Superior Court Jury Service

The American Jury: “We the People” in action!

“As Americans, we sometimes take for granted the rule of law that protects our freedoms. Trial by a jury of one's peers is among the fundamental democratic ideals of our nation. Serving as jurors reminds us that these ideals exist only as long as individual citizens are willing to uphold them.”
(read the full message) 

Ronald M. George
Chief Justice of California

Office Hours:  8:00am - 5:00pm 
Telephone:  (925) 646-2002 
Fax:  (925) 957-5774 

LOCATION:
A. F. Bray Courts Bldg.
1020 Ward St., Room 1007
Martinez, CA 94553

Call-In Numbers for Reporting and Postponement Instructions:

(Click the city name for reporting instructions, requesting postponement, and directions)

Visit the Official California Jury Information Resource Center
at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/jury/
to learn what to expect from Jury Service.

Local Transit Information:  transit.511.org

Register to VOTE:  www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm

Update DMV Records:  www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#2504

Civil Grand Jury:  www.cc-courts.org/grandjury

Criminal Grand Jury:  http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=904

JUROR EXCUSE AND DEFERRAL POLICY

This policy concerning requests for excuse from jury service is established in conformance with Rule 860 of the (California Rules of Court), titled (Granting Excuses from Jury Service). The juror excuse and deferral policy, established by the Jury Commissioner, applies to all summoned for service to the Contra Costa Superior Court.

I. PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO SERVE AS JURORS

II. DUTY OF CITIZENSHIP

III. PRINCIPLES GOVERNING JURY SERVICES STAFF FUNCTIONS

IV. EXCUSES FROM JURY SERVICE

V. JURY SERVICE DEFERRALS

VI. ELIMINATION OF JUROR PAY FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

I. PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO SERVE AS JURORS

1. Pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure, 203, all persons are eligible and qualified to be prospective trial jurors, except the following:
   
   
   1. Persons who are not citizens of the United States;
   2. Persons who are less than 18 years of age;
   3. Persons who are not domiciliaries of the State of California, (as determined pursuant to Article 2, commencing with Section 2020 of Chapter 1 of Division 2 of the Elections Code);
   4. Persons who are not residents of the jurisdiction wherein they are
      summoned to serve;
   5. Persons who have been convicted of malfeasance in office or a felony, and whose civil rights have not been restored;
   6. Persons who are not possessed of sufficient knowledge of the English language, provided that no person shall be deemed incompetent solely because of the loss of sight or hearing in any degree or other disability which impedes the person's ability to communicate or which impairs or interferes with the person's mobility;
   7. Persons who are serving as grand or trial jurors in any court of this state;
   8. Persons who are the subject of conservatorship.
2. No person shall be excluded from eligibility for jury service for any reason other than those reasons provided in Section A above.

II. DUTY OF CITIZENSHIP

Jury service, unless excused by law, is a responsibility of citizenship. The court and its staff shall employ all necessary and appropriate means to assure that citizens fulfill this important civic responsibility.

III. PRINCIPLES GOVERNING JURY SERVICES STAFF FUNCTIONS

The following principles guide jury services staff functions.

1. No class or category of persons is automatically excluded from jury duty except as provided by law;
2. A statutory exemption from jury service is granted only when the eligible
   person claims it;
3. Deferring jury service is preferred to excusing a prospective juror for a temporary or marginal hardship;
4. Inconvenience to a prospective juror or an employer is not adequate reason for excuse from jury duty, although it may be considered as grounds for deferral.

IV. EXCUSES FROM JURY SERVICE

A.  Grounds for Excuse
A prospective juror may be excused from jury service on the grounds of:

1. Undue hardship
2. Prior jury service within the immediately preceding 12 months.  

B.  Written Requests for Excuse
Requests for excuse from jury service must be in writing to be considered. Excuses may not be granted without written verification. If a written request does not provide adequate explanation, additional information may be requested of the juror. Acceptable written verification includes:

1. A statement of facts specifying undue hardship;
2. A statement as to why circumstances constituting undue hardship cannot be avoided by deferring jury service;
3. Copies of appropriate documents as needed to verify information provided by a prospective juror requesting an excuse;

C.  Excuse for Undue Hardship
An excuse from jury service on the grounds of undue hardship may be granted for the following reasons upon submission of the appropriate written verification documenting hardship as noted:

1.  The prospective juror has no reasonably available means of public or private transportation to the court.

   VERIFICATION:   provide detailed written explanation

2. The prospective juror must travel an excessive distance. An excessive distance is reasonable travel time that exceeds one and one-half hours from the prospective juror's home to the court.

