This week (Monday, actually) I reported for my first-ever stint as juror in Knox County Circuit (civil) Court. The summons the court mailed me wasn’t very detailed. So if you have similarly received a summons and are wondering what to expect, here’s what I found out the first day.
The summons recommends you park at the Dwight Kessel Metropolitan Parking Garage. Why? Among other reasons, because it has an all-day rate of $5, which is equal to the parking allowance the court gives you. Other lots cost more. You don’t need to keep the garage tickets for reimbursement–the court gives everyone the parking credit regardless of if you park there or not.
When you report to the circuit court desk you are directed down the back hall to the jury room. There you’re given a short questionnaire which asks about your work, your family situation, previous jury experience, and your address. The court keeps the latter (to send jury pay) and shares the rest of the information with attorneys.
After allowing everyone in the jury pool (in my case, about 40 people) time to fill out questionnaires, the court clerk instructs everyone on the process, as follows:
The circuit court jury term lasts nine days (Monday-Friday the first week, Monday-Thursday the second week). Although the court has several trials going every day, it only schedules one a day which may require a jury. And often those settle or are otherwise resolved without going to the jury. So many days no jury is required.
Essentially jurors are on call. Every day after 5 pm you call in and are notified by recorded message whether you are report the next day or not.
The clerk said that the previous jury pool only got called in two days (out of nine). This is my third day and we’ve not yet been called for trial. It just depends on how the current docket plays out.
The clerk said that about 90% of the cases that juries in this court hear are auto accidents. The balance are medical malpractice suits and sundry other claims.
Jurors are paid $11 per day that they are called in.
In a nutshell, that’s how the system works. In the coming days I may or may not have an opportunity to learn more and fulfill my civic duty.
UPDATE: As chance would have it I did not get called in again for actual jury duty during the two-week term.
Oh well, maybe another time.