 |
State Of Georgia Seventh Judicial District |
Superior Court of Georgia ....... Jury Service
General Information Your Role as a Juror Employer Information FAQS Court Locations
Trial Courts of Georgia The Jury Duty Experience Diagram of Georgia Courts
Court Clerks Supreme Court of Georgia Court of Appeals Glossary of Terms
Welcome to the Seventh District Superior Court Jury Service page.
The United States Constitution and the Georgia State Constitution guarantee the right to trial by jury. All Georgia residents are obligated by state law to serve as a juror unless they are under the age of 18, not a citizen, do not possess sufficient knowledge of the English language, and/or have been convicted of a felony and their civil rights have not been restored.
This site has been designed to help you answer any questions you may have regarding serving as a juror. Being on a jury is a rewarding experience and your participation is appreciated. Thank you for serving your community.
Facilities/Dining: For your convenience, restrooms and water fountains are located either inside the Jury Assembly Room or in the hall just outside of the Jury Assembly Room. Many counties also provide vending areas. Most facilities are smoke-free, therefore you must go outside the building in order to smoke. In some counties courtesy phones are provided and jurors have access to computers to check emails, etc... Please check with your local jury clerk or court administrator for specific information on your local courthouse.
Jurors have at least one hour for lunch. Some counties offer cafeterias located inside the courthouse. For those that do not, food may be ordered and brought in or you may chose to visit one of the surrounding restaurants in the area.
Parking: During jury trials many counties provide designated parking for jurors. Please check with your local jury clerk or court administrator for specific information for your county.
Compensation: Expense checks are issued for each day of service and are usually mailed within two weeks of the completion of your service.
Postponement/Medical Exemption: Request for postponement must be submitted in writing to your local Clerk of Superior Court or Jury Clerk. The request must be received at least seven days prior to the starting date of your service.
Written verification by a physician must be submitted for any medical or psychological problem for which you are requesting a postponement or exemption from service.
Age Exemption: Exemptions are granted for citizens who are 70 years of age or older upon completion of a notarized age affidavit. A blank affidavit is available at the superior court clerk's office.
Children: Please do NOT bring children when reporting for jury service. The local courts are unable to provide childcare during judicial proceedings.
Non Residents: If you have been summoned for jury duty, you must be a resident of that county to be eligible to serve. If your have relocated, please submit proof of your permanent residence address. A copy of your driver's license, voter registration card, signed tag receipt, or utility bill reflecting your name and address is acceptable proof of your new residence.
As a juror, you play an essential role in the American system of justice. You do not need any special skills or legal knowledge to be a juror. You do need to keep an open mind and be willing to make decisions free of personal feelings and biases. As a juror, you will listen to opening statements and closing arguments for two sides. You will also learn about and weigh the evidence that has been collected for the trial. Then you will be asked to make a decision about the case after you have talked it over with the other jurors during deliberations. During the trial, the judge serves as the court's presiding officer and as the final authority for the law. The lawyers act as advocates for their sides of the case. As a juror, you are responsible for impartially evaluating the facts presented and for applying the law to these facts as the judge instructs you. These combined efforts bring about the fair and impartial administration of justice in our county, our state and our nation.
A juror who is summoned and who willfully and without reasonable excuse fails to appear for jury service may be found by the court to be in contempt and subject to penalties provide by law.
For our jury system to work, it is essential that the courts and employers continue the long standing partnership that ensures all citizens are available to serve on juries when called. As an employer, you must allow an employee time off to serve on a jury. Georgia Law 34-1-3 prohibits discrimination against an employee for attending a judicial proceeding in response to a court order.
Employees are entitled to pay while serving jury duty. An employee is entitled to be paid his\her salary while missing work to serve on jury duty. (1989 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 89-55)
The judges recognize the important contribution of employers to the jury system. The judges and the administrative support will continue to make every effort to minimize the time a juror spends in the pre-trial portion of the judicial process. The greater number of those reporting will be released very early on in the process. Only those jurors selected to serve are required to report until the proceedings are complete.