Q: What if I have been called twice or have already served in the past year?
A: If in the past 12 months you have been called twice or have already served, contact your local jury office. Explain to the jury staff person that you have been summoned twice and you would like to make sure that does not happen again. It is important for you to call to make sure the problem is cleared up. If you have served on a trial, it is important to keep the certificate that the judge in your trial gives you at the end. The certificate proves that you have served in case a question arises. If you were called but did not serve, keep your summons as a record; the jury office staff should provide a certificate of service.
If you have been called again but it has been more than 12 months, your name has been randomly selected again. Please read the summons carefully and follow the directions. Call your jury office if you have specific questions.
Q: What should I do if I need special accommodations?
A: If you need special accommodations (such as assistance with a wheelchair, hearing amplification, special seating), contact the local jury office and let them know what type of assistance you will need. If they cannot reasonably accommodate you, you may be excused from jury service.
Q: How much and when do I get paid?
A: Currently, jurors are paid $15 per day starting with the second day of service either on a case or in the assembly room while available to be assigned to a case, plus 15 cents per mile, one way, for mileage (Code Civ. Proc., § 215). Some counties pay more than the required minimum amount. Checks for jury service are computed at the completion of service and are mailed to you at your home address. Checks should be received within two weeks after you complete service. Contact your local jury office if you have not received compensation or have questions.
Q: What if I do not speak English?
A: If you cannot understand English, contact the jury office. If you need assistance, a friend or a family member who can speak English can make the phone call for you, but you may have to appear in person in court in order to request a disqualification.
Q: What happens to my job or school attendance record?
A: Remember that you have a one-time ability to postpone jury service to a more convenient time. Read your summons carefully or contact your local jury office to find out the right way to request a postponement. The California Labor Code (§ 230) makes it unlawful for any employer to fire or harass an employee who is summoned to court to serve as a juror. If you are harassed or fired, contact your local jury office or the judge assigned to your trial. The law also protects students and teachers.
Q: What if I care for a dependent child or adult?
A: If you have a dependent child or adult under your care, you may ask for a postponement or excuse from jury service. Read your summons carefully or contact your local jury office for specific information for your county.
Q: Is my privacy protected during and after the trial?
A: The judge will take your privacy into consideration when making decisions about the case. The judge must balance the requirement in the federal Constitution that guarantees people a public and speedy trial on the one side against jurors' real concerns about privacy on the other side. If you have concerns about privacy, please let the judge know. If a newspaper or television reporter, or a lawyer or a friend of one of the people involved in the case, approaches you during the trial, let the judge know immediately. Such contact is iinappropriate during a trial. After the trial is over, the media and the parties in the case can contact you, but you do not have to talk to them.
Q: How can I get out of jury service?
A: Jury service is a civic duty that every eligible adult in California has. This service to your community is the most direct, hands-on involvement in government most Californians will experience. If you honestly cannot serve, the law provides several undue hardship categories that can allow for an excuse for a summoned juror for up to one year. Write the reason for your excuse on the summons and return to the jury office. You may have to appear in court on the date on your summons in order to explain to the judge the reason for your excuse. Be prepared to receive a postponement to a more convenient time rather than a one-year excuse.