Jury Duty Information

GRAND JURY:

The Grand Jury consists of sixteen (16) members and meets the 2nd Tuesday of each term of court (January, April and September). The main duty of the Grand Jury is to hear criminal cases presented by the Prosecuting Attorney and decide if there is probable cause. It is not their duty however, to decide the guilt or innocence of an individual.

PETIT JURY:

A Petit Jury in criminal cases determines guilt or innocence. A guilty finding must be by unanimous vote. Twelve (12) people are impaneled to sit on a criminal trial. A Petit Jury in civil cases decides between a plaintiff and defendant as to disagreements that have arisen between parties. They must also be unanimous in their decision. Six (6) people are impaneled to sit on a civil trial.

Petit Jury duty in the circuit court in the past has usually involved possible service during a period of one hundred twenty (120) days. Court is never held on Sunday and, unless extraordinary circumstances require, Court is not held on Saturday. Generally, Petit Jurors serve Monday - Friday. Court convenes at 9:00 a.m. each morning, recesses from noon until 1:00 p.m. for lunch, and adjourns at approximately 4:30 p.m. evening.

If you have been summoned to petit jury, before reporting to jury duty for the first time, please call the number printed on your summons after 5:00 p.m. the night before the indicated date on your letter, to determine if a trial is to be heard that day and further instructions.

The Circuit Clerk is responsible for the administration and management of the Jury System and provides jury panels for Circuit, Magistrate and Municipal Courts. The Clerk creates the master list of prospective jurors, randomly selects panels for attendance, qualifies and summons the jurors and monitors attendance and mileage for reimbursement purposes.