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Jury Duty
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The right to a jury trial is a cherished privilege of American jurisprudence. It is guaranteed by the Michigan and United States Constitutions. Courts need a method to select jurors. In the past, tax rolls and the registered voter lists supplied the names. Today, jurors are randomly drawn from the Secretary of State’s lists of driver licenses and identification card holders
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The Jury Board
Juror Qualification
Juror Compensation
Exemption from Jury Duty
Excuse from Jury Duty
Jury Terms and Manner of Notice
Juror Contempt
Expense to the County
Questions
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The Jury Board
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The Van Buren County Jury Board consists of three members, who serve staggered three year terms. They are selected by recommendation by the Circuit Judges with appointment by the County Commissioners. The Board randomly selects several thousand names each year and sends qualification questionnaires to those persons. From the responses, they select five panels of thirty members each, to serve three week long terms. All communications, excuses, and exemptions are handled by the Van Buren County Jury Clerk and the Chief Circuit Judge.
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Juror Qualification
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To qualify for jury duty, you must:
- Be a United States citizen.
- Be conversant in English.
- Be a county resident.
- Be physically and mentally able to carry out the functions of a juror.
- Not have served as a juror during the preceding 12 months.
- Not have a felony conviction.
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Juror Compensation
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Each county sets their own jury compensation. State law sets the minimum amount at $25 per day and 10 cents per mile.
Van Buren County currently pays the minimum per day for the first day of service, and $40 per day for all days thereafter. The County also pays 20 cents per mile.
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Exemption from Jury Duty
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Persons seventy years of age or over may choose to exempt themselves from jury duty. This is the only basis for exemption.
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Excuse from Jury Duty
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The law provides that a juror may be excused from jury duty if it appears to the presiding circuit judge that the interests of the public or of the prospective juror will be materially injured by the juror’s attendance, or the health of the juror or that of a member of the juror’s family requires the juror’s absence from court.
Requests for excuse must be made in writing on a form provided by the Jury Clerk in the juror’s notice of dates and times of service.
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Jury Terms and Manner of Notice
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Qualified jurors are mailed a notice giving them the dates of their service, an explanation of the conditions of their service and where they should report. They also receive a form to fill out in the event they have a need to be excused. An 800 number (1-800-589-8225) is provided with direction to call after a certain time on a certain day to ascertain when and where the various panels need to attend.
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Juror Contempt
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Failure to complete and return a qualification or personal history questionnaire, or failure to appear for jury duty, is punishable by contempt of court. Prospective jurors have been arrested, found in contempt, fined and sentenced to jail. It is important to carefully follow directions received from the Jury Board and the Court.
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Expense to the County
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The Annual cost to the county for jury service has been as much as $50,000 and as little as $15,000, over the last 25 years. As of October 1, 2003, minimum per diem compensation increased 67% for the first day and 167% for additional days. This will probably double jury costs in the future.
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Questions
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Persons serving as a juror, having questions about their service, or doubts as to their dates and times of appearance, should call the Jury Clerk at (269) 657-8211.
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