JURY DUTY INFORMATION
Carbon County’s Jury Department, with the help of a specialized software program, selects, qualifies, and summons jurors each month for civil and criminal trials.
The Court is very sensitive to the convenience of jurors as well as the sacrifice made in serving as jurors. If you are selected as a juror, you will serve for the duration of that trial only. The typical trial is normally completed in one day. If you are not selected, you will be dismissed. In either case, you will have fulfilled your jury service obligation and will not be called again for at least one year.
Prior to their scheduled appearance, jurors log on to the Jury Portal website or call the Jury Information Telephone System to determine if they are required to report, or if inclement weather or other developments require a change in the court date or time.
Jurors report on the first day of the trial term (session) and are selected for all cases scheduled for that term. They are assigned a specific trial date during the trial term.
SELECTION FOR JURY SERVICE
Each session, approximately 11 per year, Jury Questionnaire Summons are mailed to prospective jurors. Juror names are randomly selected by the computer from registered licensed drivers, voter registrations, school census lists, etc.
Instructions are provided for jurors to complete their Jury Questionnaire within 10 days by going online to the Jury Portal at
https://carbonpa.web.genesisjury.net/portal.
In order to qualify for jury service, you must meet the following requirements:
You must not have been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.
You must be able to read, write, and speak the English language.
You must be physically and mentally able to perform the functions of a juror.
You must be a United States citizen at the time you are summoned.
You must be a Carbon County resident and at least 18 years of age to serve on Jury Duty in the 56th Judicial District of Carbon County.
IF YOU QUALIFY FOR JURY SERVICE
Bring the Summons with you when you report for service. Be sure to carefully read all of the instructions before you report for service. Report to Carbon County Courthouse, Courtroom #1 on the 2nd Floor.
Persons with disabilities should notify the Jury Department within 10 days from receipt of the summons for jury service of any request for accommodations.
YOU MUST BRING THE ORIGINAL SUMMONS WITH YOU WHEN YOU REPORT FOR SERVICE. DO NOT GIVE YOUR ORIGINAL SUMMONS TO YOUR EMPLOYER. PROOF OF JURY SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED.
Please remember that in accordance with 18 Pa C.S. 913 (a) no firearms or other dangerous weapons are permitted in a court facility. Also be reminded that in accordance with 18 Pa C.S. 5103.1 no video recording of a proceeding or person within a judicial facility is permitted.
We also request that all cell phones, pagers or other communication devices be powered off or silenced to not disrupt the judicial process. Should you have any questions, please check with the Carbon County Sheriff prior to entering the building. We thank you for your cooperation in helping to maintain safety in the Carbon County Courthouse.
REQUESTING AN EXCUSAL OR POSTPONEMENT
All requests for postponement or excusal from jury service can be made online as the juror completes the online questionnaire process. If your request is approved, an excusal will be sent to you either electronically or by USPS.
If you are mentally or physically unable to serve as a juror, your doctor should fax or email a medical certification form to fax number (570) 325-9449 or the email address of
juryadmin@carboncourts.com.
If you are requesting a job-related excuse, your employer should certify the hardship by letter and include the nature of your work, role with the company and state that your role is too vital for the company to allow you to attend jury duty.
THE QUESTIONNAIRE MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 10 DAYS OF RECEIPT TO DETERMINE WHETHER YOU QUALIFY OR NOT.
All qualified prospective jurors are placed on a stand-by list. A Reminder to Appear letter is sent electronically or by USPS to each juror about 2 weeks before your service date. The reminder instructs you to log into the Jury Portal or call the Jury Information Telephone System the weekend before your service for stand-by instructions.
JURY SERVICE IN THE COURTHOUSE
DRESS CODE: Proper attire is required in Court. Individuals wearing shorts, tank tops, swimwear, and any other inappropriate garment will not be allowed into the courtrooms.
INCLEMENT WEATHER INSTRUCTIONS: If driving conditions are hazardous on your jury service day due to inclement weather, please call the Jury Information Telephone System at 570-218-4495 or log into the Jury Portal website at https://carbonpa.web.genesisjury.net/portal.
Prospective jurors complete a Juror Information Questionnaire and are assigned a badge and juror number. Show juror badge for the questioning of voir dire process.
For those jurors who are in a courtroom, a lunch break is determined by the presiding Judge. Currently, the rate of jury fees in the Court of Common Pleas of Carbon County is $9.00 each day for the first three days and $25.00 each day, beginning the fourth day of jury service. All who served are paid when their service is completed at the end of the trial.
