Please pay attention to your Panel Number, Time, and the Comments down below. Alabama's Unified Judicial System is one of the oldest in the nation. Do you have a comment or correction concerning this page? A criminal case is an action brought by the state against a person or corporation charged with violating the law. If the jury is unable to agree upon a verdict after lengthy deliberations, the foreman must notify the judge. 594, p. 712 8.]) On occasion, it is necessary to sequester or isolate a jury from contact with the public during the course of the trial. Government Plaza | 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, Copyright 2020 Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. 35650. 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. Alabama Administrative Office of Courts - alacourt.gov Not necessarily. You must apply the law given by the judge to the facts given during the trial to make a decision in a case. Can I be excused from or postpone service? Please take your personal belongings with you during lunch, break, etc. Simply stated, our mission is to be the most successful judicial system in the nation. The judge, attorneys, parties, witnesses, and jurors are all direct participants in the courtroom proceedings. If you receive a jury summons and it has been less than 2 years since you last served, give us a call and we will check our records to verify your previous date. A misdemeanor is a crime punishable by up to one year in the county jail or a fine up to $2,000 or both. If I am unable to serve on jury duty, whom do I call? @"D5;>mgI, wgf4=3b0C[Yc$nIJENUh yhi"V) K`FB76?(r[`dEAtITJe2 Every person that serves will be issued a check for each day of service and be given a certificate of service for your employer. The Supreme Court of Alabama launched a website for Alabama's Unified Judicial System. 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. How often am I required to serve as a juror? Wear comfortable clothing that reflects the seriousness of jury service. This is called "challenging a juror". It is one of the highest duties of citizenship. Thank you for serving! If unwanted questions persist, contact the court immediately. On behalf of Honorable J. Clark Stankoski, Presiding Circuit Judge, Honorable Jody W. Bishop, Honorable C. Joseph Norton . How long does jury duty last?Service as a juror depends upon many factors, one of which is the type and complexity of the case. The presentation of the case begins with the plaintiffs or the district attorneys direct examination of a witness. The Circuit Clerk will go over what you can expect to experience during your time of jury service. 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. 2023 Jury Duty 101. The Chambers County Courthouse is located at 2 Lafayette St. South, Lafayette, AL 36862. His fax number is located on the jury summons. View Sitemap. Peremptory challenges are intended to allow lawyers, both prosecution and defense, to do their best to assure that the trial is fair. You will need toupdate your voter registration. 11 0 obj 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 . 13 0 obj 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. A petit jury is generally composed of 12 people impaneled to try a criminal or civil case. Closing arguments are not evidence but are the attorneys summaries of the evidence presented during the trial. endobj They are considered contraband and could lead to your arrest. 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. Questions asked during voir dire may seem personal but should be answered completely and honestly. The court schedules seventeen weeks of jury trials each year. 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. No exemptions from jury service. The courthouse is normally open at 8:00am to begin the check in process. If you are selected to serve on a jury the first day, then you will follow the judges instructions until that case is over. If you wish to waive this compensation, there are forms in the Clerks Office for you to request such. 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? Montgomery County - Fifteenth Circuit Court of Alabama <> Doctor's excuses can be faxed to the Circuit Judge's office. Additional legal information and forms are available at www.alacourt.gov. There is no charge for parking. Information on cases in Alabama Circuit and District courts is now available on demand, without a subscription, through Just One Look. Instructions to the Jury: At the close of all the evidence, the judge will read the instructions to the the jury, explaining the law and other considerations in the case. 9/1/2021. All requests to be excused from serving must be made in writing. 7 0 obj 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. We value your feedback! We have two - 2 week terms each of Civil, Criminal and Grand Jury. endobj <> endobj Therefore, simply having a job isn't in itself enough to be excused from jury duty. For each required service day, you are entitled to be paid by the circuit clerk or court administrator an expense allowance of $10.00 plus a mileage allowance of $.05 for each mile traveled in going to and returning from court to your residence. endobj 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. A criminal case is an action brought by the state against a person or corporation charged with violating the law. Jury Information Links Notice of Garnishments District Judges Honorable Alan Furr, District Judge County Courthouse, Suite 308 1815 Cogswell Ave Pell City, AL 35125 (205) 338-3869 Honorable Robert Minor, District Judge County Courthouse, Suite 208 1815 Cogswell Ave Pell City, AL 35125 (205) 338-1034 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 However, if allowed, juror may not use his/her own notes to sway other jurors. 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. 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. 165 Fifth Avenue, Suite 100 Ashville, AL 35953 1815 Cogswell Avenue Pell City, AL 35125. 