   VERIFICATION:   provide detailed written explanation

3. The prospective juror will bear an extreme financial burden. In determining whether to excuse the prospective juror, consideration shall be given to:

   1. the sources of the prospective juror's household income,

   2. the availability and extent of income reimbursement,

   3. the expected length of service, and
   4. whether service can reasonably be expected to compromise that person's ability to support himself or herself or his or her dependents, or so disrupt the economic stability of any individual as to be against the interests of justice.

   VERIFICATION:   provide detailed written explanation

4. An excuse from jury service on the grounds of undue hardship may be granted for the following reasons upon submission of the appropriate written verification documenting hardship as noted:

   VERIFICATION:   provide detailed written explanation and include recent letter from your health care provider.
   Sample Letter for Excuse for Medical Reason

   Jurors with disabilities, and those requiring hearing assistance, may request an accommodation by calling (925-646-2002) or by using the “Request for Accommodation” MC-410 form (Fillable Version) or (Non-Fillable Version).

5. The prospective juror has a personal obligation to provide actual and necessary care to another, including sick, aged, or infirm dependents, or a child who requires the prospective juror's personal care and attention, and no comparable substitute care is either available or practical without imposing an undue economic hardship on the prospective juror or person cared for. Where the request to be excused is based on care provided to a sick, disabled, or infirm person, the prospective juror shall be required to furnish verification or a method of verification that the person being cared for is in need of regular and personal care.

VERIFICATION:   provide detailed written explanation

D. Excuse for Prior Jury Service

A prospective juror who has served on a grand or trial jury or was summoned and fulfilled their jury service obligation in any state or federal court during the immediately preceding 12 months shall be excused from service upon furnishing verification or a method of verification of prior service as noted below.

V. JURY SERVICE DEFERRALS

1. A. In the interest of making jury service less burdensome and easier for citizens to fulfill this responsibility, deferrals to new service dates will be granted to accommodate the convenience of prospective jurors according to the following guidelines.
   
   
   1. A prospective juror's initial request to postpone jury service to a new date within a six-month period will be granted to accommodate the
      juror's convenience.
   2. Deferrals to new service dates more than six months beyond the original summons date may be granted only in exceptional circumstances or to accommodate special needs. If warranted, a notation in a juror's computer record will be entered to document the circumstances or special needs.
2. B. Deferrals to new service dates may be granted by telephone and routinely do not require written verification. Written verification may be required to document requests for second or subsequent postponements of service or postponement beyond the usual deferral time frame.

VI. ELIMINATION OF JUROR PAY FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

CCP §215 (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), on and after July 1, 2000, the fee for jurors in the superior court, in civil and criminal cases, is fifteen dollars ($15) a day for each day's attendance as a juror after the first day.  (b) A juror who is employed by a federal, state, or local government entity, or by any other public entity as defined in Section 481.200, and who receives regular compensation and benefits while performing jury service, may not be paid the fee described in subdivision (a). (c) All jurors in the superior court, in civil and criminal cases, shall be reimbursed for mileage at the rate of thirty-four cents ($0.34) per mile for each mile actually traveled in attending court as a juror after the first day, in going only. 

Civil Code of Procedures §481.200 defines public entity as follows: “the state, the Regents of the University of California, a county, a city, district, public authority, public agency, and any other political subdivision or public corporation in the state.”

Government Code §811.2 defines public entity as follows: “the state, the Regents of the University of California, a county, a city, district, public authority, public agency, and any other political subdivision or public corporation in the state.”

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