No exemptions from jury service. After the opening statements from both sides, the plaintiffs or states case is presented in the form of evidence. The charge instructs the jury on the issues to be decided and the rules of law that apply to the case. J'affirme avoir achev le Programme de sensibilisation l'gard du plaideur l'chelon de l'tat en ligne tel que propos par le Comit de la Cour suprme sur l'accs aux tribunaux de la famille. Presentation of Evidence: The evidence consists of the testimony of witnesses and the exhibits allowed by the judge. If you wish to find out whether you can be compensated for Alabama jury service, you must consult the law of the state in which you are employed. The Jury Line will instruct jurors about where to report. endobj Jury Information | St. Clair County, AL Park in the deck at Scott and Lawrence Streets. If you are generally cold-natured, be sure to bring a jacket. 9[> Pay traffic tickets or district criminal case fines online. 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. In a criminal trial, the jury must determine whether the state has presented proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. Once you have completed the . The "defendant" is the party being sued. On occasion there will be times you will be required to wait while the Judge takes up an issue which must be heard outside of the jury's presence. Letter of Transmittal of Notice of Appeal to Appellate Clerk by Trial Clerk. By obtaining from the circuit clerk or court administrator and filling out the form, "Affidavit - Waiver of Payment for Services as a Juror," you may forego all the expense and mileage allowances due to you. We will gladly assist you in correcting any misunderstanding. You are obligated to perform this service honestly and conscientiously, without fear or favor. At I-65 Exit 172B, Turn LEFT (East) onto SR-108 (Bell St), Bear RIGHT (South-East) onto SR-108 (Molton St), Turn LEFT (North-East) onto SR-108 (Bibb St), End: Arrive 251 S Lawrence St, Montgomery AL, 36104. 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. To qualify for jury service, a person generally must have a reputation for being honest and intelligent, must possess good character and sound judgment, and also must: Service as a juror depends upon many factors, one of which is the type and complexity of the case. If unwanted questions persist, contact the court immediately. E-Forms - Alabama Administrative Office of Courts A Juror must be prompt. endobj 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. 594, p. 712 8.]) The Clerk does not have anything to do with the selection process. Wear comfortable clothing that reflects the seriousness of jury service. ", Per Section 12-16-8(b) Code of Alabama: "An employee may not be required or requested to use annual, vacation, unpaid leave, or sick leave for time spent responding to a summons for jury duty, time spent participating in the jury selection process, or for time spent actually serving on a jury. Jury deliberations generally conclude when a unanimous verdict has been reached. Also, the temperature fluctuates greatly in our old courthouse, so you may want to bring a jacket. <> endobj Your name was randomly selected by computer from a list of Chambers County citizens who are registered to vote in Chambers County. The attorney general has ruled in Opinion 95-00007 and Opinion 97-0138 that any second or third shift employee is placed on first shift status by law for their week of jury duty service. read more. The "plaintiff" sues and brings the case to court, usually asking for money damages to compensate the plaintiff for certain losses. Why is jury duty important?The United States Constitution and the Alabama State Constitution guarantees all people the right to trial by an impartial jury. No. PS-01. 3/31/2005. If unwanted questions persist, contact the court immediately. Identity thieves in other parts of the country have called residents and threatened them for failing to report for jury service. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. No fingernail files that are 3 inches in length or longer; no scissors of any type or length. Cullman County - Thirty-Second Circuit Court of Alabama You may telephone a relative or friend to bring personal necessities. Can I be excused from or postpone service? Mobile County - Thirteenth Circuit Court of Alabama endobj In the state of Alabama, physicians, dentists, and nurses are exempt from jury duty. Baldwin County - Twenty-Eighth Circuit Court of Alabama No. A civil case is an action between parties seeking an impartial settlement of a dispute. endobj Montgomery County Court is located downtown Montgomery, in the Montgomery County Courthouse, at 251 South Lawrence Street. 