6/6/2005. Every person that serves on a jury will be issued a check for each day of . Chambers County - Fifth Circuit Court of Alabama Talladega County - Twenty-Ninth Circuit Court of Alabama (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.) Yes. A misdemeanor is a crime punishable by up to one year in the county jail or a fine of $2,000 or both. If I work 2nd or 3rd shift, do I still have to go work? endobj You may telephone a relative or friend to bring personal necessities. endobj No exemptions from jury service. 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. In most employment situations, "full time" means 40 hours a week. SmokingState law prohibits smoking in all parts of the Courthouse. Elmore County - Nineteenth Circuit Court of Alabama ARAP-04. These are called "compensatory damages." There are magazines in the jury lounge to read, or you may want to bring a book. As a citizen of St. Clair County, you have been chosen to serve in the role of juror. 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. In most criminal cases on which you may be asked to serve, the crime with which the defendant is charged will be a "felony." Be sure to include your name as it appears on your summons and provide us with your current phone number. The "defendant" is the party being sued. %PDF-1.5 To register for E-notices as a Pro Se go to https://alafile.alacourt.gov and click on Register. Jury Service Information forTuesday, April 11, 2023. We try to keep these to a minimum; however, these are often circumstances beyond the Court's control. % 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. There are many reasons why an attorney may prefer some jurors to others for a particular trial. What time do I have to arrive at the Courthouse on Monday? All requests for jury duty deferral must be made in writing or online. 9[> <> There are many reasons why an attorney might prefer some jurors to others for a particular trial. Montgomery County Court is located downtown Montgomery, in the Montgomery County Courthouse, at 251 South Lawrence Street. Exhibits admitted into evidence will be available to the jury for examination during deliberations. Mobile County - Thirteenth Circuit Court of Alabama Opening statements are not evidence but are only explanations of what each side expects the evidence to prove. <> After reaching a verdict, the foreperson records the verdict and calls for the court attendant (or bailiff) to escort the jury to the courtroom. We read every comment! If you are generally cold-natured, be sure to bring a jacket. 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. Your check and certificate will be mailed to you the end of next week. <> Your employer cannot make you work and is required to pay you first shift wages if you are full-time. 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. An Alabama jury may be excused from jury service due to advanced age, at their request, if they are over age 70. Your actions and decisions must be free of any bias or prejudice. 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. No. The judge is an elected or appointed official who administers proceedings between the parties. A felony is a crime punishable by at least one year and one day in the penitentiary and may also include a fine. 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. Courts in St. Clair County maintain records on everything that occurs during the legal process for future reference, including appeals. The thieves then asked for confidential information. <> 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. Report to the Main Courtroom. The Attorney General of Alabama has concluded that the phrase "full-time employee" includes an employee who is paid hourly wages as well as a salaried employee. (This includes the evening after jury service is concluded.). Should the judge order sequestration, you have to spend the night away from your family. Presentation of Evidence: The evidence consists of the testimony of witnesses and the exhibits allowed by the judge. After qualification, you will be sworn in with the following juror's oath. 12 0 obj Please be assured that without your service the judicial system could not operate efficiently. No smoking is allowed inside the building and no weapons of any kind will be allowed. 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. Please select a department or category from the menu to the left to find the information you need. 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. You will be located and your message relayed. Should your family have an emergency you can be reached by calling the Clerk's Office at (334) 864-4348. Report to the Main Courtroom. MealsDowntown Montgomery has a number of fine restaurants, within a short walk from the courthouse. An Alabama jury may be excused from jury service due to advanced age, at their request, if they are over age 70. 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. Once you have completed the . Yes. Be prepared to wait before and during trials. no one is exempt from jury duty, but if this week presents an undue hardship or extreme inconvenience you may callLisa Burdette(334) 864-4348for a postponement to a later date. Your service as a juror is as important as those of the judge. . Let us know in a single click. Juror PIN help_outline Must be at least 1 characters County help_outline Date To Appear help_outline Invalid Date Date of Birth help_outline Invalid Date xXMo6Q{EwggnuwecP)y38~rIaN$'W\(_++gL`4Ls\eiqkbVb/ot.M7xynjo{|nYbw 'J=q:s&!RTs.|KW. I will NEVER call you and ask for Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or other sensitive information. The Clerk does not have anything to do with the selection process. 594, p. 712 8.]) We will gladly assist you in correcting any misunderstanding. E-Forms - Alabama Administrative Office of Courts - alacourt.gov Occasionally, the judge may ask jurors to leave the courtroom while the lawyers make their legal arguments. A prospective juror is asked questions to determine whether he/she has knowledge of or has an interest in the case to be tried. Letter of Transmittal of Notice of Appeal to Appellate Clerk by Trial Clerk. Lawrence County - Thirty-Sixth Circuit Court of Alabama A juror may not listen to radio or television accounts concerning the trial, or read articles about the trial.