Jury Duty Starts With Random Selection
Jurors serve an essential role in the court system to render verdicts in civil and criminal cases.
Here is some basic information about what to expect if you are called for jury duty.
The Clerk of Courts randomly selects names from a list supplied by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Jury selection is usually an all-day process held Mondays, occasionally stretching into Tuesdays, for trials held during that week.
If a person can demonstrate that they would suffer a severe hardship by serving on a jury for a lengthy trial, they can be excused from jury duty.
Jurors must dress conservatively. General business attire is appropriate. Casual attire can be acceptable, but shorts, tank tops and flip-flops are not considered appropriate.
Jurors are paid $15 per day for the first three days of service if they are not compensated by an employer. From the fourth day on, all jurors receive $30 a day.
A prospective juror must be a U.S. citizen who is at least 18 years old and a resident of Polk County. A juror must also possess a driver license or identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
People can be excused from serving on a jury for a variety of reasons. Some examples
include:
Those who previously served on a jury within a year of being summoned.
Expectant mothers or a parent not employed full-time who has custody of a child younger than 6 years old.
Law enforcement officers.
Those age 70 or older.
Caretakers for those who are incapable of caring for themselves.
Convicted felons who haven't had their civil rights restored.
Those who wish to be excused from jury duty must complete the form included with the jury summons and mail it to: Jury Manager, P.O. Box 9000, Drawer CC-6, Bartow, FL 33831-9000.
It is a misdemeanor to ignore a summons for jury duty.
For more information, call 863-534-4568 or 863-534-4569.
Information about jury duty can also be found at www.
polkcountyclerk.net/Departments/Jury/Index.aspx
