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Here
are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding
jury duty, and information useful to those called upon to serve.
HOW DID I GET SELECTED?
HOW LONG AND HOW OFTEN WILL I BE CALLED UPON TO SERVE?
HOW
DO I GET OUT OF JURY DUTY?
CAN
I POSTPONE SERVING ON A JURY?
WHAT IF I NEED A DAY OFF?
I HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION
... DO I STILL HAVE TO SERVE?
MY BOSS CAN'T DO WITHOUT ME
... DO I STILL HAVE TO SERVE?
HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN I HAVE
JURY DUTY?
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WHEN I
APPEAR FOR JURY DUTY?
WHAT IF I'M SUMMONED FOR GRAND
JURY?
WILL I GET PAID FOR SERVING
ON A JURY?
HOW DID I GET SELECTED?
The jury selection process is a random selection
of names taken from the "Master Jury Wheel," which is created
from a master list, pursuant to Idaho Code 2-206, created from two sources;
the Boundary County voter list and the State of
Idaho Department of Transportation drivers license
records. The "Jury Wheel" is selected from the master list
in December of each odd-numbered year. The master list has an average
of 8,500 names; each Jury Wheel contains 3,500 names, meaning that each
person has almost 50/50 odds of being selected every two years (if only
Lottery odds were that good!). The wheel list is divided into six
jury panels, with each panel in place for a four-month period; January 1
through April 30, May 1 through August 31 and September 1 through December
31.
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HOW LONG AND HOW OFTEN WILL I BE CALLED UPON TO SERVE?
A jury panel service term in Boundary County is four months. Once
you have served a full jury panel, you will not have to serve again for two
years. Should your name come up before two years have elapsed, you
may request not to serve and your request will be granted (please see
question 5 and question 18 on the jury qualification form). Once you are
selected for a jury panel, you will be assigned a juror number. On average,
your juror number will be drawn once per month. It is not unusual
that court dates get cancelled, and it is possible that you may go through
a four month jury service panel without having to come to the courthouse;
the average attendance is two half days during the four month panel.
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HOW
DO I GET OUT OF JURY DUTY?
Idaho Code 2-211 provides "No
qualified prospective juror is exempt from jury service." You
are a qualified juror if you are 18 years of age or older, a citizen of the
United States, a
resident of Boundary
County, and able to
read, speak and understand the English language. However, if you have
a felony record and are still on probation or parole you will be
disqualified. If you are age 70 or older you may request to be
excused on the jury qualification form.
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CAN
I POSTPONE SERVING ON A JURY?
There are a few special circumstances which may
allow you to request a postponement from one jury panel to another, for
example, being a nursing mother or if you have a temporary medical
condition. Requests for postponement must be made in writing and
submitted with your jury qualification form. Be sure to include in
your request a day-time phone number where you can be reached.
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WHAT IF I NEED A DAY OFF?
Arrangements can be made to be excused from jury
duty for short periods of time. If you have a medical appointment, a
special family event, including a pre-planned vacation ,
wedding, or a pressing employment situation that will cause you to be out
of the area. You must contact the jury commissioner in writing a least 30 days in advance. You may do this by regular
mail to PO BOX 419 Bonners Ferry, Id.
83805 or by email to bcjury@boundarycountyid.org. You must include your name, juror number, day
time phone number, the reason, and the dates requested. You may also
include your email address for a confirmation response.
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I HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION... DO I STILL HAVE TO SERVE?
A doctor's certificate for release from
jury service is included in your jury packet on the back of the summons
form. This form should not be used for medical conditions that are
temporary, such as colds, pregnancy or broken bones. These can be dealt
with a temporary excuse from jury duty or by postponement. If you
have a chronic condition which makes it impossible for you to serve, have
your physician fill out the certificate and return it with your juror
qualification form. The court may require any person requesting to be
excused for a medical reason to provide documentation from their medical
care provider, and medical providers may be contacted for verification.
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MY BOSS CAN'T DO WITHOUT ME ... DO I STILL HAVE TO SERVE?
Almost everyone called for jury duty is employed,
and it would not be appropriate to have only unemployed or retired citizens
as jurors; this would hardly comprise a jury of one's peers. The court
will try to work with all prospective jurors to reduce potential
inconvenience or accommodate special circumstances. Keep in mind that
you will usually have two to three weeks advance notice of jury trial
dates. Keep in mind, too, that the majority of trials only last a day
or two.
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HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN I HAVE JURY DUTY?
This information is included in the packet mailed
to you when your name is selected for service on a jury panel. The
Summons for Jury Duty also contains other important information, including
when to call the jury duty information line. You should check this
site or call this number at least once each week for the four months the
panel is active and listen to the recorded message that specifies the days
each juror (by juror number) should appear. The jury duty information
line, (208) 267-0924, should only be called when the courthouse is closed;
from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday or on weekends and
holidays. During office hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., this number can be
used to contact the jury commissioner, or, if not available, to leave a
message. When you call the jury duty information line, you will hear
a message similar to this:
"Please listen
to this entire message for jury duty information for panel six jurors who
are serving from September first through December 31st. Jury
duty for Thursday, October 14th. Jurors 600 through 650 should report
at 9:15 a.m. Thursday, October 14th. Jury duty for Monday, November
eighth. Jurors 653 through 784 should report at 9 a.m. Monday,
November eighth. Jury duty for Wednesday, November 10th. Jurors
785 through 876 should report at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, November 10th.
Please call once per week and don't forget to call the night before these
scheduled trial dates. If you have any questions, call this number
Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m."
You will usually have a two
to three week advance notice of trial dates for which you must
appear. Your juror number is listed on the bottom of the information
and summons page included in your jury packet. Your juror number
is the number you will need to determine when you are scheduled to appear.
The panel number, also included on the information and summons sheet, is
the designator for the entire panel serving for that four-month period.
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WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WHEN I APPEAR FOR JURY DUTY?
When you arrive at the courthouse, proceed to the
third floor, where you will find a table in the main courtroom at the top
of the stairs with a sign-in sheet with juror numbers listed in numerical
order. Sign beside your juror number and be seated. On your
first trial date, there will be a brief orientation, which will be followed
by jury selection. On average, the jury selection process takes from
one to three hours. On occasion, there may be circumstances that will
preclude the need for a jury that day; should this occur,
prospective jurors will be excused as quickly as possible.
Recognizing the inconvenience, the court makes every attempt to avoid
having jurors appear when not needed. Following the selection
process, prospective jurors not selected to sit on the trial are excused
and are free to leave or stay to observe; all trials are open to the
public.
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WHAT
IF I'M SUMMONED FOR GRAND JURY?
Grand juries have recently come back into use in Boundary County, and it is possible that at
some point during your jury service period you may be selected to serve on
a grand jury. This could extend your jury service for a short while,
as grand juries are selected for a six-month period. Grand juries
usually convene only once per month in the evening, and sessions usually
last only a few hours. If you are selected for a grand jury, the
entire process will be explained at that time.
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WILL I GET PAID FOR SERVING ON A JURY?
Those selected for jury duty receive $5 for a half
days' service and $10 for a full day, plus $..445
per mile round trip from the juror's residence to the courthouse.
Jurors may elect to donate jury fees to the Boundary County Community
Justice Department, to help fund their juvenile programs such as the Youth
Accountability Board, Community Service, and Restitution Programs. Juvenile
Services are based on Restorative Justice and the Balanced Approach,
equally balancing Accountability, Community Safety, and Competency
Development. You can donate your jury fees by marking "yes" on
question 7 on your juror qualification form.
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