9/1/2021. As a citizen of St. Clair County, you have been chosen to serve in the role of juror. GovernmentThe Court is located near other city, county, state, and federal government buildings. The judge conducts the trial, rules on questions of law raised by the attorneys, and, at the close of the trial, instructs the jury on the law that applies to the case. The jury will be asked to make decisions regarding disputed facts; therefore, jurors attention at all times is critically important. Contact your doctor/medical care provider and request a medical excuse stating you are not physically and/or mentally able to serve as a A witness may testify as an expert based on professional experience. Peremptory challenges are intended to allow lawyers, both prosecution and defense, to do their best to assure that the trial is fair. Jury Duty Juror FAQ Juror Responsibilities Trial Participants Sequence of Events Prohibited Items Thank You for Your Jury Service Copyright 2019 Alabama Administrative Office of Courts, Frequently Asked Questions about Jury Duty. Upon completion of a voir dire examination, each attorney may strike the names of jurors from the list of prospective jurors until only 12 names remain. If you can't get out of attending jury selection, there are many ways to raise the odds that you will be excused after jury selection without being selected to serve on a jury. <> Government Plaza | 205 Government Street, Suite 913 | Mobile, AL 36644-2913, Phone: (251) 574-8511 | Fax: (251) 574-8796 | Hours: 8:00 am 5:00 pm, M - F, Copyright 2020 Alabama Administrative Office of Courts. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. The defendants case is presented after the plaintiffs or states case. 3 0 obj If you receive a jury summons and it has been less than 2 years since you last served, give us a call and we will check our records to verify your previous date. [Acts 1978, No. Talladega County Circuit Clerk's Office 148 East St. N P.O. Your summons will indicate which courtroom you are assigned to. Who can be excused from jury service?Very few people are excused from jury duty. Direct examination discloses points important to the case. 1 0 obj The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit for the State of Alabama consists of Mobile County's state courts. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require an employer to provide annual, vacation, or sick leave to employees who otherwise are not entitled to the benefits under policies of the employer. These are called "compensatory damages." 2023 Please take your personal belongings with you during lunch, break, etc. 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. . <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 15 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S>> For example, the case may involve driving under the influence of alcohol. Upon completion of cross-examination, the plaintiffs attorney or district attorney may, on redirect examination, clarify statements previously made by the witness. Report to the Main Courtroom. We now have some general jury information available online about parking, juror pay, work related questions, and more. St. Clair County - Thirtieth Circuit Court of Alabama - alacourt.gov These are called "punitive damages." After you complete this process, email trish.campbell@alacourt.gov to notify the court you are seeding a medical excuse from jury duty. You must apply the law given by the judge to the facts given during the trial to make a decision in a case. The judge in the courtroom will explain the case and introduce the lawyers and other participants. The courthouse is normally open at 8:00am to begin the check in process. The grand jury does not determine the accuseds guilt or innocence. For any additional questions or concerns please call 334-832-2531. Please allow extra time for parking and going through the metal detector. The St. Clair County Courthouse is located at 100 6th Avenue North, Ashville, AL 35953. View Sitemap. Alabama has a statutory exemption that allows individuals over a certain age to request exemption from jury duty. Should you receive another summons in the future and you are still having medical problems, you would need to submit another request to be excused.) The following items are not allowed in the Baldwin County Courthouses. Not necessarily. Cell Phones are allowed but on vibrate at alltimes. SmokingState law prohibits smoking in all parts of the Courthouse. y &=84Fpl7ZhslggEyg';v.m ;s vScHMQ ^E/[\1Fk$Bi^WX8&!1/pP-C_M).y()Yya&MIbU 4tQZd( R3(e While jury duty is a civic requirement for all eligible citizens in Alabama, there are a number of excuses that can be used to legally get out of being required to report for jury selection or jury duty, or receive a deferral. What is the difference between a petit and a grand jury? A "Certificate of Jury Service" may be obtained from the circuit clerk as proof of jury service for your employer. The Circuit Clerk will go over what you can expect to experience during your time of jury service. A jury trial involves many people, directly or indirectly. You have completed your jury duty service! No smoking is allowed inside the building and no weapons of any kind will be allowed. If I work outside the state of Alabama and I am summoned as a juror in the county where I reside in the state of Alabama, am I entitled to my usual compensation from my employer? I will NEVER call you and ask for Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or other sensitive information. 