A juror may not listen to radio or television accounts concerning the trial, or read articles about the trial. Who can be excused from jury service?Very few people are excused from jury duty. If you wish to find out whether you can be compensated for Alabama jury service, you must consult the law of the state in which you are employed. Please note the required fees for this service. 10 0 obj The court will not reimburse you for parking citations. Please be prompt. <> For example, if a person is a resident of Alabama and works in Georgia and that person is summoned for jury duty in Alabama, the persons employer in Georgia cannot fire the person for being absent for serving as a juror. The court may require alternate jurors to serve who shall have the same qualifications, be subject to the same examination, take the same oath, and have the same functions and powers as regular jurors. Cell Phones are allowed but on vibrate at alltimes. Simply stated, our mission is to be the most successful judicial system in the nation. endobj If I work 2nd or 3rd shift, do I still have to go work? Do you have a comment or correction concerning this page? You can renew vehicle license tabs, pay property taxes or utility bills (or ask questions about property taxes or utility bills), apply for a marriage license or a passport, submit building permit plans, or sit in on a County Commissioners meeting, all within a few blocks of the Court. Should an illness of a family member or a personal emergency arise, immediately inform the judge or other court official and explain the situation. No smoking is allowed inside the building and no weapons of any kind will be allowed. For example, if a person is summoned for jury duty in Alabama, the person's employer in Georgia cannot fire the person for being absent for serving as a juror. Certificat d'achvement du Programme de sensibilisation l'gard du If unwanted questions persist, contact the court immediately. read more. Your service as a juror is as important as those of the judge. No lighters, matches or anything that will light a fire. The Jury Line will instruct jurors about where to report. endobj Where to goThe Jury Assembly Room is to your left as your leave the elevator on the 3rd floor. 3/31/2005. How is a civil case different from a criminal case? In the United States our constitution guarantees each individual the right to trial by "a jury of their peers". What is the difference between a petit and a grand jury? In the state of Alabama, physicians, dentists, and nurses are exempt from jury duty. Etowah County - Sixteenth Circuit Court of Alabama (Please Note: This will not excuse you permanently from jury duty. All those that have been summoned for jury service should report on the day required, to the large courtroom, at the Bay Minette courthouse. <> You have completed your jury duty service! On behalf of HonorableJ. Clark Stankoski, Presiding Circuit Judge, Honorable Jody W. Bishop, Honorable C. Joseph Norton, Honorable Carmen Bosch, and Honorable Scott P. Taylor,Circuit Judges and Brenda Ganey,Circuit Clerk, we welcome everyone that has been chosen for jury service. Generally, if you qualify for one of the statutory excuses, you can respond to your jury duty summons letter with an excuse note containing proof of your excuse, and you will not have to report for jury selection. We value your feedback! Alabama law does not govern employers of other states. Be sure to include your name as it appears on your summons and provide us with your current phone number. GovernmentThe Court is located near other city, county, state, and federal government buildings. ", Per Section 12-16-8(b) Code of Alabama: "An employee may not be required or requested to use annual, vacation, unpaid leave, or sick leave for time spent responding to a summons for jury duty, time spent participating in the jury selection process, or for time spent actually serving on a jury. The following is a description of their roles: If there are other terms or phrases which you hear while serving as a juror that you do not understand, ask the judge to explain the term or phrase to you. Your check and certificate will be mailed to you the end of next week. Direct examination discloses points important to the case. No. Logon to the jury webpage (juror.alacourt.gov) to respond to your summons. The Lawrence County Courthouse is located at 14451 Market St, Moulton, Al. A juror should listen to the evidence presented by both sides carefully and avoid "taking sides" until (s)he has an opportunity to hear all the evidence and the judges instructions as to the law applicable to that particular case. An Alabama jury may be excused from jury service due to advanced age, at their request, if they are over age 70. After the opening statements from both sides, the plaintiffs or states case is presented in the form of evidence. SmokingState law prohibits smoking in all parts of the Courthouse. Notes are for personal use only. <> Thus, a juror must not conduct investigations or experiment by himself/herself. No qualified prospective juror is exempt from jury service. The grand jury does not determine the accuseds guilt or innocence. St. Clair County Courthouse | 100 6th Avenue North, Ste. as we will not be responsible for their loss. After the qualifying and excuses, you will be given a break to move your car out of the 2-hour parking, and then you will be divided into panels and you will keep the same panel number the whole term. This saves jurors an unnecessary trip to the courthouse. Your actions and decisions must be free of any bias or prejudice. Copyright 2020 Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. Alabama has a list of specific excuses that can be used to be exempt from reporting for jury duty, including excuses for military, elected official, breastfeeding, age, police, firefighter and disability. Not have been convicted of a