The verdict is read by the judge, circuit clerk, or foreman. Where to goThe Jury Assembly Room is to your left as your leave the elevator on the 3rd floor. Questions asked during voir dire may seem personal but should be answered completely and honestly. We try to keep these to a minimum; however, these are often circumstances beyond the Court's control. There is no charge for parking. Per Section 12-16-75(b) Code of Alabama: "A juror who has served on a petit jury in this state shall not be summoned to serve again as a petit juror in any court of this state for 24 months following the last day of service.". What if I have an illness or an emergency during service? 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 Please take your personal belongings with you during lunch, break, etc. 6 0 obj
Additional legal and court related information, forms, support, and services are available at www.alacourt.gov. Not necessarily. The judge, attorneys, parties, witnesses and jurors are all direct participants in the courtroom proceedings. Jury Duty 101 is a free public resource site, and is not affiliated with the United States government or any Government agency. If unwanted questions persist, contact the court immediately. If you are in the Montgomery County Area: Note: Jurors are encouraged to take public transportation to the court building. Have several alternate dates selected when you make your request. The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit for the State of Alabama consists of Mobile County's state courts. Thank you for serving! E-Forms - Alabama Administrative Office of Courts PDF JUDICIAL CIRCUITS OF ALABAMA - alacourt.gov Be careful what information you reveal over the phone. We have two - 2 week terms each of Civil, Criminal and Grand Jury. Employers are prohibited by law 12-16-8.1) from firing an employee for serving as a juror. You should register online prior to reporting. The Alabama Central Disbursement Division (ACDD) is a newly created division that was established as a result of federal and state law, known as the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. If someone attempts to talk to a juror, (s)he should report it to the judge. Wear comfortable clothing that reflects the seriousness of jury service. Evidence can be testimony given by a witness at trial or a physical exhibit such as a gun or a photograph. The questions are not intended to embarrass anyone but are used to make sure that members of the jury do not have opinions or past experiences which might prevent reaching an impartial decision. Every person that serves on a jury will be issued a check for each day of . The court may postpone jury service to a later date rather than grant an excuse. A misdemeanor is a crime punishable by up to one year in the county jail or a fine up to $2,000 or both. The following is a description of their roles: Usually, others indirectly involved provide essential services but are not active trial participants: The opening statements are made at the beginning of the trial and outline the facts expected to be presented to the jury. The defendants case is presented after the plaintiffs or states case. <>
. The "plaintiff" sues and brings the case to court, usually asking for money damages to compensate the plaintiff for certain losses. Your employer is required by law (*Per Section 12-16-8(c) Code of Alabama) to pay you your normal salary if you are a full-time employee or work a full-time schedule on a regular basis. E-Forms - Alabama Administrative Office of Courts You will be located and your message relayed. No exemptions from jury service. Thus, a juror must not conduct investigations or experiment by himself/herself. I will NEVER call you and ask for Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or other sensitive information. 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. St. Clair County Court Records are public records, documents, files, and transcripts associated with court cases and court dockets available in St. Clair County, Alabama. Jurors are NOT allowed to bring their cell phones into the court house. A felony is a crime punishable by at least one year and one day in the penitentiary and may also include a fine of $5,000 or more. The presentation of the case begins with the plaintiffs or the district attorneys direct examination of a witness. 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." 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. endobj
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We will gladly assist you in correcting any misunderstanding. 13 0 obj
No smoking is allowed inside the building and no weapons of any kind will be allowed. <>
Being struck does not reflect on a juror's honesty or intelligence. A jury trial involves many people, directly or indirectly. The grand jury is randomly selected by the computer from the qualified juror venire. It is one of the highest duties of citizenship. This is called "challenging a juror". When to ReportThe Jury Line will instruct jurors as to what time to report. The following is a description of their roles: If there are other terms or phrases which you hear while serving as a juror that you do not understand, ask the judge to explain the term or phrase to you. Letter of Transmittal of Notice of Appeal to Appellate Clerk by Trial Clerk. 2 0 obj
After the jury is selected, the trial will generally follow this order of events: Opening Statements: The lawyers for each side may explain the case, the evidence they will present, and the issues for the jury to decide. stream
PS-02. Jury Information | St. Clair County, AL If you have any difficulty with your employer as a result of your Jury Service, you can call us at 256-761-2103. Most trial court information may be obtained through www.alacourt.gov using the link "Just One Look" for On-Demand access to Alabama State Trial Court Records. You have completed your jury duty service. A juror may not listen to radio or television accounts concerning the trial, or read articles about the trial. in the past two years, has served on more than one grand jury, actually served as a grand juror and a petit juror, or if you have actually attended court for service or prospective service as a petit juror for a total of more than twelve days. All other panels, your Jury service has been completed. <>
