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Each year, a number of Lapeer County residents are randomly selected
from the Secretary of State driver's license/identification card list to
serve on jury duty. It is critical to the administration of our
justice system to have qualified jurors assist in resolving cases.
The term of service is usually one month. The Court Clerks use a
telephone call in system to notify jurors when to report.
Typically, a juror would only be called to report for jury duty two or
three times during their month of service and may only have to actually
serve on one or two juries. A typical jury trial will last from
one to three days. The judges realize that jury duty is a hardship
on some people and will make every effort to minimize the hardship;
however, jury duty is both the privilege and duty of every citizen.
Reporting for Duty |
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Jurors report at 9:00 am
unless instructed otherwise by the circuit court clerks or the
trial judge. Once you have reported to the jury assembly
room, you are not permitted to leave unless authorized by the
circuit court clerk/bailiff. If illness prevents your
from attending, please notify the jury clerks at (810) 667-0358
between 8:00 am and 8:30am.Jury
trials are normally conducted from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Tuesday
through Friday, unless the circuit court clerks or the judge
presiding over your trial tell you otherwise. You will
generally be released for lunch at noon.
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Delays
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At times, due to
pressing court business, settlement negotiations, unavailable
participants, or other reasons, there are delays in your jury
service. Please be prepared for some delays and times
when you will be asked to wait in the assembly area until the
matters can go forward.
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Parking
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Jurors must furnish
their own transportation. There are also unmetered
municipal parking lots within a short walking distance of the
court building. Parking fees or violations are your
responsibility.
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Compensation
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Jurors are paid $25.00
per full day, $12.50 per half-day, for the first day of
service. Subsequent days of service are compensated at
the rate of $40.00 per full day and $20.00 half-day.
Round trip mileage is paid at the rate of $0.10 per mile.
The mileage is automatically computed so it is unnecessary for
you to keep a record. Jury attendance and mileage checks
will be mailed to you within three to four weeks after you have
completed your service. Please make sure your name and
address are correctly listed on your summons. Advise the
circuit court clerks of any necessary corrections.
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Services Available
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Beverages and snacks are available in the
lower level of the Courthouse, at your cost. Pay
telephones and rest rooms are located on the first floor near
the jury assembly room. Meals are not furnished by the
court.
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Emergency
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In case of emergency, you should notify the
circuit clerks or the bailiff where you can be reached by
leaving a message with the circuit court clerks at (810)
667-0358.
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Assistance
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If you have a disability which causes you to
need assistance, please contact the circuit court clerks at
(810) 667-0358 as soon as possible to request special
accommodations.
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General Rules of Conduct for Jurors
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- Be prompt: Please be on
time. Allow time for possible travel delays.
Report directly to the jury assembly room or to the judge's
jury room if you are serving on a trial.
- Dress: You should dress
comfortably, but appropriately. Clothing should reflect
the dignified atmosphere required in a court room. Tee
shirts, shorts, halter-tops, jeans, hats etc., are not
acceptable.
- Keep valuables with you at all
times. The Court is not responsible for lost
articles.
- Juror Badges: If you
are serving on a trial, juror badges must be worn at all
times.. Please return your badge to the bailiff at the end of
each day.
- Lunch hour: Do not
consume alcohol or non-prescription drugs at the noon hour.
Jurors should not discuss the case they are hearing while at
lunch. Return promptly when directed.
- Cell Phones: Please
shut off cell phones and beepers during duty.
- Reading materials, computers,
etc.,: You are welcome to bring reading material, a
laptop computer, a radio with headphones, or other things to
quietly occupy your time while you are on break from jury
service. Portable DVD players and viewing DVD's on
laptop computers is allowed in the waiting area of the jury
assembly as long as headphones are used and the other jurors
are not disturbed. Please bring material appropriate for
general viewing only. Lapeer County is not responsible
for DVD equipment brought to the jury room.
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Juror's Conduct During a Trial
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There are certain rules
that jurors must follow throughout a trial:
- Inspecting the scene:
It may be that the lawsuit involves some place or thing such
as the scene of an accident, the operation of traffic lights,
etc. If it is thought necessary and proper for the jury
to make an inspection, the judge will send the jury as a
group accompanied by the court officer. It is improper
for any juror to make an inspection unless ordered by the
judge.
- Discussing the case: Do
not talk with parties, witnesses, court employees, or lawyers
during the trial. Although most lawyers and prosecutors
are friendly and congenial, private contact or conversation
with them during the course of a trial must be avoided.
Similarly, you are not to discuss the case with your family,
friends or acquaintances. It is not even proper to
discuss the case with other jurors prior to deliberation.
- Media coverage: While a
trial is pending, jurors should not listen to radio or
television reports concerning the trail or read articles
about it which may appear in newspapers. Media
presentations sometimes give biased or unbalanced accounts of
the case and may contain information that the jury cannot
properly hear.
- Notes: Notes are not to
be taken during a trial unless note taking is authorized by
the judge.
- Lingering in corridors:
During the trial, jurors should return to and remain in the
jury room at all times except when they are in the courtroom
so as to avoid the appearance of improper conduct.
- When in need of assistance:
Summon the bailiff. You can secure the bailiff's
attention by motioning to him or her or by knocking on the
door of the jury room. The bailiff can pass a note with a
question to the judge but cannot discuss matters with jurors.
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