructions are included on the summons document). Within 10 days of your service date, please review the following COVID-19 screening questions: DO NOT REPORT TO THE COURTHOUSE FOR JURY SERVICE IF YOU ANSWERED YES TO EITHER OF THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. In Nevada, citizens 65-plus who live more than 65 miles from the courthouse can be exempted . Like any jury duty commitment in the state of North Carolina, attendance when called for grand jury duty is mandatory, and ignoring a summons for grand jury service or skipping sessions could lead to potential legal problems. The night before their service date, jurors should call the jury information line at (919) 792-4040 and select option one (1). [2] These policies were originally passed in 1967, and they were revised in 2011. In the event of inclement weather, jurors should tune to their local television or radio station, visit the website at eresponse.mecknc.gov, or call the Jury Information Line at 1-877-649-7133 for reporting instructions and possible court closings. The jurors that pass this first hurdle are asked if serving on the jury will cause them any hardships, and lawyers from both sides question potential jurors to gauge their preexisting knowledge of the case and their potential bias. Reasons for Being Excused from Jury Duty in North Carolina, The Rights of Convicted Felons in North Carolina, Jury Duty 101: North Carolina North Carolina - List of Jury Duty Excuses, NC Prosecutors Resource Online: 106.Grand Jury Proceedings. You may be selected to serve as a juror on a criminal case or a civil case. 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. [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. If there is an emergency at home, how will my family contact me? 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. 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. North Carolina celebrates jurors all year and a special Juror Appreciation Month in July. Excuses from jury service will be granted only for reasons of compelling personal hardship or because requiring service would be contrary to public welfare, health, or safety. Excuse requests cannot be made over the phone or by e-mail. [3] The clerk of superior court then may either prepare and issue the summons from that office or may deliver the printed list of summonses or list of names and addresses of jurors to the sheriff, who will then issue the summonses in accordance with the provisions of G.S, 9-10(a). Court staff will also give jurors additional information. [3] These members serve for a term or two years, and appointees may be reappointed to successive terms. JUROR FAQ. Any person summoned as a juror who is age 72 or older may establish exemption from jury duty without appearing in person by providing the ground or reason for their exemption; and forwarding to the Chief District Court Judge at least 5 working days before the date summoned to appear. Find local administrative orders and rules, Administrative Order In Re: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Masks In The Forsyth County Hall of Justice, Legal Notices, Disclaimers and Terms of Use, You must be a citizen and resident of Forsyth County, North Carolina, You must be physically and mentally competent, You must be able to understand the English language, You must not have been convicted of a felony or pled no contest to a felony unless you have had your citizenship restored pursuant by law, You must not have been adjudged incompetent, You must not have served on a jury within the last 2 years or served a full term as a grand juror within the last 6 years, Have not served as a juror during the preceding two (2) years or as a grand juror in the past six (6) years, NOT a Forsyth County, North Carolina Resident, Students enrolled full time in a learning institution, Convicted of a felony and voting rights have NOT been restored. Read more in the Employers' Guide to Jury Service. When reporting to the courthouse, the potential juror will likely watch an orientation video. [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. See G.S.9-6.1. Juror Information - Exemptions. Jury service in this county operates on the one-day / one-trial system. The court may request additional medical documentation supporting their claim. [3], At least 30 days prior to any district or superior court cases that require a jury, either the clerk, assistant clerk, or deputy clerk must prepare a randomized list of potential jurors from the master jury list. You may request to be permanently excused or temporarily excused for a specific portion of a six week jury term. These citizens can request a permanent disqualification from jury selection. Failure to comply with this summons is punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both. 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. However, the law does not require that the employee be paid in full while serving. Have you experienced any of the symptoms in the list below in the past 48 hours? 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. 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? Reasons for Excusal, Postponement or DefermentJury service is the solemn obligation of all qualified citizens. When jurors report to the courthouse, they will be shown an orientation video that explains what to expect as a juror. Larry King's Clubhouse: Children's Play & Care Center provides free childcare services to jurors and may be contacted at (704) 686-0285. Jurors who serve more than five days receive $40 a day. Serving. May need to provide other appropriate relief, including, but not limited to, the employees reinstatement if they were discharged because of jury service. In North Carolina, a pool of potential jurors is randomly selected from the local population of individuals eligible for jury duty. North Carolina residents over 72 years old may request to be exempted or excused from jury duty by mailing back the summons with their reason and including supporting age documentation. Ranking low when compared to other states, North Carolina pays jurors $12 per day in state court. You can also be excused if you don't meet the basic eligibility requirements for jury duty in MA . You have a jury duty excuse letter due to a necessary medical procedure. There may be various reasons why jurors feel confused or upset after a trial. 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. of excuses that may be considered, the information you must include in your written request, and any supporting documentation that is required. The guide outlines employers' responsibilities regarding jury service in North Carolina. . Individuals at higher risk for complications should they contract the Coronavirus due to underlying conditions may seek to be excused from jury service or have their service deferred with documentation from their medical provider. If you want to file a jury duty excuse request but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in three easy steps: Search Jury Duty Excuse on DoNotPay, and enter your jury duty summons information, including the assigned date, court name, juror number, and more. Find information, training, and resources. Some will be sent home the same day and will have fulfilled their duty, while others will be picked to potentially serve on a jury. Disabled jurors with a disability that interferes with their capacity to serve must give an explanation of their condition on the summons. News 9-6(b). In that instance, half of the jurors will be replaced in three-month increments. 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. Your feedback regarding the website is welcomed.