How was I chosen for jury service?
The Council of Superior Court Clerks of Georgia oversees the creation of a master jury list of county residents compiled from licensed drivers, persons with state identification cards and registered voters. Your name was drawn at random from that master list.
Who is eligible to serve as a juror in DeKalb County?
Jurors must be citizens of the United States and residents of DeKalb County Georgia, be at least 18 years old, be physically and mentally competent, and must not be a convicted felon whose rights have not been restored.
Do I have to respond to the jury summons?
Yes. A jury summons is an official court document. You are required to fill out the online eJuror Questionnaire prior to your service date. Failure to report as required could result contempt charges by the Court.
Can my employer fire me if I serve as a juror?
It is against the law for an employer to fire or demote an employee because they serve as a juror. In DeKalb County, salaried employees must be paid their regular salary during the employee’s absence from work for jury duty. The employee should not be charged annual leave or sick days for days away from work due to participation in mandatory jury service. However, the employee’s salary may be reduced by the amount of fifteen dollars for the first day and twenty-five dollars per day for each additional day the employee services, which is the amount of the stipend they will be paid by DeKalb County for jury service. If serving on Grand Jury duty, the employee’s salary may be reduced by the amount of fifty dollars for each day of service.
Will I be paid for jury duty?
Yes. You will receive $15.00 for the first day you serve and $25.00 for each subsequent day.
Grand jurors are paid $50.00 for each day of service.
Where do I go to report for jury duty?
Jurors are to report to Room 100 in the DeKalb County Courthouse, 556 N. McDonough St., Decatur, GA 30030 at either 8:00 A.M. or 12:00 P.M., depending upon your Jury Summons.
Grand Jurors are to report to the One Court West building in Downtown Decatur, to the room listed in their summons.
Where do I park?
For individuals summoned for jury service, free parking is available in downtown Decatur in the parking deck located at 125 West Trinity Place. Handicap parking is available on all levels of the parking deck, near the elevators, with the exception of the 2nd level.
What types of cases will I hear?
You may hear either criminal or civil cases.
What should I bring with me to the courthouse?
You will need to bring the Jury Summons, driver’s license or state Identification Card, glasses, and/or hearing devices (if needed). You may also bring a book or other reading materials to occupy your time when you are not in the courtroom. Knitting needles, glass, or other sharp objects are not allowed in the courthouse. While efforts will be made by the court to reduce delays in the starting of trials, some waiting time should be anticipated. You may use cell phones, laptop computers, and other electronics in the Jury Assembly Room only.
What should I wear?
You should dress comfortably, but not too casually. Business attire is appropriate. Judges, generally, do not allow anyone to enter their courtroom wearing halter or tank tops, cut-off jeans, or shirts with offensive wording. Also, you might want to wear layered clothing since courtroom temperatures may vary considerably.
How long could my jury service last?
DeKalb County uses the one-day or one-trial system, whichever is longest. If you are seated for a trial, you must serve until the trial ends. Please note that jury service may go past 5:00 p.m., so you need to make any necessary arrangements before appearing for jury service.
How will I know what to do as a juror?
Upon entering the Jury Assembly area, you will be checked-in by a member of the Jury Management staff and given a blue juror badge. There will be a brief orientation session which explains what to expect as a juror. You will also be shown an orientation video and given additional information by the Jury Management staff. A Juror oath will be administered. If selected for a trial, the judge will also instruct you on your duties as a juror.
Will I be locked up in a hotel during the trial?
It is extremely rare for a jury to be “sequestered” or kept in a hotel during a trial. You should expect that you will be allowed to go home at the end of each court day.
Is it possible to report for jury service but not sit on a jury?
Yes. At times the parties in a case may settle their differences prior to selecting a jury. The court cannot be certain of the need for a jury until the calendar is called.
Where can I go for lunch?
Several restaurants and other eateries are within walking distance of the courthouse. Jurors may bring food, drink, and snacks with them. Glass containers are not allowed in the courthouse. For your convenience, there are drink and snack machines in the Jury Assembly Room.
I am a full-time student. May I be excused from jury service?
Yes. If you are a full-time student, you may be excused from jury service for one year upon providing official documentation of your status as a student. You must contact your school’s Registrar’s Office and have them provide you with a Verification of Enrollment. Your Verification of Enrollment must show that your date of service falls within the term or semester for which you are enrolled, so make sure to verify the information. Once you receive it, email it in .jpg or .pdf format to the Jury Management Office at info@dekalbjury.com. Once we receive your Verification of Enrollment, you will be excused for a one-year period.
I am a police officer. Do I have to serve?
Yes. Police officers are not exempt from jury service. Please do not arrive for jury service in your uniform. If you do so, you will be required to change clothes or be rescheduled to serve another day with instructions not to appear in uniform.
I am a teacher. Can my jury service be deferred to the summer?
Not necessarily. If all teachers were deferred to the summer, our jury panels would be skewed, and we would not have a proper representation of our community. If you have extenuating circumstances, such as CRCT’s on your day of service, you may contact the Jury Management Office and we will work with you to reschedule your service date.
I am an over-the-road truck driver. Do I have to serve?
Yes. If all over-the-road truck drivers were exempted from jury service, our jury panels would be skewed, and we would not have a proper representation of our community. If you will be on the road on your day of service, you may contact the Jury Management Office and we will work with you to reschedule your service date. Once you have been rescheduled, you must notify your employer of the new service date immediately.
I work nights and will be too tired to serve jury duty. Do I have to serve?
Yes. Jurors may call the Jury Reporting line as early as 5:30 p.m. the night before they are scheduled to serve, and they will know if they are being called to jury duty. If your juror number is needed, you must call your employer and let them know immediately, because you may not work the night before your jury service.
May I bring my laptop or other electronic devices?
Yes. Laptop computers and other electronic devices, such as tablets, smartphones, and Kindles are allowed in the jury assembly room. If you are selected to serve on a jury panel and must go into the courtroom, all electronic devices must be turned off completely.
Is wi-fi Internet available?
Yes, free Internet is available in the DeKalb County Courthouse; however, depending upon your location, the signal strength may be weak.