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 A trial cannot begin or continue unless all jurors are present. Alabama Administrative Office of Courts - alacourt.gov What time do I have to arrive at the Courthouse on Monday? Our Justices, Judges and staff share the sentiments of former United States Chief Justice Earl Warren when he stated that, "The success of any legal system is measured by its fidelity to the universal ideal of justice." Who is eligible for jury duty?Jurors must: You cannot serve on a jury if you have been convicted of a felony and your civil rights have not been restored. The judge, attorneys, parties, witnesses and jurors are all direct participants in the courtroom proceedings. What is my duty as a juror?As a juror, you must be fair and impartial. After qualification, you will be sworn in with the following juror's oath. However, after the trial has concluded, a juror may discuss the case with anyone, but the juror is not obligated to do so. Legal Help for Low Income Clients- Provided by the South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program, Legal Services Alabama and the Lawyer Referral Service. 15 0 obj 8/15/2011. Alabama Juror Qualification System - alacourt.gov 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. No smoking is allowed inside the building and no weapons of any kind will be allowed. This person presides over the discussion of the case, acting as chairperson and spokesperson for the jury. The Circuit Clerk will go over what you can expect to experience during your time of jury service. <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 13 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S>> An 18 member grand jury may be impaneled to hear evidence and to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to formally charge the defendant with committing a crime and to require an accused to stand trial. If you were selected to serve as a juror on a trial, please follow the instructions given to you by that presiding judge. If a juror had been in an accident with a drunk driver and was still upset about it, the defense attorney could ask that the juror be excused for that reason. After reaching a verdict, the foreperson records the verdict and calls for the court attendant (or bailiff) to escort the jury to the courtroom. If the jury is unable to agree upon a verdict after lengthy deliberations, the foreman must notify the judge. Copyright 2020 Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. Being struck does not reflect on a juror's honesty or intelligence. All rights reserved. Your Jury service has been completed. Sometimes the plaintiff may ask for damages in addition to the compensatory damages, in order to punish the defendant and to prevent the defendant from doing the same act again. 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. There is no way to permanently excuse anyone from jury duty. Your summons will indicate which courtroom you are assigned to. 165 Fifth Avenue, Suite 100 Ashville, AL 35953 1815 Cogswell Avenue Pell City, AL 35125. 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. E-Forms - Alabama Administrative Office of Courts - alacourt.gov endobj xXKoH'4-IEY4:nU/IYqt#D1dD)q|;zKsjo69}Nu"pO$.4)IOq = /=P@f&+)#\nDmOWu:II^Y:~M9q,)d~A8Oh_1Hf!B[(qYXi}yEZN!D>)Fd5lpD)BU#Bb#YF_h=_Pn&d\Pe(TW!]1##cx\WdPM.iP4*j$;0!v>Jmg%\| 3C1= Q +D1'j/KX@qkW!jWhq$rBU{LA%7TK5u"n@n=ePu Usage is subject to our Terms and Privacy Policy. endobj No smoking is allowed inside the building and no weapons of any kind will be allowed. Court Administrator - LaShandra Warren-BarnesExecutive Assistant - Charletta SmithClerk Assistant - Nury Quintero. Yes. It is very unlikely that you will have to spend every day at jury duty. Jury service is scheduled to be for a two week period. If I work outside the State of Alabama, and I am summoned as a juror in the county where I reside in the State of Alabama, am I entitled to my usual compensation from my employer? If you believe you have a good reason to be excused from jury service, notify the court in advance. 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. They are considered contraband and could lead to your arrest. You will be in processed and given a brief orientation. The jurys verdict can only be based upon evidence presented in court. There are many reasons why an attorney may prefer some jurors to others for a particular trial. The grand jury is randomly selected by the computer from the qualified juror venire. The sheriff serves summonses or process on witnesses, jurors, and defendants and provides court security. 10 0 obj <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 15 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S>> 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. E-Forms - Alabama Administrative Office of Courts Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require an employer to provide annual, vacation, or sick leave to employees who otherwise are not entitled to the benefits under policies of the employer. In criminal cases, the state is the prosecutor, while the defendant is the person charged with committing the crime. Employers are prohibited by law 12-16-8.1) from firing an employee for serving as a juror. 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. After the opening statements from both sides, the plaintiffs or states case is presented in the form of evidence. Chambers County - Fifth Circuit Court of Alabama 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. 14 0 obj Additional legal information and forms are available at www.alacourt.gov. To qualify for jury service, a person generally must have a reputation for being honest and intelligent, must possess good character and sound judgment, and also must: Most of our jury terms are scheduled for two consecutive weeks. The judge will ask general questions to determine whether you are qualified to serve as a juror. Where to goThe Jury Assembly Room is to your left as your leave the elevator on the 3rd floor. After the trial's completion, you are not obligated to answer questions presented by attorneys or the press. Identification BadgesJurors will be issued Juror badges if selected for the trial. Juror note-taking or the use of any notes will be determined by the judge. Thank you for serving! You must apply the law given by the judge to the facts given during the trial to make a decision in a case. Jurors will be excused only upon a demonstration of undue hardship or extreme inconvenience or for other reasons provided by law. These are called "punitive damages." You will be located and your message relayed. Presentation of Evidence: The evidence consists of the testimony of witnesses and the exhibits allowed by the judge. 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. 9 0 obj Thank you for serving! 5 0 obj The court will pay for your meals and lodging during the stay. Smoking is permitted outside the building, however, because of time limitations there will not always be opportunities to go outside. 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. 2023 13 0 obj (This includes the evening after jury service is concluded.). <> The court attendant (also known as a "bailiff") maintains courtroom order and assists jurors. 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. @"D5;>mgI, wgf4=3b0C[Yc$nIJENUh yhi"V) K`FB76?(r[`dEAtITJe2 y &=84Fpl7ZhslggEyg';v.m ;s vScHMQ ^E/[\1Fk$Bi^WX8&!1/pP-C_M).y()Yya&MIbU 4tQZd( R3(e Be able to communicate in the English language. Does my employer have to pay me while I serve on jury duty? What if I have a medical condition which would prevent me from serving? A Civil case is an action between parties seeking an impartial settlement of a dispute. 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. Do not give out such information over the phone to anyone who calls you claiming to be with the judicial system. 4 0 obj Be careful what information you reveal over the phone. Baldwin County - Twenty-Eighth Circuit Court of Alabama On behalf of Honorable J. Clark Stankoski, Presiding Circuit Judge, Honorable Jody W. Bishop, Honorable C. Joseph Norton . 9/1/2021. PS-02. GovernmentThe Court is located near other city, county, state, and federal government buildings. 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. Also, the phrase "full-time employee" may be defined by industry standards, in addition to the standards of that particular community. 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. Not necessarily. A Juror must be impartial until (s)he hears all the evidence and law applicable to the case. No. Please be prompt. Can jury duty be rescheduled?Yes. You may telephone a relative or friend to bring personal necessities. Being struck does not reflect on a jurors honesty or intelligence. For your convenience, the forms may be saved to your computer and used without accessing the internet. A Juror must not research the case through broadcast and newspaper accounts. Can I Get Excused From Jury Duty Because I Work? What if I have an illness or an emergency during service? 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