crime involving "moral turpitude" (a crime which violates accepted standards of the community, including crimes involving dishonesty) which resulted in the suspension of a person's right to vote. endobj We have two - 2 week terms each of Civil, Criminal and Grand Jury. You will need to call Lisa Burdette at (334) 864-4348and give your updated address and phone number to be taken off of the list for that week. There is no charge for parking. If you wish to inquire as to whether you can be compensated for Alabama jury service, you must consult the law of the state in which you are employed. There are magazines in the jury lounge to read, or you may want to bring a book. A petit jury is generally composed of 12 people impaneled to try a criminal or civil case. By obtaining from the circuit clerk or court administrator and filling out the form, "Affidavit - Waiver of Payment for Services as a Juror," you may forego all the expense and mileage allowances due to you. To do so would subject the employer to civil liability. Jurors may give the evidence whatever weight they consider appropriate. Cell Phones are allowed but on vibrate at all times. Justice ultimately depends in large measure on the jurors who serve in our courts. We try to keep these to a minimum; however, these are often circumstances beyond the Court's control. One late juror can waste the time of the many persons involved in a trial. The judge in the courtroom will explain the case and introduce the lawyers and other participants. However, if allowed, juror may not use his/her own notes to sway other jurors. *Section 12-16-8(c) Code of Alabama: "Notwithstanding the excused absence provided in subsection (a), any full time employee shall be entitled to his or her usual compensation received from such employment.". Peremptory challenges do not require the lawyers to state any reason for excusing a juror. Employers are prohibited by law from firing an employee and revoking acquired leave timefor serving as a juror. The grand jury is summoned to serve one term or until the next grand jury is empaneled. Alabama Judicial System Please be on time as court starts promptly at the designated time. Once selection of a jury begins, a potential juror should not discuss the case with anyone. The sheriff serves summonses or process on witnesses, jurors, and defendants and provides court security. In most criminal cases on which you may be asked to serve, the crime with which the defendant is charged will be a "felony." endobj If I am summoned to court as a juror, but I was not chosen to serve, am I still entitled to an expense allowance and mileage? Please be assured that without your service the judicial system could not operate efficiently. 1 0 obj The attorney general has ruled in Opinion 95-00007 and Opinion 97-0138 that any second or third shift employee is placed on first shift status by law for their week of jury duty service. No smoking is allowed inside the building and no weapons of any kind will be allowed. The law requires that a juror be excused until the next day so the juror may be fully attentive to his/her duties as a juror. 13 0 obj The judge will ask general questions to determine whether you are qualified to serve as a juror. In a criminal trial, the jury must determine whether the state has presented proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. St. Clair County - Thirtieth Circuit Court of Alabama If I am summoned to court as a juror, but I was not chosen to serve, am I still entitled to an expense allowance and mileage? State law prohibits an employer from dismissing an employee because (s)he is summoned for jury service. A Juror must be prompt. No. All requests to be excused from serving must be made in writing. Contact your doctor/medical care provider and request a medical excuse stating you are not physically and/or mentally able to serve as a Can my employer deduct my juror pay from my pay check? You can briefly tell us in your letter, the reason that you need to be excused and mail it to the Clerk's Office. Copyright 2017 Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. 400 | Ashville, AL 35953 Phone: (205) 594-2184 , Pell City - (205) 338-2511 | Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, M-F Need Directions? Voir DireAfter you have reported for jury duty, you will be selected for a jury panel along with other jurors. Jurors will be excused only upon a demonstration of undue hardship or extreme inconvenience or for other reasons provided by law. I will on occasion call and let jurors know that court has been cancelled for the day. (This includes the evening after jury service is concluded.). The thieves then asked for confidential information. Deliberation: After closing arguments, the jury is isolated to decide the verdict in the case. For your convenience, the forms may be saved to your computer and used without accessing the internet. Additional legal information and forms are available at www.alacourt.gov. The defendants case is presented after the plaintiffs or states case. Who would be considered a "Full Time Employee" in terms of being able to receive their salary or wages during jury service? Court Administrator - LaShandra Warren-BarnesExecutive Assistant - Charletta SmithClerk Assistant - Nury Quintero. Montgomery County - Fifteenth Circuit Court of Alabama Why is jury duty important?The United States Constitution and the Alabama State Constitution guarantees all people the right to trial by an impartial jury. As a summoned juror, you are entitled to an expense and mileage allowance regardless of whether you actually served on a jury that particular day. If I am unable to serve on jury duty, whom do I call? If you are generally cold-natured, be sure to bring a jacket. After the jury is selected, the trial will generally follow this order of events: Opening Statements: The lawyers for each side may explain the