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. endobj When the case is over, you follow the instructions for your panel number that you will receive from the recorded message. Once you have completed the . Can my employer deduct my juror pay from my pay check? In a criminal trial, the jury must determine whether the state has presented proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. Alabama law does not govern employers of other states. The Lawrence County Courthouse is located at 14451 Market St, Moulton, Al. Welcome to Jury Duty If you have received a jury summons, you should register online at https://juror.alacourt.gov immediately.. Lynette Spaller is the Juror Manager and can be reached at (251) 937-0356 or (251) 580-1855 or by emailing lynette.spaller@alacourt.gov. 2023 Jury Duty 101. 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. Jury service is scheduled to be for a two week period. Identity thieves in other parts of the country have called residents and threatened them for failing to report for jury service. The court may postpone jury service to a later date rather than grant an excuse. Peremptory challenges do not require the lawyers to state any reason for excusing a juror. A jury trial involves many people, directly or indirectly. E-Forms - Alabama Administrative Office of Courts - alacourt.gov Remember - A Jury Selection Summons Doesn't Mean You'll Be On A Jury. Opening statements are not evidence but are only explanations of what each side expects the evidence to prove. ChallengesDuring voir dire the lawyers may ask the judge to excuse a juror from sitting on the case. 6/6/2005. Does my employer have to pay me while I serve on jury duty? PDF JUDICIAL CIRCUITS OF ALABAMA - alacourt.gov Smoking is permitted outside the building, however, because of time limitations there will not always be opportunities to go outside. Per Section 12-16-82 Code of Alabama: "If any person summoned as a grand or petit juror shall fail to obey such summons without good excuse, to be determined by the court, he or she shall be deemed guilty of a contempt of court; and, if no sufficient excuse is rendered for him or her at the time of his or her default, an order shall be entered for him or her to show cause why he or she shall not be adjudged guilty of contempt and punished accordingly; and, if he shall fail at the next session after the service of such notice to render such excuse, he or she shall be fined by the court not more than three hundred dollars ($300) and may be imprisoned in the county jail for not more than 10 days. This is called "challenging a juror". as we will not be responsible for their loss. In most employment situations, "full time" means 40 hours a week. A "Certificate of Jury Service" may be obtained from the circuit clerk as proof of jury service for your employer. Juror Responsibilities Jury Duty FAQ Legal and Judicial Terms Sequence of Trial Events Trial Participants On behalf of the Honorable Greg Nicholas, Presiding Circuit Judge, Honorable Martha E. Williams, Circuit Judge and Lisa McSwain, Circuit Clerk, thank you for your willingness to serve as a juror! To do so would subject the employer to civil liability. 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. Witnesses present testimony under oath regarding what they have seen or know about the facts in the case. Not necessarily. These are called "punitive damages." ARAP-04. endobj Section 12-16-8(c), Code of Alabama 1975, specifically provides that a "full time employee" is entitled to their usual wages during jury service. These are called "compensatory damages." Elmore County - Nineteenth Circuit Court of Alabama <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 15 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S>> Certificat d'achvement du Programme de sensibilisation l'gard du plaideur l'chelon de l'tat. The defendants case is presented after the plaintiffs or states case. Baldwin County - Twenty-Eighth Circuit Court of Alabama If you are in the Montgomery County Area: Note: Jurors are encouraged to take public transportation to the court building. You are obligated to perform this service honestly and conscientiously, without fear or favor. No. stream St. Clair County Courthouse | 100 6th Avenue North, Ste. Yes. You will need toupdate your voter registration. In criminal cases, the state is the prosecutor, while the defendant is the person charged with committing the crime. If you do not qualify for any of the Alabama statutory exemptions listed above but seriously think that attending jury selection would cause you undue hardship, you can always submit a jury duty excuse letter with your response to the summons, and ask to be excused. 14 0 obj Upon completion of a voir dire examination, each attorney may strike the names of jurors from the list of prospective jurors until only 12 names remain. Contact the Court Administrator's office by telephone or email. The judge conducts the trial, rules on questions of law raised by the attorneys, and, at the close of the trial, instructs the jury on the law that applies to the case. 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. Cell Phones are allowed but on vibrate at all times. Note: The Attorney General in Georgia has concluded that it is unlawful for an employee in Georgia to fire an employee working in Georgia because the employee was absent from his/her employment for the purpose of serving as a juror in Alabama. Please be on time as court starts promptly at the designated time. 