So you’ve been summoned for jury duty. Now what?

Published 2:45 pm Wednesday, September 6, 2023

They describe it as one of the most important tasks any citizen can undertake. We all have a right to a fair jury trial, and that means we all need to be willing to step away from our lives and participate in the process whenever that summons hits your mailbox.

But it can be a pain, and intimidating for those who’ve never been called before.

Here is what to expect and do to make your jury experience as smooth as possible.

Summons by mail

The summons will come via the mail. There will be a date for your service — for the Multnomah County Circuit Court it is for at least two back-to-back days — as well as a location, either the Multnomah Central Courthouse, 1200 S.W. First Ave, or the East County Courthouse, 18480 S.E. Stark St.

You’ll need to do several things right away.

Follow the shared link to go online and register. This is your first chance to get out, if you meet one of the disqualifying factors. That includes age, not being a citizen or being a primary caregiver.

You can also defer your service for a month if work responsibilities or an appointment conflict with the dates.

Reimbursement

Part of the packet will include reimbursement, which must be filled out and brought with you during your first day of jury duty.

Many businesses pay during your service. You’ll have to check with your employers. If that’s the case you are legally required to waive your stipend. If not, you get $10 a day during jury duty, with that amount bumping to $20 if you are chosen for a trial.

Check ahead

Go online to the link provided with your summons to check the need for jurors. By 5 p.m. the day before, they will post whether you need to report. Sometimes they preemptively keep everyone home, or only require some jurors.

What to bring

Jury duty has a lot of downtime, so bring plenty to entertain yourself. There is a good chance you will never be called into a courtroom, so bring a book, earbuds for music, laptop, board games, your Nintendo Switch, or anything else that won’t cause a major disruption. You can bring a filled water bottle or snacks. There is a fridge in the jury waiting room, and a coffee stand out in the foyer.

Getting to the courthouse

The court will not validate parking. If you drive you can request mileage, but they recommend taking TriMet. The closest Blue Line stop to the downtown courthouse is Pioneer Courthouse Square; the closest stop to the East County Courthouse is Rockwood/188th. If you park in downtown Portland, stick to the garages. Any spot where you have to feed the meter won’t work, because once inside the courthouse you are there until officially dismissed. Arrive as early as possible — the downtown courthouse has some comfy chairs, with outlets, that go quickly. If you show up too late, you may be stuck sitting for hours in an uncomfortable place.

Orientation

The first hour of service is dedicated to an orientation. The jury room staff will explain the process, more details about what is/isn’t allowed, and point out various amenities in the building. There are several videos shown, and then a judge comes out to speak and thank the jurors for their service.

Called to court

Throughout the day names will be called to head to a courtroom and begin the selection process. It is a random selection, and if your name is called you should bring all your stuff with you.

First, a judge will ask general questions, and then the lawyers will begin “voir dire,” which is the process used to select a fair and impartial jury.

That is when the questions may become more personal — for example for a drunk driving case you may be asked if you have ever driven while intoxicated.

If a juror is dismissed from the courtroom by either a judge or lawyer, your service isn’t finished. You go back to the main jury room and wait with everyone else.

If you are chosen, then you must serve for the duration of the case, which most often last two or three days. For a grand jury, which is a much longer service, the judge will ask if anyone is unable to commit several weeks to the case.

Dismissal

While jury service normally lasts from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., there are situations where you may be let out early. It all depends on what cases are being tried at the court.

Often the presence of jurors may cause the two sides to settle, or agree upon a bench trial. Other times a case may be delayed or dismissed.

When that happens, the staff in the juror room will announce to everyone they may go home. If it’s day one, you are expected to return the following morning. If your service has been completed, you are no longer eligible for jury duty for the next two years.

For more information on being a Multnomah County juror, visit bit.ly/3Z9xJtS.