case, the evidence they will present, and the issues for the jury to decide. The Clerk does not have anything to do with the selection process. in the past two years, has served on more than one grand jury, actually served as a grand juror and a petit juror, or if you have actually attended court for service or prospective service as a petit juror for a total of more than twelve days. What time do I have to arrive at the Courthouse on Monday? <> As a Juror, there are certain responsibilities you will be asked to fulfill. <> Please pay attention to your Panel Number, Time, and the Comments down below For any additional questions or concerns please call 334-832-2531. The Chambers County Courthouse is located at 2 Lafayette St. South, Lafayette, AL 36862. A petit jury is generally composed of 12 people impaneled to try a criminal or civil case. Usage is subject to our Terms and Privacy Policy. All other panels, your Jury service has been completed. Jury Duty 101 is a free public resource site, and is not affiliated with the United States government or any Government agency. <> After reaching a verdict, the foreman records the verdict and calls for the bailiff to escort the jury to the courtroom. Will my expense allowance be deducted from my salary? J'affirme avoir achev le Programme de sensibilisation l'gard du plaideur l'chelon de l'tat en ligne tel que propos par le Comit de la Cour suprme sur l'accs aux tribunaux de la famille. In a civil trial, the jury decides all questions of fact and determines whether the plaintiff has a valid complaint and should be awarded the relief requested. If you believe you have a good reason to be excused from jury service, notify the court in advance. Badges should be worn in plain view at all times (including lunch) during jury service. @"D5;>mgI, wgf4=3b0C[Yc$nIJENUh yhi"V) K`FB76?(r[`dEAtITJe2 If the court finds it necessary for the jury to inspect the scene of an accident or alleged crime, the judge will arrange for the entire jury to do so together. <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 15 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S>> After check in, the judge will ask general questions to determine whether you are qualified to serve as a juror. Elmore County - Nineteenth Circuit Court of Alabama If you have received a jury summons, you should register online at https://juror.alacourt.gov immediately. Please be assured that without your service the judicial system could not operate efficiently. During a trial, if a juror has personal knowledge about any facts in the case, the juror has a duty to disclose his/her knowledge to the judge. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. The "defendant" is the party being sued. Selection of a foreman is the jurys first duty. What if I have an illness or an emergency during service? Our Justices, Judges and staff share the sentiments of former United States Chief Justice Earl Warren when he stated that, "The success of any legal system is measured by its fidelity to the universal ideal of justice." The court may require alternate jurors to serve who shall have the same qualifications, be subject to the same examination, take the same oath, and have the same functions and powers as regular jurors. If you are in doubt about your eligibility for jury service, you may contact the Jury Coordinator by mail or telephone: Mail: Court AdministratorMontgomery County CourthousePO Box 1667Montgomery, AL 35104-1667. Please be on time as court starts promptly at the designated time. However, after the trial has concluded, a juror may discuss the case with anyone, but the juror is not obligated to do so. Most trial court information may be obtained through www.alacourt.gov using the link "Just One Look" for On-Demand access to Alabama State Trial Court Records. PDF JUDICIAL CIRCUITS OF ALABAMA - alacourt.gov If the jury is unable to agree upon a verdict after lengthy deliberations, the foreman must notify the judge. Certificate of Completion of Clerk's Record. stream 594, p. 712 8.]) Legal Disclaimer, Local Court Information Regarding COVID-19, Intergovernmental Child Support Enforcement Forms, Alabama Central Disbursement Division (ACDD), Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR), Alabama Model Parenting Plan Court Forms and Time-Sharing Schedules, Registry of Foreign Language Interpreters, Overview of the Foreign Language Interpreter Program, Overview of the Sign Language Interpreter Program, AOC Foreign Language Interpreter Policies, Instructions for Payment of Alabama Court Interpreters, Payment Claim Form for Foreign Language Interpreters, Payment Claim Form for Interpreters for the Deaf, Fee Standards for Foreign Language Interpreters, Fee Standards for Sign Language Interpreters, Authorization to Conduct a Criminal Background Check, Overview of Foreign Language Interpreter Program, Overview of Sign Language Interpreter Program, Instructions for Payment of AL Court Interpreters, Authorization to Conduct Criminal Background Check. However, you are not authorized to receive an expense and mileage allowance if you are notified in advance that your services are not needed for that day or if you report only to be excused. The parties in a civil trial are the plaintiff and the defendant; in a criminal trial, they are the state, represented by the district attorney or prosecutor, and the defendant. The court, however, can require the defendant to reimburse the state for these costs, if s(he) is able. 36104, Copyright no one is exempt from jury duty, but if this week presents an undue hardship or extreme inconvenience you may call Lisa Burdette (334) 864-4348 for a postponement to a later date. Employers are prohibited by law 12-16-8.1) from firing an employee for serving as a juror. The courthouse is normally open at 8:00am to begin the check in process. Answer to Landlords Claim. It is one of the highest duties of