FAQs • Jackson County, MI • CivicEngage

What if I don’t show up for jury duty?: You will receive a fail to appear warning letter stating you have failed to appear on a particular date. This letter will give you a number to call to resolve the situation. If you fail to respond to the failure to appear letter, you will be sent a show cause hearing date. In this case, you will be expected to explain to the Chief Judge. If you fail to appear for the show cause hearing, a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest.

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Jury Duty

1. What if I don’t show up for jury duty?: You will receive a fail to appear warning letter stating you have failed to appear on a particular date. This letter will give you a number to call to resolve the situation. If you fail to respond to the failure to appear letter, you will be sent a show cause hearing date. In this case, you will be expected to explain to the Chief Judge. If you fail to appear for the show cause hearing, a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest.

2. How was I selected?: Your name has been randomly selected from the Michigan driver’s licenses and state identification lists from the Secretary of State’s office.

3. I received a questionnaire. Do I have to fill this out and send back? Will I be summonsed?: Jury questionnaires must be filled out completely and returned within 20 days of the postmark on questionnaire. Failure to complete and return a jury questionnaire, providing false information on the questionnaire, or using vulgar or profane language in response to a jury questionnaire subjects a citizen to show cause proceeding for contempt of court.

Disqualification from jury service is not granted based on occupation, religious or personal circumstances at this questionnaire level. Some jurors that are qualified by the Jury Board may never receive a summons. They are chosen randomly.

4. How often can I be summonsed for Jury duty?: You may be summonsed for jury duty once per year.

5. What is the average time I might spend on jury duty?: Your term of service will be a 1-week or one trial period depending upon court circumstances, but you will only come in when your group number is included in the recorded juror phone message during the one-week term. Most jury trials last 1-2 days.

6. The summons/questionnaire was sent to a family member who is deceased. What should I do?: By law the questionnaire must be returned. Please write “deceased” in large letters on the paperwork and return to this office. Please accept our apology for any distress this document may have caused you and your family.

7. Who has access to the information on the Juror Questionnaire?: Only the Jury Board and Circuit Court staff have access to the Juror Questionnaire and that information is not public record. Once selected to serve on a panel, the Prosecuting Attorney and Attorneys involved in the trial have access to the second side of the Juror questionnaire only, which does not contain address, date of birth or phone numbers.

8. Do the courts provide daycare or transportation?: No. The courts do not provide daycare or transportation.

9. What do I do if I miss my reporting date?: If you miss reporting when your group number is called, please report the next time jurors are called in regardless of the group numbers. You must make-up the day you have missed. Until your report, your status will remain a Failed to Appear Juror.