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. You should register online prior to reporting. One late juror can waste the time of the many persons involved in a trial. Alabama law states that a full-time employee will receive his/her usual wages while serving as a juror. The questioning of a prospective juror is called a "voir dire examination" and may be conducted by the judge and attorneys. A witness may testify as an expert based on professional experience. A prospective juror may be considered for exemption if they are: You may also show some other reason that serving as a juror will cause a deal of hardship or inconvenience. 10 0 obj 400 | Ashville, AL 35953 Phone: (205) 594-2184 , Pell City - (205) 338-2511 | Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, M-F Need Directions? Be able to communicate in the English language. endobj If an employee is discharged solely because (s)he has been summoned for jury service, the employee may sue the employer in any state court and may be entitled to recover both actual and punitive damages. A Civil case is an action between parties seeking an impartial settlement of a dispute. The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit for the State of Alabama consists of Mobile County's state courts. The verdict is read by the judge, circuit clerk, or foreman. After deliberations begin, a juror can discuss the case only with the other jurors. The judge is an elected or appointed official who administers proceedings between the parties. In the United States our constitution guarantees each individual the right to trial by "a jury of their peers". Please select a department or category from the menu to the left to find the information you need. 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. The court schedules seventeen weeks of jury trials each year. If you are selected to serve on a jury, adequate time for lunch will be allowed. 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. In most criminal cases on which you may be asked to serve, the crime with which the defendant is charged will be a "felony." An Alabama jury may be excused from jury service due to advanced age, at their request, if they are over age 70. <> Jury Information | St. Clair County, AL May I waive or forego my expense and mileage allowances if I choose to do so? An Alabama jury may be excused from jury service due to advanced age, at their request, if they are over age 70. Attorneys represent and advise the parties on the law and all aspects of the trial. A misdemeanor is a crime punishable by up to one year in the county jail or a fine of $2,000 or both. Jury deliberations generally conclude when a unanimous verdict has been reached. SmokingState law prohibits smoking in all parts of the Courthouse. A jury of 12 people will be selected in the courtroom. You will be in processed and given a brief orientation. Additional legal and court related information, forms, support, and services are available at www.alacourt.gov. No lighters, matches or anything that will light a fire. The "defendant" is the party being sued. The jury will be asked to make decisions regarding disputed facts; therefore, jurors attention at all times is critically important. Report to the Main Courtroom. endobj There are many reasons why an attorney may prefer some jurors to others for a particular trial. You should arrive in time to be checked in. Mobile County - Thirteenth Circuit Court of Alabama In a civil trial, the jury decides all questions of fact and determines whether the plaintiff has a valid complaint and should be awarded the relief requested. The "plaintiff" sues and brings the case to court, usually asking for money damages to compensate the plaintiff for certain losses. 13 0 obj If the court finds it necessary for the jury to inspect the scene of an accident or alleged crime, the judge will arrange for the entire jury to do so together. % St. Clair County - Thirtieth Circuit Court of Alabama The Chambers County Courthouse is located at 2 Lafayette St. South, Lafayette, AL 36862. If you have any difficulty with your employer as a result of your Jury Service, you can call us at 256-761-2103. endobj Occasionally, the judge may ask jurors to leave the courtroom while the lawyers make their legal arguments. How often am I required to serve as a juror? y &=84Fpl7ZhslggEyg';v.m ;s vScHMQ ^E/[\1Fk$Bi^WX8&!1/pP-C_M).y()Yya&MIbU 4tQZd( R3(e 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. <> In a criminal trial, the jury must determine whether the state has presented proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. Can jury duty be rescheduled?Yes. [Acts 1978, No. Parking is available around the courthouse. As a citizen of St. Clair County, you have been chosen to serve in the role of juror. Can I be excused from or postpone service? 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. If I work 2nd or 3rd shift, do I still have to go work? endobj Will my expense allowance be deducted from my salary? All other panels, your Jury service has been completed. 7 0 obj How is a civil case different from a criminal case? Please allow extra time for parking and going through the metal detector. After qualification, you will be sworn in with the following juror's oath:"You do solemnly swear (or affirm) that you will well and truly try all issues which may be submitted to you during the present session and true verdicts render according to the evidence, so help you God.". Peremptory challenges are intended to allow lawyers, both prosecution and defense, to do their best to assure that the trial is fair. It must be received in our office prior to your reporting date. The website is located at https://judicial.alabama.gov, 300 Dexter Ave. A misdemeanor is a crime punishable by up to one year in the county jail or a fine up to $2,000 or both. 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. 