How was I chosen for jury service?
Every two (2) years a three-person Jury Commission for Wake County oversees the compilation of a master jury list of county residents who
are either licensed drivers or registered voters, or both. Your name was drawn at random from that master list.
Who is eligible to serve as a juror in the North Carolina courts?
Jurors must be citizens of North Carolina and residents of the county where summoned, be at least 18 years old, not have served as a juror
during the previous two (2) years, be physically and mentally competent and able to understand English, and not be a convicted felon (unless
citizenship has been restored).
Do I have to respond to the jury summons?
Yes! A jury summons is an official court summons, and failure to report as required could mean that the court could hold you in contempt
and/or impose a $50 fine for not responding to a jury summons.
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What if I can't serve on the date I have been told to report to the courthouse?
There are no automatic exemptions from jury duty if you meet the qualifications as a juror. You may ask the Chief District Court judge to
defer your service to a date that is more convenient if serving at the original time would cause an unusual or difficult circumstance. You may
also ask to be excused if you have a medical condition that prevents your service, have served as a juror within the past two (2) years, or are
otherwise ineligible to serve.
You must apply for a deferment in writing, at least one (1) week in advance of your scheduled service date. You will be notified of the
decision. To request a deferment, address your application to:
Chief District Court Judge
Post Office Box 351
Raleigh, NC 27602-0351
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When and where do I park and report for jury duty?
The night before your service date, you should call the jury information line (919 792-4040) You will be instructed as to whether you must report at all or at a specific time. If the line is busy or you cannot reach anyone in person or by voice mail, please keep trying! All jurors are to report to the Jury Lounge on the 6th floor of the Wake County Courthouse. Please see Directions for our location and directions.
Free Parking is available for jurors in the Wake County Parking Deck. The parking deck is located at 216 W. Cabarrus Street, on the corners of Davie, McDowell & Cabarrus streets. The nine-level deck (P1 through P9) has two entrances and three exits. Vehicular entrances are located on Cabarrus and Davie streets. View detailed parking information.
Handicap parking is available on Levels P1, P2, P3 and P4, near the elevators, of the Wake County Parking Deck.
Will my employer fire me if I serve as a juror?
It is against the law for an employer to fire or demote an employee because they serve as a juror. However, the law does not require that
the employee be paid in full while serving.
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Will the State pay me for jury duty?
Yes. You will receive $12 for the first day you serve. $20 for days two - five; and if you serve for more than 5 days, you will be paid $40 for everyday after the first five days. The Clerk of Court will issue your jury payment within a few days of your jury service.
Jurors may choose to waive payment for their service and donate the money back to the State of North Carolina. Jurors wishing to do so should notify the Jury Clerk when they check in for service.
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What should I bring with me to the courthouse?
Bring a book or other reading materials, or needlework, crossword puzzles, stationery, or other materials to occupy your time. While efforts
will be made by the court to reduce delays in trial starts and to avoid long waiting periods for you, some waiting time should be anticipated
while jurors are chosen to sit on a jury.
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What should I wear?
You should dress comfortably, but not too casually. Dress for court as if you were going to work or to church. Many judges do not allow
anyone to come to court wearing halter or tank tops, cut off jeans, or shirts with offensive wording. Remember you will be acting as part of
the court while serving as a juror, so dress appropriately. Also, you might want to wear layered clothing since courtroom temperatures may vary
considerably, requiring the removal or addition of a sweater or jacket.
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How long will I have to serve?
If you are seated for a trial, you must serve until the trial ends, which may be from two days to several weeks. However, most jurors only
serve for one or two days.
Wake County has a "one-day, one-trial" jury rule. If you are not picked to serve on a jury on the day you report, you do not have to return. The only exception is if jury selection for a case is still in progress at the end of the day, in which event you will be required to return until jury selection is complete.
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What if there is inclement weather?
If the courts are closed or operating on a delayed schedule due to inclement weather, local television stations will be notified and will list this information in their reported closings. Jurors may also call the jury information line at (919) 792-4040 and press 1 to listen to a recording with instructions.
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If there is an emergency at home, how will my family contact me?
In an emergency, you may be contacted through the Clerk of Court's Office, or at an emergency number given to you when you arrive at the
courthouse. The court staff will ensure that you get the message.
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How will I know what to do as a juror?
When you report to the courthouse, you will be shown an orientation video that explains what to expect as a juror. You will also be given
additional information from the court staff. Then all jurors present will take an oath as jurors. If you are seated as a juror, you will also
be given a red juror badge to wear until you are released from jury duty by the judge. Once a trial begins, the judge will instruct you on your
duties as a juror.
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Will I be locked up in a hotel during the trial?
It is extremely rare for a jury to be "sequestered" or kept in a hotel during a trial. You should expect that you will be allowed to go home
at the end of each court day.
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Why are some jurors dismissed and not allowed to sit for a trial?
When your name is randomly drawn to take a numbered seat in the jury box at the start of a trial, the attorneys will ask you questions about
yourself. If you know the parties to the case or any of the court officials, or if your answers to questions lead the attorneys or the judge to
feel that you could not be objective in considering the evidence in the trial, you will be dismissed with the court's thanks.
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