15 0 obj 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. If you wish to waive this compensation, there are forms in the Clerks Office for you to request such. No smoking is allowed inside the building and no weapons of any kind will be allowed. As a citizen of St. Clair County, you have been chosen to serve in the role of juror. In most employment situations, "full time" means 40 hours a week. It is one of the highest duties of citizenship. Please be on time as court starts promptly at the designated time. *Section 12-16-8(c) Code of Alabama: "Notwithstanding the excused absence provided in subsection (a), any full time employee shall be entitled to his or her usual compensation received from such employment.". Attorneys represent and advise the parties on the law and all aspects of the trial. You will need to call Lisa Burdette at (334) 864-4348and give your updated address and phone number to be taken off of the list for that week. The judge, attorneys, parties, witnesses and jurors are all direct participants in the courtroom proceedings. E-Forms - Alabama Administrative Office of Courts - alacourt.gov Do you have a comment or correction concerning this page? For information on the Mobile County Family Court, see their website at http://www.stricklandyouthcenter.org/. You can also submit your requests in writing to: Mail: Court AdministratorMontgomery County CourthousePO Box 1667Montgomery, AL 36102-1667. After deliberations begin, a juror can discuss the case only with the other jurors. PS-03. <> The courthouse will open at 8:00 a.m. to begin the check in process. Can jury duty be rescheduled?Yes. This law required a single location in each state to which employers could send wage withheld child support payments to be processed. Yes. 400 | Ashville, AL 35953 Phone: (205) 594-2184 , Pell City - (205) 338-2511 | Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, M-F Need Directions? 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. The judges charge to the jury follows closing arguments. Copyright 2019 Alabama Administrative Office of Courts, Notice of Appeal-Cross Appeal to the Supreme Court of Alabama or Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, Transcript Purchase Order of Appellant-Civil, Transcript Purchase Order of Appellee-Civil, Notice of Insufficient Financial Arrangement-Criminal, Letter of Transmittal of Notice of Appeal to Appellate Clerk by Trial Clerk, Certificate of Completion of Clerk's Record, Certificate of Completion of Reporters Transcript Civil, Certificate of Completion of Record on Appeal by Trial Clerk, Certificate of Service (Appellant's Brief), Certificate of Service (Appellant's Brief ARAP-08), Letter of Transmittal of Record on Appeal to Appellate Court by Trial Clerk, Certificate of Completion of Reporters Transcript Criminal, Certificate of Completion and Transmittal of Record on Appeal by Trial Clerk, Motion and Affidavit in Support of Motion for Leave to Appeal in Forma Pauperis, Certificate of Trial Judge of Appealability of Order Not otherwise Appealable, Docketing Statement (Appeal to the Supreme Court of Alabama), Docketing Statement (Appeal to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals), Docketing Statement (Court of Criminal Appeals), Cover Sheet Circuit Court - Civil Cases (Not for Domestic Relations Cases), Transmittal of Appeal to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals by the Trial Court Clerk. Alabama law does not govern employers of other states. No exemptions from jury service. endstream The Chambers County Courthouse is located at 2 Lafayette St. South, Lafayette, AL 36862. A prospective juror is asked questions to determine whether he or she has knowledge of or has an interest in the case to be tried. There are two types of challenges: a challenge for cause and a peremptory challenge. Be careful what information you reveal over the phone. To do so would subject the employer to civil liability. If I am summoned to court as a juror, but I was not chosen to serve, am I still entitled to an expense allowance and mileage? A jury of 12 people will be selected in the courtroom. If it has been less than 2 years, you will be excused from that term. We read every comment! <> Cell Phones are allowed but on vibrate at all times. The court schedules seventeen weeks of jury trials each year. State law prohibits an employer from dismissing an employee because (s)he is summoned for jury service. Alabama's Unified Judicial System is one of the oldest in the nation. <> How was I selected for jury duty?You were selected at random from lists of voter registrations of Montgomery County. E-Forms - Alabama Administrative Office of Courts Welcome to E-Forms The following forms are available in portable document format (PDF) for the public and other users of the AOC website. After the first day, you will be given a pink juror card with a telephone number to call every night after 5:00 pm. xXMo6Q{EwggnuwecP)y38~rIaN$'W\(_++gL`4Ls\eiqkbVb/ot.M7xynjo{|nYbw 'J=q:s&!RTs.