​SUMMONED?

JURY DUTY INFORMATION:

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Serving on jury duty is the most important civic duty you can do other than serving in the military. Juries are made up of a group of citizens who will be responsible for deciding the facts of the case, while the Judge is responsible for ensuring that the law is applied appropriately. This teamwork between Judge and Jury ensures a balance of power between the government and the people and ensures fairness in the legal system.

 

In the Constitution of the United States, the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a trial by an impartial jury. Therefore, criminal defendants are guaranteed the right to trial by a jury of their peers. In Mississippi, a pool of potential jurors is randomly selected from a jury wheel. The jury wheel is a master list of prospective jurors consisting of registered voters – this list is drawn each year in April from the local population of individuals who are eligible for jury duty. Names are drawn at random, by lot or chance, so an individual may never be called for jury duty while others could be called several times. If your name is randomly selected from the jury pool, you will receive a jury summons in the mail.

 

Jurors are summoned to try two types of cases – civil and criminal. A juror will not know which type of case they will be serving on. Civil cases are usually disputes between two or more parties concerning monies, damages for injuries, or property. Criminal cases are filed in the name of the State of Mississippi on an indictment returned by the Grand Jury. The indictment charges that person, or persons, with a crime, or crimes, and initiates the criminal trial process.

 

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QUALIFICATIONS:

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In order to serve, prospective jurors must meet certain qualifications:

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• Must be at least 21 years of age.

• Be either a qualified elector of the county summoned, or a resident freeholder of the county for more than one year.

• Be able to read and write.

• Not be convicted of an infamous crime, or the unlawful sale of intoxicating liquors within a period of five years.

• Not be a common gambler or habitual drunkard.

• Can not serve if you have a case pending in this court.

 

If you do not meet all the criteria above, you will need to fill out a jury excuse form and submit it to our office before the morning of jury duty.

 

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REPORTING FOR JURY DUTY:

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If you have received an “Official Jury Summons” the reporting information will be on your summons. However, this information is subject to change at any moment, so be sure to check the website before appearing for jury duty.

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• Please call the phone number on your jury postcard the night before to get the current instructions from the court.

• Arrive a few minutes early to fill out a jury information card.

• Report to 128 W. NORTH STEET, CANTON, MS 39046.

 

 

RULES OF COURT:

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• ​No cell phones, smart watches, purses, guns or knives allowed in the courthouse.

• No hats, shorts, halters or flip flops. Dress appropriately for court. 

• No children are allowed.

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EXCUSAL FROM SERVICE:

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​You will not be excused simply because jury service would interfere with your regular activities or work schedule. However, you may be excused in cases of genuine hardship or need. You may request to be excused because of:

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• Illness to yourself or illness to another who would require your assistance.

• If jury service would inflict serious financial loss to yourself or your business.

• If you are over the age of sixty-five (65) and do not wish to serve. (Just send us an email or give us a call – completion of jury excuse form not necessary for this exemption.)

• If you have completed jury service in an actual trial for this court within the past two (2) years – you may be excused if you do not wish to serve. 

• If you no longer reside in the county from which you received a jury summons, you will need to fill out the voter excuse form and let us know you moved out of our county. Include your new address and phone number. This will excuse you from jury service and remove you from the Madison County voter roll.

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You may also request to be excused for any other legitimate emergency or hardship. Please fill out the jury excuse form below and email it to us. Please be sure to get it returned to our office before the morning of jury duty.

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