Jury Information
Jury Administration
Every week thousands of prospective jurors assemble in hundreds of courthouses throughout the nation to participate in a civic duty and a right guaranteed by the sixth Amendment to the constitution – the provision of trial by a jury of peers. By serving on a jury, you have a direct hand in the administration of justice.
The law and court procedures of our state had as their origin the Common Law of England where the right to trial by jury existed since 1215. This right has been sacredly guarded and preserved by the institutions of our various states and by the Federal Constitution.
The jury is responsible for the correct determination of the facts which are in dispute in a given case. Errors of law may be corrected by the trial judge or appellate courts, but a jury’s error of fact may never be corrected. Thus, a juror’s duty is one of grave responsibility and importance.
Juror Instructions
- Bring your summons with you.
- Please arrive in plenty of time to get through Security Screening, Jury Check In, & Seated ready to proceed by the time stated on the jury information line.
- Please enter the front of the Main entrance so that you can pass through security.
- By order of the Talbot County Sheriff’s Department, items such as penknives, flashlights, scissors, sewing needles, and any type of weapon are strictly prohibited and are not to be brought into the building.
- Cellular phones and pagers are allowed; however, they must be turned off and not used in the courtrooms.
- Chewing gum, food and drinks are not allowed in the courtroom.
- Proper Dress is required. Shorts, Bermudas, jeans with holes, muscle shirts, halter-tops, and bare midriff clothing are not acceptable Court attire. Please show the proper respect for the Court and dress appropriately. A light sweater or jacket is recommended as the courtroom temperature can be quite cool.
Frequently Asked Questions
You are selected from a list of registered voters and/or those that hold a state issued identification card (which includes licensed drivers). Jurors are selected on a random basis. You cannot serve on a jury in Talbot County if you are not a current resident of Talbot County or you have been convicted of a felony (in any state or county) and not had your rights restored.
Most trials last two or three days; however, some trials may take longer. The trial day usually ends between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. but on rare occasions could go later. If so, you may request to call your family to notify them. You are seldom asked to serve on more than one trial in a week, unless we have a particularly busy week. Normally, your service is only for one week (Monday through Friday) at the most.
You are always given an opportunity to let the Court know about any appointments, family obligations, and other concerns you may have during the week. In the rare event that your trial is expected to last longer than one week, you will be notified so that you can let the Court know about appointments during the time period in question.
You are paid $20.00 for each day of service. You will be given a check at Jury Check-In at the conclusion of your jury service.
Anywhere around the courthouse, or the back parking lot but the only public entrance to the Courthouse is the Main entrance on the front of the Courthouse.
No child or elder care is provided. However, you may call ahead and request to be excused if you normally stay with a child under six years of age or younger during the day, or if you home-school your children. (This does not include professional day care workers.) If you have other care concerns, you may mention them at the appropriate time during jury orientation in the courtroom.
You may fill out the back of the summons and email it in PDF ONLY to (Penny.Dillingham@GSCCCA.ORG) and request a one-time “carry-over” (deferral) to a later date. (or you can print from the top of this page be sure to include all required documentation). You will also be given an opportunity to let us know about any problems and urgent appointments you may have during the orientation on your first day of service. If you are ill, you may call and request a medical exemption affidavit to provide for your doctor’s completion.
A Grand Juror sits for a six-month term as a part of the Grand Jury, which is made up of no less than 16 and no more than 23 people. A member of the Grand Jury determines whether there is probable cause to charge someone with a crime. This is usually a one or two day service during the six-month term.
A traverse (trial) juror sits, listens to evidence in a courtroom and determines the facts in a particular case. A traverse juror usually serves for a week or less.