205 Government Street, Suite 913 | Mobile, AL 36644-2913 Phone: (251) 574-8511 | Fax: (251) 574-8796 | Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, M - F . Every person that serves on a jury will be issued a check for each day of . MealsDowntown Montgomery has a number of fine restaurants, within a short walk from the courthouse. Please pay attention to your Panel Number, Time, and the Comments down below. Closing Arguments: After instructions, the lawyers have the opportunity to summarize the evidence in their closing arguments. The court reporter records a word-for-word account of all court testimony and proceedings, and, in the event of an appeal and upon request of one or both of the parties, will transcribe the record into a written transcript. All requests to be excused from serving must be made in writing. Your employer is required by law (*Per Section 12-16-8(c) Code of Alabama) to pay you your normal salary if you are a full-time employee or work a full-time schedule on a regular basis. Please be prompt. (This includes the evening after jury service is concluded.). Therefore, simply having a job isn't in itself enough to be excused from jury duty. Alabama has a statutory exemption that allows individuals over a certain age to request exemption from jury duty. As a citizen of St. Clair County, you have been chosen to serve in the role of juror. How was I selected for jury duty?You were selected at random from lists of voter registrations of Montgomery County. Chambers County - Fifth Circuit Court of Alabama [Acts 1978, No. 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. Evidence can be testimony given by a witness at trial or a physical exhibit such as a gun or a photograph. Selection of a foreman is the jurys first duty. A person who knows a fact which could materially affect the case should not serve as a juror. Also, the temperature fluctuates greatly in our old courthouse, so you may want to bring a jacket. What if I have an illness or an emergency during service? A petit jury is generally composed of 12 people impaneled to try a criminal or civil case. Circuit Clerk / Absentee Election Manager. Copyright 2019 Alabama Administrative Office of Courts, Frequently Asked Questions about Jury Duty. The court will not reimburse you for parking citations. In Alabama, your employer is not allowed to penalize you for missing work for jury duty. This law required a single location in each state to which employers could send wage withheld child support payments to be processed. A criminal case is an action brought by the state against a person or corporation charged with violating the law. Sometimes, a jury will be demanded by a defendant in a misdemeanor case. The "plaintiff" sues and brings the case to court usually asking for money damages to compensate the plaintiff for certain losses. 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. 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. After the defendants case, the plaintiff or state may present rebuttal witnesses or evidence designed to disprove the testimony and evidence presented by the defendant. Upon completion of a voir dire examination, each attorney may strike the names of jurors from the list of prospective jurors until only 12 names remain. 9 0 obj Talladega County - Twenty-Ninth Circuit Court of Alabama The Circuit Clerk will go over what you can expect to experience during your time of jury service. Thus, a juror must not conduct investigations or experiment by himself/herself. A juror may not listen to radio or television accounts concerning the trial, or read articles about the trial. 12 0 obj Should you receive another summons in the future and you are still having medical problems, you would need to submit another request to be excused.) If you are generally cold-natured, be sure to bring a jacket. All rights reserved. The Jury Line will instruct jurors about where to report. St. Clair County - Thirtieth Circuit Court of Alabama Alabama's Unified Judicial System is one of the oldest in the nation. basic eligibility requirements for jury duty in AL, your employer is not allowed to penalize you for missing work for jury duty, will be an actively engaged full time teacher at the time of jury service, have active care of an infirm or aged individual whose safety or health would be jeopardized by your absence. Parking is limited around the courthouse. 4 0 obj E-Forms - Alabama Administrative Office of Courts This presentation is intended to prove the claims made. The grand jury may be summoned to serve one term or several short terms. Next, the defendants attorney may cross-examine the witness to disclose facts favoring the defendant; the defendants attorney may demonstrate there is reason to doubt the testimony given by the witness on direct examination. 594, p. 712 8.]) How is a civil case different from a criminal case? View Sitemap. The charge instructs the jury on the issues to be decided and the rules of law that apply to the case. Please be on time as court starts promptly at the designated time. 2023 8 0 obj Alabama Judicial System We value your feedback! Do not give out such information over the phone to anyone who calls you claiming to be with the judicial system. Doctor's excuses can be faxed to the Circuit Judge's office. We will gladly assist you in correcting any misunderstanding. Cullman County - Thirty-Second Circuit Court of Alabama xXMo6Q{EwggnuwecP)y38~rIaN$'W\(_++gL`4Ls\eiqkbVb/ot.M7xynjo{|nYbw 'J=q:s&!RTs.