This process is called "voir dire", a phrase meaning "to speak the truth". to occupy you while you wait. Alabama has a statutory exemption that allows individuals over a certain age to request exemption from jury duty. The courts have defined "full time" as the amount of time considered as the normal or standard amount of work time for a given period, such as a day, week, or month. Alabama law does not govern employers of other states. The questioning of a prospective juror is called a "voir dire examination" and may be conducted by the judge and attorneys. <>
We schedule a term of Civil, a term of Criminal and a term of Grand Jury in the Spring and in the Fall of each year. No qualified prospective juror is exempt from jury service. A petit jury is generally composed of 12 people impaneled to try a criminal or civil case. You should arrive in time to be checked in. The district attorney is an elected official who is the prosecutor for the state in criminal cases and represents a victim of crime. 594, p. 712 8.]) The notices are mailed from Montgomery and the Clerk receives a list from the Administrative Office of Courts in Montgomery. Jurors will be excused only upon a demonstration of undue hardship or extreme inconvenience or for other reasons provided by law. Let us know in a single click. A person who knows a fact which could materially affect the case should not serve as a juror. We now have some general jury information available online about parking, juror pay, work related questions, and more. stream
After reaching a verdict, the foreman records the verdict and calls for the bailiff to escort the jury to the courtroom. Do you have a comment or correction concerning this page? However, you are not authorized to receive an expense and mileage allowance if you are notified in advance that your services are not needed for that day or if you report only to be excused. However, you are not authorized to receive an expense and mileage allowance if you are notified in advance that your services are not needed for that day, or if you report only to be excused. If you are selected to serve on a jury the first day, then you will follow the judges instructions until that case is over. In Baldwin County, we have two (2) week jury terms, but you most likely will not serve every day of the term. Alabama Administrative Office of Courts - alacourt.gov For example, the case may involve driving under the influence of alcohol. In the state of Alabama, physicians, dentists, and nurses are exempt from jury duty. Once selection of a jury begins, a potential juror should not discuss the case with anyone. St. Clair County Court Records Search (Alabama) - County Office If you were selected to serve as a juror on a trial, please follow the instructions given to you by that presiding judge. In most criminal cases on which you may be asked to serve, the crime with which the defendant is charged will be a "felony." Talladega County Circuit Clerk's Office 148 East St. N P.O. 8/7/2007. Courts in St. Clair County maintain records on everything that occurs during the legal process for future reference, including appeals. Can my employer deduct my juror pay from my pay check? If you wish to waive this compensation, there are forms in the Clerks Office for you to request such. In the United States our constitution guarantees each individual the right to trial by "a jury of their peers". Per Section 12-16-82 Code of Alabama: "If any person summoned as a grand or petit juror shall fail to obey such summons without good excuse, to be determined by the court, he or she shall be deemed guilty of a contempt of court; and, if no sufficient excuse is rendered for him or her at the time of his or her default, an order shall be entered for him or her to show cause why he or she shall not be adjudged guilty of contempt and punished accordingly; and, if he shall fail at the next session after the service of such notice to render such excuse, he or she shall be fined by the court not more than three hundred dollars ($300) and may be imprisoned in the county jail for not more than 10 days. No exemptions from jury service. Note: The Attorney General in Georgia has concluded that it is unlawful for an employer in Georgia to fire an employee working in Georgia because the employee was absent from his/her employment for the purpose of serving as a juror in Alabama. Alabama Administrative Office of Courts Opening statements are not evidence but are only explanations of what each side expects the evidence to prove. 12 0 obj
As a summoned juror, you are entitled to an expense and mileage allowance regardless of whether you actually served on a jury that particular day. 6/6/2005. 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. [Acts 1978, No. For your convenience, the forms may be saved to your computer and used without accessing the internet. no one is exempt from jury duty, but if this week presents an undue hardship or extreme inconvenience you may callLisa Burdette(334) 864-4348for a postponement to a later date. Identification BadgesJurors will be issued Juror badges if selected for the trial. ARAP-04. Witnesses present testimony under oath regarding what they have seen or know about the facts in the case. Cullman County - Thirty-Second Circuit Court of Alabama Attorneys represent and advise the parties on the law and all aspects of the trial. The Circuit Clerk will go over what you can expect to experience during your time of jury service. After the first day, you will be given a pink juror card with a telephone number to call every night after 5:00 pm.