Jury Duty FAQ's

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN TO REPORT FOR JURY DUTY?
One month before your term of service begins you will receive your summons and a notice of the jury trial dates for the month. You will be assigned a group number which will be located at the top of your summons. The evening before each of these dates please call the jury information number, 1-844-928-0090, to determine whether your group is to report for jury duty. The recorded message will be available on weeknights from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. If you are scheduled to appear on a Monday you can call the designated number anytime between 5:00 p.m. Friday and 8:00 a.m. Monday. Please note that it is highly unlikely that you will be asked to report on each of these dates as approximately four hundred jurors have been summoned for the month. 

WHAT IF I HAVE AN EMERGENCY OR REQUIRE A POSTPONEMENT?
If there is a grave illness in your family, or an equally serious problem that would constitute an undue hardship or extreme inconvenience for you to appear in court on the dates specified, you must notify the jury clerk as soon as possible. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY YOUR GROUP IS CALLED.

WHERE SHOULD I PARK?
Please park in the public lot on the East side of the courthouse and enter the courthouse through the doors nearest the chimes. Use the stairs or elevator to go to the lower level and follow the signs to the jury assemble room.

CAN I BRING FOOD WITH ME?
Coffee, sodas, snacks and juice are available in vending machines near the jury assembly room and deliberation rooms. You may bring your own food especially if you are diabetic or on a special diet. Open food and beverages are not allowed in the courtrooms. If you are seated on a jury, you may be dismissed for lunch on your own.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I BRING?
Please bring your summons. You may also bring books or magazines to read while you are waiting. Knitting needles will not be allowed in the courthouse.

SCAMS
On occasion, our court receives a report of a resident being contacted by a telephone scam where the caller claims to be from Eaton County Trial Court and requests money to be wired. Please know that the Eaton County Trial Court will not call to demand a penalty for failure to appear for Jury duty nor will we ever ask a juror to wire money.   

TRANSPORTATION
The county does not provide transportation to and from jury duty.

Your employer is not required to pay you while on jury duty; however, employers are prohibited by law from firing an employee for serving on a jury nor can your job be affected by serving on a jury.    

CHILDCARE
The courts do not provide child care during your jury service.   Children should not be brought to the courthouse when you are performing jury duty.