|KW. A prospective juror may be considered for exemption if they are: You may also show some other reason that serving as a juror will cause a deal of hardship or inconvenience. One late juror can waste the time of the many persons involved in a trial. Employers are not required to pay part-time employees their normal salary by law. A Juror must be impartial until (s)he hears all the evidence and law applicable to the case. basic eligibility requirements for jury duty in AL, your employer is not allowed to penalize you for missing work for jury duty, will be an actively engaged full time teacher at the time of jury service, have active care of an infirm or aged individual whose safety or health would be jeopardized by your absence. If I am summoned to court as a juror, but I was not chosen to serve, am I still entitled to an expense allowance and mileage? PDF JURY DUTY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What Should I Do If - alacourt.gov Be prepared to wait before and during trials. 11 0 obj Can I Get Excused From Jury Duty Because I Work? A juror may not listen to radio or television accounts concerning the trial, or read articles about the trial. Rulings by the Judge: The judge may be asked to decide questions of law during the trial. [Acts 1978, No. Yes. These are issued at the end of the term, unless there is a special circumstance that warrants earlier issuance. After reaching a verdict, the foreperson records the verdict and calls for the court attendant (or bailiff) to escort the jury to the courtroom. Identification BadgesJurors will be issued Juror badges if selected for the trial. Your check and certificate will be mailed to you the end of next week. What if I have a medical condition which would prevent me from serving? Certificat d'achvement du Programme de sensibilisation l'gard du 35650. This elected official is responsible for court records, issuing summonses and subpoenas, collecting court-ordered monies, and conducting other business activities. ", Jurors are randomly selected by computer and the summonses are mailed from Montgomery. Alabama Judicial System endobj If the jury is unable to agree upon a verdict after lengthy deliberations, the foreman must notify the judge. In Alabama, jurors are not "paid" for their service, however, jurors are given an expense allowance of $10.00 per day and $.05 per mile for each day's round trip mileage (Please Note: the state only allows for one trip to the courthouse and the trip home each day.) I will on occasion call and let jurors know that court has been cancelled for the day. 205 Government Street, Suite 913 | Mobile, AL 36644-2913 Phone: (251) 574-8511 | Fax: (251) 574-8796 | Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, M - F . All other panels, your Jury service has been completed. A juror should listen carefully to all questions by both parties on direct or cross examination of the witness, the testimony given in response to the questions, and the judges instructions to the jury. Sometimes the plaintiff may ask for damages in addition to the compensatory damages, in order to punish the defendant and to prevent the defendant from doing the same act again. There are many reasons why an attorney may prefer some jurors to others for a particular trial. Additional legal information and forms are available at www.alacourt.gov. In courts holding sessions longer than 30 days, the order shall be made returnable 20 days after it issues, and the person in default shall have 10 days after service in which to appear and render his excuse. Jury Information. The court may postpone jury service to a later date rather than grant an excuse. What can I expect when I report to the courthouse for jury service? Once selection of a jury begins, a potential juror should not discuss the case with anyone. The questioning of a prospective juror is called a "voir dire examination" and may be conducted by the judge and attorneys. 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." Jury service may be inconvenient, but no one is excused unless serving on a jury would present an undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, or be required by public necessity. A circuit judge randomly selects the grand jury from the qualified juror pool. <> 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