Circuit & Probate Court Jury Service

The U.S. Constitution guarantees all people, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status, the right to trial by an impartial jury. Justice ultimately depends to a large measure upon the quality of the jurors who serve in our courts. That is why you are important.

As a juror, you must be fair and impartial. Your actions and decisions must be free of any bias or prejudice. Your actions and decisions are the foundation of our judicial system.

1. Be a citizen of the United States.
2. Be a resident of Oakland County.  If you do NOT live in Oakland County, you must provide an updated copy of your Driver's License OR State Identification Card.
3. Be 18 years or older.
4. Be able to communicate in the English language.
5. Be physically and mentally able to carry out the functions of a juror. Temporary inability shall not be considered a disqualification.
6. Not have been paid as a juror, in a court of record, during the preceding 12 months.
7. Not have been convicted of a felony.
8. A person 70 years of age or older may claim exemption from jury service and shall be exempt upon making the request.
9. All other persons are expected to be available to serve and should follow the Reporting Instructions on their summons.

Potential jurors are selected randomly from the State of Michigan Driver's License list or Personal Identification Cardholder list for individuals residing in Oakland County. The selection method is designed to produce a cross section of the community. Men and women over 18 years of age and from all walks of life have an equal opportunity to be called for jury service.

The Juror Summons postcard is mailed to jurors approximately one month before they are to appear for jury selection.

Yes. The summons to appear for jury service is an official court summons. If you do not respond, you could be held in contempt of court!

Jurors should complete the questionnaire through the Juror Access website using the 10-digit Juror ID located on your summons within five days of receiving the summons.

If you no longer live in Oakland County, you must still complete your juror questionnaire through the Juror Access website using the 10-digit Juror ID located on your summons. You will be prompted to upload a picture of your updated Driver’s License or State ID showing your current address outside of Oakland County.

To request a disqualification, the juror questionnaire must still be completed through the Juror Access website using the 10-digit Juror ID located on the summons. After completing the questionnaire, you may request a disqualification from the Juror Access home page.

Jurors are permitted a one-time deferral of jury service for any reason. To request a deferral, you must first complete your juror questionnaire through the Juror Access website using the 10-digit Juror ID located on your summons. After completing the questionnaire, you may request a deferral from the Juror Access home page. Please follow all prompts and provide any additional information to support your deferral request.

No. The juror must complete their own juror questionnaire through the Juror Access website using the 10-digit Juror ID located on their summons. The questionnaire may be completed from a smartphone, tablet, or computer, so your son or daughter can complete it while away at college.

Please note: Full-time students are not eligible for an excusal from jury service; however, they may request a deferral to a later date to accommodate their class schedule.

To request a medical excusal, you must first complete your juror questionnaire through the Juror Access website using the 10-digit Juror ID located on your summons. After completing the questionnaire, you may submit your excusal request from the Juror Access home page. Please follow all prompts and provide any additional information requested to support your medical excusal request.

You will be required to upload a letter from your physician on official letterhead that clearly states you should be excused from jury service due to your medical condition. If you are requesting a permanent medical excusal, the physician’s letter must also specifically state that you should be permanently excused from jury service.

If you are unable to upload the physician’s letter through the Juror Access website, the physician’s office may fax the letter directly to the Jury Office at 248-858-8759.

You are eligible for excusal as a nursing mother. To request a nursing mother excusal, you must first complete your juror questionnaire through the Juror Access website using the 10-digit Juror ID located on your summons. After completing the questionnaire, you may submit your excusal request from the Juror Access home page. Please follow all prompts and provide any additional information requested to support your excusal request.  

You will be required to upload a letter from your physician, lactation consultant, or certified nurse midwife on official letterhead that states that you are a nursing mother and should be excused from jury service. If you are currently pregnant and plan to nurse, please wait until after your baby is born to submit the required documentation.

If you are unable to upload the letter through the Juror Access website, the letter may be faxed directly to the Jury Office at 248-858-8759.

You may check your reporting status on the Jury Access Website or by calling 248-858-0010 after 5:00 pm the day before your service date for instructions. If it says your service is complete, you do not need to report.

Jurors must report to the Jury Office, located on the first floor of the Oakland County Courthouse, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac, MI 48341. You should report between 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. on your service date.

The term of service is one trial. If you are not selected to serve as a juror by the end of the first day and you are not ordered to return for the second day of jury selection, your service is complete. If you are seated on a case you will serve as long as the case lasts. The average criminal case lasts 3 days. The average civil case lasts 4 days. However, some cases start and finish in one day.

On the first day of your jury service, you should report to the Jury Office at the courthouse by 8:30 a.m. At that time, you will receive further instructions regarding your jury service. If you are selected to serve on a jury, the presiding judge will provide you with the court’s daily schedule and hours.

The normal business hours for the Oakland County Circuit and Probate Courts are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Prospective jurors should plan to remain at the courthouse for the entire day.

Jurors are generally provided a one-hour lunch break. A cafeteria is located in the basement of the courthouse, and jurors may also leave the courthouse during their lunch break. Several restaurants are conveniently located near the County Complex.

If you are selected to serve on a case, the judge will generally provide a short morning and afternoon break. Court hours may vary at the discretion of the presiding judge. There are no evening or weekend court sessions, and jurors are not sequestered overnight.

Yes. The parties in a case generally seek to settle their differences and avoid the time and expense of a trial. Sometimes the case is settled just moments before it is scheduled to begin. So, even though several cases are scheduled for a day, the court doesn't know until that morning how many will actually go to trial. Your time spent waiting is not wasted -- your very presence in the courthouse encourages settlement.

There are two basic types of cases, criminal and civil.

Criminal Case

A criminal case results when a person is accused of committing a crime. You, as a juror, must decide whether the person charged is guilty or not guilty. The accused person is presumed innocent, and the People of the State of Michigan, represented by a prosecutor, must prove guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt." The verdict must be 12-0 (unanimous).

Civil Case

A civil case results from a disagreement or dispute between two or more parties. In a civil case, you, as a juror, must answer questions of disputed facts based upon the testimony and evidence admitted by the judge. The answers to these questions are called the verdict. In civil cases, 5 out of 6 must agree on the verdict.

Your employer can't fire, demote, or otherwise penalize you for missing work while performing jury service. Many employers will continue to pay your salary while you are in jury service. Contact your employer to find out what the policy is at your place of employment.

Proof of jury service is available on the Juror Access Website upon the conclusion of jury service.

Effective April 2, 2018 - For the first day of service, you will be paid $15.00 for a half day and $30.00 for a full day. For additional days, you will be paid $22.50 for a half day and $45.00 for a full day.

You will also be paid round trip mileage of 20 cents per mile, computed from your address. This amount is set by the state legislature and is considered reimbursement for your travel and other expenses.

You will receive a pay card with instructions when you arrive at check-in for jury service.

The court also provides an orientation program for jurors to inform and educate them about jury service and the trial process. You will also learn about your role as a juror and what you should and should not do while in the courthouse and serving on a jury.

It is very important that all jurors report each day they are told to report and that they be on time. Your absence may delay a trial. If you have an emergency (such as a sudden illness or a death in the family), call the Judge's office that you were assigned as a seated juror.

Certainly! While efforts are made to reduce delay and avoid waiting time, you may spend time waiting at the courthouse before you find out whether you have been chosen to actually sit on a jury. So bring a book or other quiet activity. Televisions and vending machines are located in the jury assembly room. Wireless Internet, electrical outlets and desks are also available for laptop computers.

Remember that as a juror, you are a vital part of the court system. Part of the job of many court employees is to help make your jury service comfortable and convenient. Don't be afraid to ask them for help.