Basic Jury Service Information
What to Expect
Jury Service is mandatory and prospective jurors' names are obtained from voter registration and DMV records. Service may be required as often as once per year and can be from one day to the length of one trial, starting at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m.
What to Wear
Business attire is suggested. No tank tops, shorts, bare midriffs, strapless dresses, flip-flop sandals, or bare feet are permitted in the courtroom.
Entering a Court Facility
When entering any court facility you may be screened through a security device. Do not bring knives, scissors, handwork needles, crochet hooks, metal nail files, screwdrivers, tools, wallet chains, handcuff keys or any item that may be used as a weapon.
Warning: All persons entering court facilities are subject to search. All weapons are prohibited. It is a felony to bring firearms or other unauthorized weapons into court buildings. This includes all knives, tear gases such as pepper spray and mace, taser and stun guns or deadly weapons pursuant to Penal Code Section 171B. Items considered weapons will be confiscated upon entering.
No cameras are allowed in courtrooms. See detailed list of other items not allowed in ANY court facilities.
Request to Be Excused or Disqualified from Service
For those jurors who should be disqualified based on one of the criteria covered in the Not Qualified section of your summons; or who are 70 years of age and older requesting an excuse due to a physical/mental disability or impairment; or as a result of caring for another, as listed in the Request to be Excused section of your summons. You may submit your Juror Response Form online by logging on to the Juror Web Portal.
Special Notice: Senate Bill 310 - Jury Service (Felony Convictions)
An amendment to the Code of Civil Procedure section 203, which defines who is ineligible for jury duty, took effect January 1, 2020. The new law restores juror eligibility to individuals who have been convicted of a felony unless the individual is: (a) currently incarcerated in any prison or jail or (b) currently on parole, postrelease community supervision, felony probation, or mandated supervision for the conviction of a felony or (c) currently required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Section 290 of the Penal Code based on a felony conviction.
For those jurors who are under the age of 70 requesting an excuse due to a physical/mental disability or impairment, your health care provider must describe the particular reasons for your inability to serve as a juror in the space provided on the summons response form and sign under penalty of perjury that the information is true and correct. You may return the form by mail or fax to the jury assembly room listed on your summons. You may also upload the form by logging on to the Juror Web Portal. Excuses will be valid for 12 months.
If you have misplaced the juror response form, you may download and print it from the links below:
Request for Permanent Medical Excuse from Jury Service
The following is required for those jurors requesting a permanent medical excuse due to a disability:
Submit to the jury commissioner a written request for permanent medical excuse with supporting documentation from a treating health care provider. The supporting documentation must be on the treating health care provider’s letterhead and must state that the person has a permanent disability that makes the person incapable of performing jury service. The statement must also be signed by the provider.
The applicant must submit the request and supporting documentation to the jury commissioner (at the address listed on the summons or postcard) on or before the date the person is required to appear for jury service.
You will be informed in writing (sent by postcard) whether your request is granted or denied.