Jury Service Frequently Asked Questions
- 1. How does the court get my name for Jury Service?
- The court receives a list of licensed drivers and identification card holders, over the age
of 18, from the Department of Motor Vehicles and a list of registered voters from Voter
Registration. The court uses this list to call prospective jurors for Jury Service.
- 2. How much will I be paid for Jury Service? When will I get paid?
- Currently, jurors receive $12.00 per day and are reimbursed for the mileage from
their home at a rate of 44.5 cents per mile. Jury payroll is done every Friday.
- 3. How many times may I be called to serve on a jury?
- As a juror, once you appear for a trial, regardless if you are chosen
to serve on that panel, your jury service is considered complete for
two years in the Mohave County Court System.
- 4. How long will I have to serve as a juror?
- The first step in Jury Service is the selection of jurors.
This process usually takes less than one day. The courts will
call more people than necessary for the purpose of jury selection.
This is done to ensure that the courts have an adequate number of
jurors to choose from. If you are selected to serve as a juror the
judge will let you know how long he or she anticipates the trial to last.
In the justice and municipal courts, trials are usually completed in one day.
- 5. What is proper attire for court?
- As a juror, you are an officer of the court; and should dress appropriately.
Business casual attire is suggested. The temperature of the jury assembly
room and courtrooms can be unpredictable; you may want to bring a sweater or jacket.
Shorts, miniskirts, tank tops, halters, braless dresses or tops, graphic tee-shirts,
rubber sandals and other informal attire is not considered appropriate in the courtroom setting.
If you should appear wearing these or other items deemed unsuitable for attending court, you may
be required to return home at your own expense to change into more suitable attire or your jury
service may be rescheduled to another date.
- 6. How may I be excused from Jury Service?
- Persons who are scheduled to appear for jury service may postpone the
date of their initial appearance for jury service two times only. On timely request,
postponement shall be granted if all of the following apply:
- 1. The prospective juror has not been granted two prior postponements.
- 2. The prospective juror contacts the jury commissioner by telephone or electronic mail
or in writing to request a postponement.
- *Excuses are not generally granted on the basis of religious beliefs, moral beliefs,
status as business proprietor, professional status as doctor or lawyer, etc.; however,
you may request to be excused for ANY reason two times only. If you are requesting a
permanent excuse due to one of the above reasons, you will need to write a letter to
the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court.
- If you are requesting a permanent excuse:
- 1) A juror seeking to be excused from jury service for a medical or mental health
condition must provide the jury office with a written statement from a licensed health
care professional. The statement must be in writing and shall contain a description
and duration of any mobility restrictions, the specific symptoms that make the prospective
juror mentally or physically unfit for jury service and their duration, the employment
status of the prospective juror and the printed name, signature, professional license
number if applicable, area of specialty and contact information of the authorizing physician,
registered nurse practitioner or professional caregiver. There is a medical form
available (CLICK HERE), or a handwritten note from the doctor on official letterhead is also accepted.
- 2) A juror seeking to be excused from jury service for public interest would have
to explain how their service would substantially and materially affect the public interest
or welfare in an adverse manner.
- 3) A juror may be excused from jury service if they are not currently capable of
understanding the English language, and do not wish to have an interpreter provided.
- 4) A juror seeking to be excused from jury service for adult caregiver status must
provide a statement from the patient's physician. The statement must confirm that that
the patient requires care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and must also
designate the juror as the sole caregiver and explain why alternate care cannot be provided
for even one day.
- A juror seeking to be excused from jury service for child caregiver status must
provide proof of dependency (birth certificates). If the child is school age the juror
must explain why they would not be available for jury service during school hours.
A juror does not qualify for the caregiver exemption if they are employed.
- 5) A juror seeking to be excused from jury service for financial hardship must
provide documentation showing that by attending jury service, the juror would incur
costs that would have a substantial adverse impact on the payment of the person's
necessary daily living expenses or on those for whom the juror provides regular employment
or the principal means of support. The juror must show that by serving on a jury for even
one day would place them under the federal poverty guidelines by providing supporting
documentation such as federal and state income tax returns.
- 6) A juror seeking to be excused from jury service due to employment as a law enforcement
officer must be currently certified by the Arizona peace officer standards and training board
(AZPOST) and currently employed as a peace officer in this state or any political subdivision
of this state. The employer of a peace officer shall not in any way influence the peace officer
to make or not to make an application to the court to be excused from jury service.
- 7) A prospective juror who is at least seventy-five years of age may request to be
excused temporarily or permanently.
- 8) A juror seeking to be excused from jury service due to being a student must
provide documentation showing they are registered full-time at a college or university.
The juror must provide a copy of their current class registration showing the number of
units they are currently enrolled in. Should the student reside in Mohave County and be
employed full-time during the day and enrolled as a full-time night student, the juror
will not be excused from service.
- 9) A juror seeking to be excused from jury service due to active military status
must provide documentation showing that they are currently enlisted, where they are
based and how long they are enlisted for. A family member can also provide this documentation
in instances where the juror is unable to be reached.
- WARNING: Court personnel will not call you asking for any personal information,
such as your Social Security Number, Date of Birth or Drivers License information. Should
you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the Court asking for this information,
please do not give this information out over the phone.
- PUBLIC NOTICE: Jury Scams: Victims of a jury scam get an e-mail containing
a fake subpoena ordering recipients to testify before a grand jury, complete with seemingly
genuine details like your name, a case number and court seal. However, the e-mails contain
malware that can destroy a computer. Another version of a scam involves a phone call in
which the caller claims to be a jury coordinator and intimidates victims into revealing
personal information. Please retain personal information as the Mohave County Jury Clerk
will not be requesting this type of sensitive data over a phone call.