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Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Introduction to Jury Service

The Office of Jury Administration is responsible for providing a qualified pool of jurors to ensure the right of all citizens to a trial by an impartial jury.  The United States is the only country in the world to guarantee its citizens the right to a jury trial in both civil and criminal cases. Citizens who fulfill their jury service obligation are continuing a tradition established under the U.S. Constitution over two hundred years ago.  Indeed, the right to a trial by an impartial jury of one's peers is an integral part of the foundation of American democracy.

Jury service is a serious, meaningful and important responsibility. The court's goal is to make jury service convenient and easy.  To accomplish this, the Office of Jury Administration has implemented innovative and streamlined practices designed to put the comfort and convenience of jurors first and foremost. Jurors are summoned for either direct service or as standby jurors.  If you have been summoned as a standby juror, click here to get more standby information. Upon reporting for service jurors can expect to serve for the duration of one trial.  If by the end of your first day of service you have not been empaneled on a jury and are not in a courtroom for jury selection you will be excused from further service. Our system is called one day/one trial.  

The Circuit Court of Cook County also implemented a senior citizen Opt-Out Program which permits persons aged 70 or older to decline jury service.  These programs and many others are all explained in greater detail further in this section. 

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact the Office of Jury Administration at (312) 603-JURY.
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