citizenship. A prospective juror must present the summons for jury duty to his/her employer to be excused from work for the days (s)he is required to serve. What type of cases are heard by jurors?Jurors may be selected for criminal cases ranging from traffic offenses to murder as well as civil cases. (Please Note: Your employer is only required to pay you a 40 hour work week's pay, no overtime pay even if you normally work overtime.) The courts have defined "full time" as the amount of time considered as the normal or standard amount of work time for a given period, such as a day, week, or month. (Please Note: Until your name is taken off of the Chambers County voter's registration list your name is subject to be selected again in the future.). Yes. If a juror had been in an accident with a drunk driver and was still upset about it, the defense attorney could ask that the juror be excused for that reason. Read, speak, and understand the English language; Not have been convicted of a crime involving "moral turpitude" (a crime which violates accepted standards of the community, including crimes involving dishonesty) which resulted in the suspension of a persons right to vote. Your employer cannot make you work and is required to pay you first shift wages if you are full-time. The charge instructs the jury on the issues to be decided and the rules of law that apply to the case. 165 Fifth Avenue, Suite 100 Ashville, AL 35953 1815 Cogswell Avenue Pell City, AL 35125. The Circuit Clerk will go over what you can expect to experience during your time of jury service. Have several alternate dates selected when you make your request. This law required a single location in each state to which employers could send wage withheld child support payments to be processed. As part of jury selection, the judge and the lawyers will then question the jury panel members to determine if anyone has knowledge of the case, a personal interest in it, or feelings that might make it hard to be impartial. Rulings by the Judge: The judge may be asked to decide questions of law during the trial. 14 0 obj To register for E-notices as a Pro Se go to https://alafile.alacourt.gov and click on Register. The following is a description of their roles: Usually, others indirectly involved provide essential services but are not active trial participants: The opening statements are made at the beginning of the trial and outline the facts expected to be presented to the jury. His fax number is located on the jury summons. 11 0 obj Yes. 8/15/2011. While jury duty is a civic requirement for all eligible citizens in Alabama, there are a number of excuses that can be used to legally get out of being required to report for jury selection or jury duty, or receive a deferral. 0EU'o)r2K$B`FFVa~CK&! [=|h*~f3 Bhj2T]bFd`{(r6vfN>F|TsN1]@!ioIb!091'@BM:rO8 H7,Ch3>Mi@v$U -ML^I9-!=jcmcho7 =)E,jG Ppnu6ehj@)-9f@K Y2,%a`9,5a'qS1x%vRT`R/YEWjP~cWN9N&:#XNL- ?hnLh}!DhA]MuI7[Sj? The grand jury does not determine the guilt or innocence of the accused. Employers are not required to pay part-time employees their normal salary by law. Box 6137 Talladega, AL 35160 Phone: (256) 761-2103 Fax: (256) 480-5291 Email: brian.york@alacourt.gov 8/15/2011. A juror should listen carefully to all questions by both parties on direct or cross examination of the witness, the testimony given in response to the questions, and the judges instructions to the jury. Please select a department or category from the menu to the left to find the information you need. PDF JURY DUTY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What Should I Do If - alacourt.gov The Alabama Central Disbursement Division (ACDD) is a newly created division that was established as a result of federal and state law, known as the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. If the jury cannot reach a verdict, referred to as "deadlock," a mistrial must be declared and a new jury empaneled to try the case over. The judge, attorneys, parties, witnesses, and jurors are all direct participants in the courtroom proceedings. Closing arguments follow evidence presentation, at which time both sides summarize the case from their viewpoint. An 18 member grand jury may be impaneled to hear evidence and to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to formally charge the defendant with committing a crime and to require an accused to stand trial. You may call the Circuit Judge listed on your jury summons card or 256-549-2174 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at least one week prior to the date you are to report. The district attorney is an elected official who is the prosecutor for the state in criminal cases and represents a victim of crime. There is no way to permanently excuse anyone from jury duty. Parking is available around the courthouse. endobj E-Forms - Alabama Administrative Office of Courts Welcome to E-Forms The following forms are available in portable document format (PDF) for the public and other users of the AOC website. endobj Your name was randomly selected by computer from a list of Chambers County citizens who are registered to vote in Chambers County. The jurors should understand that such interruptions are needed to make sure that their verdict is based upon proper evidence, as determined by the judge under the Rules of Evidence. St. Clair County Court Records are public records, documents, files, and transcripts associated with court cases and court dockets available in St. Clair County, Alabama. What can I expect when I report to the courthouse for jury service? Questions asked during voir dire may seem personal but should be answered completely and honestly. On occasion there will be times you will be required to wait while the Judge takes up an issue which must be heard outside of the jury's presence. When to ReportThe Jury Line will instruct jurors as to what time to report. [Acts 1978, No.