Policy 7 - Jury Management

7.01 Enforcement of Juror Summons and Notices to Appear

For copies of forms see Appendix B

1. The summons to serve as a juror shall contain information on the possible penalty for failure to appear when notified to do so, as well as general juror information and information on the procedures to use of a juror is eligible to be excused from jury service, or temporarily unavailable. (Forms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
2. Reasonable accommodation to temporary unavailability of a juror shall be made by rescheduling the juror. Jurors who have asked to be rescheduled will be added to the first panel notified to appear after the period of disability, unavailability. These jurors will be placed at the beginning of any jury list. (Forms 8, 9 and 10)
3. Prospective jurors who are notified to appear for trial and who fail to do so without having been previously excused shall be sent a letter by the Bailiff notifying them that a second failure to appear will result in a warrant for their arrest and proceedings in contempt. (Form 6)
4. Proceedings in contempt will be filed by the Prosecutor's Office upon being notified by the Court that a prospective juror has twice failed to appear. The contempt actions shall be heard by the judge of the Court where the prospective juror failed to appear.
5. Records shall be maintained by the Bailiffs of the Court as required to administer this policy. In addition the Bailiffs shall maintain records of the number of jurors notified to appear, the number who failed to appear on a single occasion, the number who failed to appear on two or more occasions, the number of jurors granted deferrals of service, the number of those jurors who failed to appear at their deferred service and the number of contempt actions filed. At the end of each calendar year the Judges, using the data so maintained, shall assess the effectiveness of this policy. (Form 11)

©2006 Washington County
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED