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SEARCH CONTACT GENERAL INFO SERVICES FEES FORMS RULES RECORDS PROCUREMENT JOBS Superior Court of California, County of Kern   Case Types:   Appeals | Civil | Criminal | Family Law | Jury | Juvenile | Probate | Small Claims | Traffic   superior court / jury duty / jury duty frequently asked questions Jury Duty Frequently Asked Questions Location/Directions and Contact Information - Metropolitan Division Locations/Directions and Contact Information - East Kern Division When am I going to be called? Who may be called to jury duty? How did my name get on the jury duty list? Must I respond to a summons for jury duty? How long do I stay on call? How do I request a postponement from jury duty? How do I request an excuse from jury duty? What if my boss will not let me off to serve as a juror? How long does a typical trial take? What are my trial duty hours? What if I am late to Court? What is the courthouse security like? How do I dress for jury duty? What is appropriate courtroom conduct? Where do I park for jury duty? When am I going to be called? Visit Reporting for Jury Duty to find out which group numbers are being called for the current week or call the Automated Jury System after 6:00 PM the evening prior to your jury service date for reporting instructions. Back to Top Who may be called to jury duty? You are eligible for jury duty if you: Are at least 18 years old Are a citizen of the United States Are a resident of the county where you are summoned Understand English Have not served as a juror within the past twelve months Have not been convicted of a felony Are physically and mentally capable of serving Back to Top How did my name get on the jury duty list? Your name was selected at random from information compiled by the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Elections Department. Back to Top Must I respond to a summons for jury duty? If you have been summoned for jury duty and fail to report to Jury Services as directed or to be excused from attendance, the following sanctions may apply to you: You may be attached and compelled to attend. Following an Order to Show Cause hearing, the Court may find you in contempt of court whereby you could be fined or jailed, or both. Back to Top How long do I stay on call? If you are called to jury duty by the Kern River Branch of the Superior Court of California, County of Kern, East Division, you will be required to call in for one month. For all other branches/locations, the five-day call-in, one-day/one-trial jury system applies. One day or one trial means: If you are not involved in a trial by the end of the first day your jury panel is requested to report to Jury Duty, your term of service is complete. If you are involved in a trial by the end of the first day, your term of service will be completed when you are thanked and excused by the court. If you have been instructed to call in for five days and your group is not told to report to the Jury Services Department by the end of the fifth day, your term of service is complete. Back to Top How do I request a postponement from jury duty? You may request a one-time postponement (deferral) of your jury duty to a more convenient time. Check the box entitled REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT (this is found on the Questionnaire Form), provide your requested new date, and mail or fax it to the Jury Commissioner's Office or call the Jury Services Department*. If your postponement request is granted, you will receive a new Summons in the mail prior to your requested date. * You may also call the Jury Services Automated Jury System and use your touch-tone telphone to postpone your jury duty without speaking to a Jury Services Representative. Back to Top How do I request an excuse from jury duty? You may request to be excused from jury duty for "undue hardship." Check the box entitled REQUEST FOR EXCUSE (this is found on the Questionnaire Form) and mail it or fax it to the Jury Commissioner's Office to see if you may be excused from service. All requests to be excused from jury duty must be submitted in writing. The types of excuses the Jury Commissioner will accept are as follows: Extreme financial burden. You will need to provide your employer's signed written verification of no pay. If you are self-employed, proof of same is required. (This may be a business card or a copy of your business license.) Physical or mental disability or impairment. You must attach your doctor's written verification. Notify the Jury Services Department if you have been granted a medical excuse within the last three years. (If you are 70 years of age or older, a doctor's excuse is not required. Call the Jury Services Department under Penal Code Sections 830.1 and 830.2(a).) You are a peace officer and service as a juror would jeopardize protection of public health and safety (under Penal Code Sections 830.1 and 830.2(a)). You have served as a juror within the last 12 months (If you served outside of Kern County, proof of service is required). You must care for a dependent daily (A written explanation is required). You will not be contacted if your request is granted. Back to Top What if my boss will not let me off to serve as a juror? Your employer is required to let you off to serve as a juror under Labor Code Section 230 (opens new window). Your employer may not discharge you from your employment if you are called for jury duty if you provide your employer with reasonable notice. Your employer does not have to pay you for the time you are serving as a juror. Back to Top How long does a typical trial take? An average Limited Jurisdiction trial lasts 3 days. An average General Jurisdiction trial lasts 4 days. A trial may last from one day to several weeks. Back to Top What are my trial duty hours? Jury trials normally: are Monday through Friday begin at 9:00 a.m. recess for lunch between 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. end the day at 5:00 p.m. Back to Top What if I am late to Court? You should arrive to court promptly while you are on jury duty because the trial cannot begin until all the jurors are present. If you are late, the judge may fine you. Please contact the Jury Services Office as soon as you know that you are going to be late. Back to Top What is the courthouse security like? You are not permitted to carry weapons into the court buildings, and you will be scanned for weapons when entering the courthouse. Weapons include: mace, pepper spray, or tear gas any blades two inches or longer (pocket knives, knitting needles, nail files, nail scissors, etc.) guns Outside of the court building, all forms of pepper spray, mace, and tear gas are prohibited. Back to Top How do I dress for jury duty? A juror is an officer of the court. Please dress in appropriate court attire. You may not wear shorts, skorts, halter or tank tops, hats, or sunglasses in the courtroom. Any juror not appropriately dressed will be excused to return to court the next day in appropriate courtroom attire. Back to Top What is appropriate courtroom conduct? You should be courteous and alert. You may read while you are waiting for court to begin or during recesses but you may not read while court is in session. You must turn off your pager and cell phone or set it to vibration mode rather than ring mode. No gum chewing, food or drink is allowed in the courtroom. Check with your Jury Commissioner if you have any doubts about proper courtroom conduct. Back to Top Where do I park for jury duty? Juror parking is available just south of the court buildings and the railroad tracks. View map Back to Top Superior Court of California, County of Kern court employees are prohibited from giving legal advice per section 24004 and 68082 of the Government Code. In addition, court employees may not give advice as to which legal forms to use or how to complete the forms. | Court Home | Search | Contact Us | General Info | Services | Fees | Forms | Rules | Court Records | Procurement | Jobs | | Appeals | Civil | Criminal | Family | Jury Services | Juvenile | Probate | Small Claims | Traffic | | Jury Services Home | Contact Jury Services | | CA Judicial Council Guide to Jury Duty | Jury Duty FAQ | Last Modified 3/1/2006 Site maintained by Webmaster Disclaimers Privacy Policy