|KW. ARAP-03. After check in, the judge will ask general questions to determine whether you are qualified to serve as a juror. Every person that serves will be issued a check for each day of service and be given a certificate of service for your employer. A Juror must not research the case through broadcast and newspaper accounts. Alabama law does not govern employers of other states. Employers are prohibited by law from firing an employee and revoking acquired leave timefor serving as a juror. In most criminal cases on which you may be asked to serve, the crime with which the defendant is charged will be a "felony." Court Administrator - LaShandra Warren-BarnesExecutive Assistant - Charletta SmithClerk Assistant - Nury Quintero. Copyright 2017 Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. If unwanted questions persist, contact the court immediately. No. St. Clair-Ashville: All Divisions St. Clair County Courthouse 100 6th Avenue, Courthouse Square, Suite 400 Ashville, AL 35953 (205) 594-2184 St. Clair-Pell City: All Divisions District Court of St. Clair 1815 Cogswell Ave., Suite 217 Pell City, AL 35125 (205) 338-2511 Sumter County: All Divisions Jurors are NOT allowed to bring their cell phones into the court house. A Juror must be impartial until (s)he hears all the evidence and law applicable to the case. If you can't get out of attending jury selection, there are many ways to raise the odds that you will be excused after jury selection without being selected to serve on a jury. Butler County - Second Circuit Court of Alabama Please be on time as court starts promptly at the designated time. No fingernail files that are 3 inches in length or longer; no scissors of any type or length. Elmore County - Nineteenth Circuit Court of Alabama If you have received a jury summons, you should register online at https://juror.alacourt.gov immediately. 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. The Human Resources Division of the Administrative Office of Courts in Alabama provides a full range of human resources services to the judicial branch of government. Delays result for many reasons: settlement or plea negotiations, record checking, points of law, etc. GovernmentThe Court is located near other city, county, state, and federal government buildings. The judge, attorneys, parties, witnesses and jurors are all direct participants in the courtroom proceedings. <> A trial cannot begin or continue unless all jurors are present. In courts holding sessions longer than 30 days, the order shall be made returnable 20 days after it issues, and the person in default shall have 10 days after service in which to appear and render his excuse. If you have not been previously rescheduled your turn of service can be deferred to a more convenient time. Do you have a comment or correction concerning this page? 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. Montgomery County - Fifteenth Circuit Court of Alabama Madison County - Twenty-Third Circuit Court of Alabama Jurors will be excused only upon a demonstration of undue hardship or extreme inconvenience or for other reasons provided by law. %PDF-1.5 The sheriff, as an elected official, is the countys chief law enforcement officer. ", 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. St. Clair County - Thirtieth Circuit Court of Alabama 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. *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.". 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. 8/15/2011. On behalf of Honorable J. Clark Stankoski, Presiding Circuit Judge, Honorable Jody W. Bishop, Honorable C. Joseph Norton . PDF JURY DUTY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What Should I Do If - alacourt.gov If someone attempts to talk to a juror, (s)he should report it to the judge. Alabama Jury Duty Excuse List - Getting Excused From Jury Duty . The judge, attorneys, parties, witnesses, and jurors are all direct participants in the courtroom proceedings. Etowah County - Sixteenth Circuit Court of Alabama A jurors verdict can only be based upon the evidence presented. The courthouse is normally open at 8:00am to begin the check in process. 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. The notices are mailed from Montgomery and the Clerk receives a list from the Administrative Office of Courts in Montgomery. Alabama Juror Qualification System - alacourt.gov Cell Phones are allowed but on vibrate at alltimes. No exemptions from jury service. Montgomery County Court is located downtown Montgomery, in the Montgomery County Courthouse, at 251 South Lawrence Street. In the state of Alabama, physicians, dentists, and nurses are exempt from jury duty. If unwanted questions persist, contact the court immediately. A circuit judge randomly selects the grand jury from the qualified juror pool. Simply stated, our mission is to be the most successful judicial system in the nation. 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. As a juror, you are part of the judicial system of our state and will serve as an officer of the Court along with the judges and lawyers. Justice ultimately depends in large measure on the jurors who serve in our courts. ", Jurors are randomly selected by computer and the summonses are mailed from Montgomery. Voir DireAfter you have reported for jury duty, you will be selected for a jury panel along with other jurors. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. However, if allowed, juror may not use his/her own notes to sway other jurors. No exemptions from jury service. After the trial's completion, you are not obligated to answer questions presented by attorneys or the press. endobj After you complete this process, email trish.campbell@alacourt.gov to notify the court you are seeding a medical excuse from jury duty. A felony is a crime punishable by at least one year and one day in the penitentiary and may also include a fine. In the United States our constitution guarantees each individual the right to trial by "a jury of their peers".

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