Jury Duty

General Information | Jury Duty FAQ | Jury Excusal Form

Jury Duty Topics


SELECTION OF JURORS
To be qualified for jury duty, you must be a United States Citizen at least 18 years of age, a Hernando County resident, and possess a Florida Driver's License or ID card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). Jury lists are pulled from the DHSMV database on or before January 1st of each calendar year. If you moved to Hernando County after this date and you'd like to be considered for jury duty, you may complete an Affidavit obtained from the Jury Management Clerk, requesting that your name be included for jury service.

IF YOU ARE SUMMONED
The night before you are to report, please call the number provided on your summons to verify your service will be required. Carefully read all information and instructions on your summons. If, after reading the information you still have questions, contact the Jury Clerk at the number listed on the summons.

EXEMPTIONS/DISQUALIFICATIONS
You may be excluded from Jury Duty for the following reasons:

  • You have served as a juror in Hernando County within the past 12 months.
  • You are an expectant mother.
  • You are a parent not employed full time who has the care and custody of a child under 6.
  • You are 70 years of age or older.
  • You are a full-time federal, state or local law enforcement officer or investigative personnel for one of these entities.
  • You care for a person who, because of mental illness, mental retardation, senility, or physical or mental incapacity, are incapable of caring for themselves.
  • You have a physical infirmity.
You will be excluded from Jury Duty for the following reasons:

  • You are currently under prosecution for a crime.
  • You have been convicted of a felony and have not had your civil rights restored.
  • You serve as the Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet Officer, clerk of court, or judge.
  • You are not a U.S. citizen.
To request an Excusal/Postponement, you may mail the Excusal Form attached to your summons to the address shown on the summons or you may deliver it in person to the Jury Management Office at the Hernando County Courthouse or click here for an on-line Excusal Form: Excusal/Postponement

REPORTING
Please report to the Hernando County Courthouse, 3rd Floor, Jury Assembly Room. You may wish to bring reading or writing materials as delays may occur during jury assignment and processing. Juror parking is located at the Records Retention Center behind the Courthouse. A shuttle to the Courthouse will be provided. Please dress appropriately in normal business attire. You may want to bring a jacket or sweater since the courtrooms are air conditioned.

JUROR PAY
Jurors who are regularly employed and receiving wages during jury duty are not entitled to compensation for the first three days of jury service. Jurors who are not regularly employed or who do not receive regular wages during jury duty are entitled to $15 per day for the first three days of jury service. Jurors who serve more than three days will be paid by the State for the fourth and subsequent days of service at a rate of $30 per day.

A juror who receives unemployment benefits does not lose such benefits because he receives compensation for juror service. The sheriff, when required by order of the court, shall provide juries with meals and lodging, the expense to be taxed against and paid by the state.

LENGTH OF SERVICE
Hernando County adheres to the one-day or one-trial rule. Under normal circumstances, if you are not selected for a jury panel on the first day you report, your term of service will be completed. Only under unusual circumstances would you be required to report on another day for a selection process.

TYPES OF TRIALS
A petit jury will hear and decide civil and criminal cases. Civil cases are disputes between private citizens, corporations, government agencies, or other organizations. Usually, the party who brings the suit is seeking money damages for an alleged wrong that has been done. The party who brings the suit is called the Plaintiff and the one being sued is called the Defendant.

Criminal cases are brought by the state against persons accused of committing a crime. In these cases, the State is the Plaintiff and the accused person is the Defendant. Criminal trials can involve traffic, misdemeanor, felony or capital (death penalty) cases.

GRAND JURY
The grand jury consists of 15 to 21 members who serve a six-month term of duty with the court. (The term can be extended by the court for up to 90 days to allow for completion of unfinished business.) At least 12 members of the panel must vote in agreement to return an indictment. As prescribed by judicial administrative order, grand jurors are selected from the list of licensed drivers and those who hold valid Florida I.D.'s supplied by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. They are paid on the same basis as trial jurors (see jury pay topic) for every day they meet in session during the term of court. A grand jury has broad powers to investigate a wide range of criminal offenses and to examine the performance of public officials and public institutions. Its deliberations are conducted in secret, in conjunction with the State Attorney or a designated assistant state attorney. Grand jurors are given the following oath, as prescribed by F.S. 905.10: ‘’You, as grand jurors for Hernando County do solemnly swear (or affirm) that you will diligently inquire into all matters put in your charge and you will make true presentments of your findings. Unless ordered by a court, you will not disclose the nature or substance of the deliberations of the grand jury, the nature or substance of any testimony or other evidence, the vote of the grand jury, or the statements of the state attorney. You shall not make a presentment against a person because of envy, hatred, or malice, and you shall not fail to make a presentment against a person because of love, fear, or reward. So help you God.’’

Americans with Disabilities Act
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation to participate in jury service should contact the Jury Management Office at (352) 540-6248 or (352) 540-6247, within two days of receiving your Jury Summons. If you are hearing or voice impaired, call 1-800-955-8771.

IF YOU ARE CHOSEN TO SERVE
Jurors should observe the following general rules of conduct:

  • Be on time for court. The trial cannot proceed until all jurors are present.
  • Sit in the same seat in the jury box. This allows the Judge, clerk and attorneys to identify you more easily.
  • Listen carefully. It is important that you hear every question and every answer given since your verdict will be based on the evidence given. If you do not understand any portion of the trial, you should ask the Judge to explain.
  • Do not talk about the case to anyone. This includes the clerk, lawyers, Judge, bailiff, and other jurors, unless you have retired to the jury room for deliberations. If anyone tries to talk to you about the case or attempts to influence you as a juror, you should report it to the Judge immediately.

JURY INFORMATION CONTACT
Before reporting for jury duty, you may call to check to be sure that you still have to come. Because cases frequently settle out of court before their trial dates, often the court does not need as many jurors as it has originally summoned. To find out if you must still report for jury duty call the number on your summons after 5:00 PM the day before (or the weekend before) you must come to court. A recorded message will tell you if you need to report as indicated. If there is no message on that line, or if the telephone line is not in operation, please report for jury duty as indicated on the summons. If you have any questions, please contact the Jury Management Office at (352) 540-6399.

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