You will be sent a letter from the Jury Office approximately two (2) weeks before your service date. The letter will contain your Juror Number for your panel of jurors. Beginning on the Friday before your service date, the Jury Office will begin notifying you using the following methods. Notifications do not occur until 5:00 PM on that Friday.

1. Text message to you: If you agreed to allow the court to use text messaging, you will receive a text message that will either direct you to report for jury service or inform you that jury selection has been cancelled.
2. Email message to you: If you agreed to allow the court to contact you by email, you will receive an email message that will either direct you to report for jury service or inform you that jury selection has been cancelled.
3. Notice on www.carboncourts.com/ijuror: You may log on to the jury website to see if your service date is scheduled. Enter your juror number, electronic signature, and date of birth to access your message.
4. Phone message system: The Jury Office will place a message on the telephone system by 5:00. You may call 570-325-4759 to check the message.
5. The Court’s website: The Court’s website, www.carboncourts.com/ijuror, will have a notice at the upper left corner.

Important Note: Jury selection is occasionally canceled after jurors are notified on Friday. While rare, you should double-check the websites or phone message system Sunday night just in case this occurs.

The Court understands that life’s events occur unexpectedly. Please contact the Jury Office as soon as possible and leave a message on 570-325-4759 or email juryadmin@carboncourts.com. You will be deferred to a new service date. Failure to timely notify the office may result in contempt of court proceedings before the presiding judge.

Occasionally due to snow storms or other reasons, The Court will delay opening of the building, postpone to a different day, or cancel jury service. We will send text and email messages to you if you agreed to use these two methods. The phone message system and website will be updated with the same information.

Free parking is provided in Lot B of the County parking lot across the railroad tracks. Lot B begins at the Lehigh River access point. Please see the map and picture below.

You will use the new parking kiosks to enter your vehicle information to avoid a ticket. Enter your license plate number and then enter your jury parking code that you will receive approximately two weeks prior to your service date. You can use any kiosk to enter your information. You must notify court staff members if you forget to enter your vehicle information. Contact the Jury Office if you receive a ticket.

The courthouse doors open at 8:15AM. Allow sufficient time to walk from the parking lot and proceed through the security station. Screening includes a walk-through magnetometer for yourself and X-ray machine for bags.

We expect all jurors who are notified to appear to be present in courtroom #1 by 9:00. Bring your summons paper and photo identification. Staff members will direct you through the check-in process and then to your assigned seat. You may have to fill out a second, more in-depth questionnaire depending on the nature of the trial scheduled.

Jury selection can take several hours depending on the nature of the trial. You may bring books, your mobile phone, or tablet. Staff members will supply the free Wi-Fi password if requested. Water bottles and dry snacks are allowed. Be prepared to sit for several hours while the judge and attorneys prepare for jury selection and then begin the questioning process to select the jury members. It is possible, but not likely, that jury selection will last through normal lunch time.

Dress comfortably and appropriately. Shorts, tank-tops, t-shirts, and flip flops are not considered appropriate for a courtroom.

Twelve (12) jurors plus two (2) alternates are selected from the total of 50 jurors summoned for jury selection.

Staff will give you a proof of service when your day is concluded. Your pay stub will contain a record of your payment.

By statute, jurors are paid $9.00 per day for the first three (3) days of service. If a trial exceeds three (3) days in length, you will be paid $25.00 per day for those days beginning with day four (4). You are paid $0.17 per mile for your round trip each day. The Court calculates your travel distance to and from the courthouse.

You will receive your check within two weeks of your service. If you decided to donate your payment to one of the charities listed, you will receive a proof of donation.

Businesses are not required to pay you for jury service. However, many pay their employees for this performing this civic duty. You should contact your Human Resources Office for guidance.

Employers are prohibited from discharging you from your job due to jury duty. However, certain provisions apply for smaller employers. You should contact your Human Resources Office for guidance. The Jury Office can explain the provisions further. Employers who violate these statutory protections are subject to summary violations and fines.

Your name was randomly selected from a master list of eligible Carbon County residents. Schedule conflicts are inevitable. When you answer the questionnaire, you will be asked about schedule conflicts in the Deferral section. You must request the deferral, provide a month or months when you can serve, and provide a valid written reason.

The Jury Office will notify you in writing about your approved deferral date. If denied, you must report for your jury service date.

The Court may consider other valid reasons for excusal from jury service. The Jury Office may require written reasons. Call the office to discuss further (570-325-4759).

Pennsylvania statute requires you to answer the questionnaire and report for jury service if you are found to be qualified to be a juror. If you don’t complete the questionnaire and return it within ten (10) days, the presiding judge may order you come to the Jury Office to complete your questionnaire.

If you fail to report for jury service, you will be automatically scheduled for a second service date. If you fail to appear on the second date, you may be held in Contempt of Court, summoned for a hearing before the presiding judge, and possibly fined for a summary offense.

You are strongly encouraged to proactively contact the Jury Office if you forget your service date.

Jury selection typically takes 3-4 hours. The nature of the trial may require more time. The presiding judge will provide breaks for use of the restrooms or a lunch period during longer selection days.

Trials, both civil and criminal, vary in length due to factors such as the number of witnesses, the type of charges for a criminal trial, or claims made in a civil trial. Prior to trial, the presiding judge has already discussed the estimated number of days for trial with the attorneys for each side. The judge will provide more information about the trial length to you on the selection day. That information is not available before jury selection.

Trial by jury is one of the cornerstones of our democracy and its judicial processes. All eligible United States Citizens are required to participate in order to protect others’ rights. The judges of the Court survey jurors upon completion of trials and have found that nearly all jurors have gained a new appreciation and respect for the judicial system.

The Court’s jury website, www.carboncourts.com/ijuror, has a short, informative video about jury service which explains trials and the many components including staff members who are vital parts of a successful jury selection and trial.

Or, consult http://www.pacourts.us/learn.