Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If I am over the age of 70, do I have to serve?

A: If you are 70 years of age or older, you have the option to serve or not serve. You must still complete your questionnaire in its entirety and return it in the envelope provided. You will answer the question that asks if you are 70 or over with “YES.” Where the question asks if you would like to serve, you will answer “YES” if you wish to serve and “NO” if you do not wish to serve. If you answered “NO”, you will be excused upon notification from the court. Do not assume that you have been officially excused until you receive such notification from the court. Please note: there is no permanent exemption from jury duty service. As long as you have a valid Michigan driver’s license or Michigan identification card, you will be pre-eligible for jury duty service.

Q: If I am a full-time college student, am I exempt from jury duty?

A: No, college students are not exempt from serving. You will need to show your summons to your professors or instructors and advise them of your upcoming obligation. A jury summons is an official court order with which you must comply. You may request up to a 30-day extension of your service and oftentimes may be able to choose between several available dates. Students who have moved to another county or state for the school year may be excused as a temporary non-resident if they provide verification of their schooling in that area. Acceptable forms of documentation include but are not limited to the following: change of address on Michigan driver’s license or other state license, apartment lease, dorm/housing contract or a tuition bill which indicates a housing assignment, or a current utility bill.

Q: Do the courts provide daycare or transportation?

A: No. You will need to pre-arrange daycare for your service date and arrange for your own transportation. All of our court locations are on the BATA bus line. 

Q: If I am a nursing mother, can I be excused from jury duty service?

A: If your doctor is comfortable writing a letter on your behalf to excuse you from the current term of summoning, we will honor that request.

Q: If I am a stay-at-home parent, can I be excused from jury duty service?

A: Unless you are required to provide dependant care for a special needs child (in which case a doctor’s note requesting your excuse must be provided) you will be expected to serve. 

Q: I am not a United States citizen. Why was I selected?

A: Anyone with a valid Michigan driver’s license or Michigan identification card is pre-eligible for jury duty service. As a non-citizen, you will not be able to participate on your scheduled date. However, in order to be excused based on this status, you must provide documentation of your alien status. Acceptable documentation would be: Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), Passport, or a copy of your Visa (HB1, etc).

Q: May I bring my laptop, pager and/or cell phone with me?

A: Yes.  You may bring them to use at breaks or lunch.  All other times they must be off.

Q: What do I do if I live in another state for the Winter months?

A: Being a permanent resident only part of the year, you will be rescheduled to a date when you have returned to Michigan. 

Q: If I am hearing impaired, do I need to get a doctor's note to be excused?

A: The Court will provide audio enhancement equipment to assist you on the day of service. Should you need an ASL interpreter, please make this request on your questionnaire and one will be provided for you. If you feel uncomfortable serving on a jury with your level of hearing, you will need to provide the Jury Services office with an excuse note from your doctor.

Q: I am legally blind. Can I still serve on a jury?

A: Absolutely! There are many trials where visual testimony is not presented, in which case you are welcome to serve if you feel comfortable doing so. If you choose to not serve however, we will need a doctor’s note asking to excuse you based on your visual impairment.

Q: My job is too demanding (or I work in a small office/am self employed) and I don’t have time to serve on a jury. Do I still have to serve?

A: Yes. A summons is an official court order compelling you to appear for service. The Court does understand that every juror has personal or professional obligations that may make jury duty a difficult task to manage. However, jury duty is not an optional experience. If you are selected by the random process, you are required to report as scheduled. There are no categories of employment that result in automatic deferral or excuse.

Q: I have recently moved to another county/state. What do I need to do to be excused from service?

A: Please provide us with documentation of your new address, such as a copy of your driver's license (front and back) showing your address. However, if you do not have your new driver's license, other forms of documentation are accepted. Please contact the Jury Services Office for examples.

Q: My summons states that my service term is one day or one trial, whichever is longer. What does that mean?

A: All jurors must plan on devoting the scheduled day of service to jury duty even though you may be released at any point throughout the day. Once the final panel of jurors is selected, those individual jurors will remain in service through the end of the trial. The judge assigned to the case will advise the jurors of the expected length of the trial. Typically, trials average one to two days, and Probate Court trials generally start and end in one day. These are merely averages and durations may vary.

Q: What if personal or religious beliefs prohibit me from passing judgment on others?

A: You are still qualified to serve as a juror. However, when the judge asks if any juror in the courtroom has a particular hardship or concern regarding jury service, you may state your concerns at that time. The judge and attorneys would have the authority to excuse you based on that reason.

Q: I am a smoker. Will I be able to go outside to take a break?

A: No, you will need to wait until your lunch hour to smoke outside, unless the Judge calls for a recess and allows you to go outside.

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