Jurors - General Information

	Juror Expectations Deferment Requirements Juror Donation Program Rules of the Court Jury Duty Information Request Postponement Online Holiday Schedule

The Constitution of the United States guarantees everyone the right to a trial by a jury of his/her peers, and therefore juries have a long standing tradition in American jurisprudence. The Superior Court Jury Administration Office is responsible for summoning Cobb County citizens to serve as jurors on petit and grand jury panels. Petit jurors can serve on either criminal or civil juries, while grand jurors hand down indictments in criminal actions and perform other types of investigatory functions.

In 2008, the Superior Court of Cobb County heard 82 jury trials. Although 15,054 reported for jury service, only 908 were actually chosen to sit on a jury. Those jurors chosen served an average of 3.05 days.

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Juror Expectations

Petit Jurors will need to be here between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on the date that you have been summoned. You will be checked in and given an orientation on the petit juror process and what will be expected of you. You will also need to call the jury phone line, 770-528-1804, or click here for online information to receive additional instructions at the end of each day. If you have a conflict you may advise the attorneys in the courtroom.

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Rules of the Court
Georgia State Laws

Under Georgia State Law, exemptions are granted to the following properly documented persons:

• Persons who are permanently disabled either mentally or physically, will be excused upon receipt of proper documentation from their medical physician. The documentation must state a permanent disability exists to excuse you. A Medical Affidavit form is attached to summons for your convenience.
• Persons age 70 or older who do not wish to serve may file an affidavit requesting their name be removed from the jury list. An affidavit form is attached to summons for your convenience.
• Full-time students at a college, university, vocational school or other post-secondary school who request to be excused or deferred must provide documentation from their school registrar's office. This must be submitted at least two weeks prior to jury date.
• Any person who is a primary caregiver having active care and custody of a child six years of age or under who has no alternative child care available must sign an affidavit available online at sca.cobbcountyga.gov/juror_forms.htm.This must be submitted at least two weeks prior to jury date.
• If you are a primary teacher in a home you may request to be excused or deferred if you are in a home study program and have no reasonably available alternative teacher. Affidavit to complete is available at sca.cobbcountyga.gov/juror_forms.htm. This must be submitted two weeks prior to jury date.
• As a full time employee your employer may not discriminate against you in any manner due to your jury service. If you need a copy of the law, O.C.G.A..34-1-3(a) and O.C.G.A.. 34-1-3(b), you may contact our office at 770-528-1800, or you may contact your local law library.

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When you receive your jury summons, please read it carefully for instructions and information.  Keep the top portion, and return the bottom portion that is labeled “Juror Information Form.”  This is important, as attorneys in the courtroom will question you as a potential juror in order to assist in selecting the jury to try the case.  Use of these questionnaires can expedite the jury process.  

For Petit Jury: Your jury service can last an average of one week.  You will be asked to call the voice mail or check the Internet each evening after 6:00 to see if you will need to report for jury duty the next day or not.  A juror is paid $25.00 per day, for the days they are physically here.  The days you are not required to appear for jury duty, you can resume your normal daily activities.

For Grand Jury: The Grand Jury consists of twenty-three (23) members and two (2) alternates.  Grand Jurors serve for a two month term.  The Grand Jury generally meets one to two days per week.  Persons ineligible for service on a Grand Jury are elected officials in state or local government or those who have held office within two years preceding service as a Grand Juror.

Georgia law provides only two categories for permanent exemption from jury duty. It is for persons who are permanently physically or mentally disabled or persons who are over seventy years of age who do not wish to serve.  Affidavits for both of these permanent exemptions are located at the bottom of your jury summons.

Georgia law states that you are qualified to serve as a juror  if you are a U.S citizen, are at least 18 years of age, are a resident of the county that sent you the jury summons, and have had your rights restored if you were convicted of a felony.

The following types of clothing are not allowed:
Caps must not be worn inside of a courtroom, shorts or cut off jeans, any “see through” materials, and no law enforcement uniforms.

Security:  upon arriving at the courthouse, you will be required to go through security screening.  Weapons of any kind (including pocket knives) are prohibited.

All cell phones must be turned off upon entering a courtroom.

Our Jury Assembly Room is equipped with wireless network that is available for jurors.  There are also desktop computers, fax machines, printers and courtesy telephones.
Cell phones, personal electronic equipment, etc. are allowed in the Jury Assembly Room.

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Deferment Requirements
By law jurors are permitted a maximum of one deferment. A deferment request must be made two weeks notice prior to your service date. The deferment time frame is a maximum of eight weeks. For a longer deferment, the juror must have a doctor's letter or medical affidavit with an expected recovery time. We require a written letter for our records as to why you would like a deferment and when within the next eight weeks you would be available to serve. You may choose one of three ways; fill out an "Online Postponement Form", fax (770-528-1808), or you may send us a letter in the mail.

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Juror Donation Program
As a juror in Cobb County Superior Court, you have the unique opportunity to give even more back to your community through our Juror Fee Donation Program. By checking the appropriate box on the form you will be given, you can donate the fee you would normally receive for your jury service ($25.00 a day) to one of the designated areas within the county.

The money would go to capital improvement projects & operating purposes only. You will receive a certificate showing the amount you donated and to which area. Your donation is tax deductible.

One choice only can be made. Your choices will be: Cobb County Animal Shelter, Cobb Trees Program, Focus on Forever: A Marital Seminar, Cobb Parks & Recreation, Cobb Public Library System & Cobb Senior Services.

The donation program is totally optional.

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Holiday Schedule

Year: 2010
New Year's Day Martin Luther King Day Good Friday Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Holiday Christmas Holiday New Year's Day	January 1 January 18 April 2 May 31 July 5 September 6 November 25 - November 26 December 23 - December 24 December 31, 2010

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