Common Pleas Court Juror Information
Eligibility
To be eligible to serve on jury duty:
- You must be at least 18 years of age;
- A citizen of the United States;
- Resident of Miami County, Ohio;
- You must also be able to communicate in the English language.
Term of Service
Petit Juror: Term of Service/Information
- In a criminal trial, the petit jury will decide if the defendant is guilty or not guilty of the alleged crime. In Ohio, the jury must find the defendant “guilty” or “not guilty” by a unanimous vote.
- In a civil trial, the petit jury will decide the facts, which are in dispute.
HOW LONG DO YOU SERVE ON JURY DUTY?
Petit jurors are required to be on-call for a one month period. You Do Not Report for Jury Duty unless you receive a letter from the Court advising you of a reporting time.
EXPECTED LENGTH OF TRIAL: The average length of a jury trial is between one to three days. However, some jury trials do last longer. The Court will advise you of the expected duration of trial during jury selection.
WHEN TO REPORT FOR JURY SELECTION: You will be notified in writing of your report date and time in a 2nd notification letter. The summons is issued within one to two weeks of your assigned date.
WHERE TO REPORT FOR JURY DUTY: The Miami County Common Pleas Court is located on the third floor in the Safety Building, 201 W. Main Street in Troy, Ohio. When exiting the elevator, turn right and be seated in one of the black chairs at the end of the hall. Court personnel will accompany you to the proper area.
Grand Juror: Term of Service/Information
As a grand juror, you have two major responsibilities: To protect innocent persons from needless accusations and to assure an indictment is returned against an accused who you find is probably guilty of the commission of a crime.
Most of your work concerns hearing witnesses and determining sufficient evidence. The prosecuting attorney states and explains the charge to you and advises which witnesses will be presented. Witnesses appear voluntarily, or at the request of the prosecuting attorney, or the Grand Jury, or upon subpoena from the Grand Jury, or the Court. The Grand Jury may call additional witnesses.
The Grand Jury does not try the case, but determines whether there is sufficient evidence to justify a trial. The defendant is not called as a witness, nor are witnesses called to offer testimony of the defendant. If the defendant wants to testify, the Grand Jury has the option of permitting it. You cannot force the defendant to testify because of constitutional safeguards against self-incrimination.
How Long Are Jurors Required To Serve
Grand jurors are required to serve for a four-month period, namely January through April; May through August; or September through December. The Grand Jury will probably meet weekly, or at the discretion of the Prosecuting Attorney, for the four months it is in session. However, on occasion it may become necessary for the Grand Jury to hold an additional meeting. The Jury Commissioner will notify you if an additional meeting is required.
WHEN TO REPORT: Grand Jurors are notified by the Court as to their reporting dates. The weekly meeting schedule is currently set for Wednesday mornings from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm. If you are unable to attend a meeting, you must notify the Jury Commissioner in order to arrange for a substitute juror.
WHERE TO REPORT: The Miami County Common Pleas Court is located on the third floor in the Safety Building, 201 W. Main Street in Troy, Ohio. When exiting the elevator, turn right and be seated in one of the black chairs at the end of the hall. Court personnel will accompany you to the proper area.
Employer Information
Ohio Revised Code 2313.19 provides that no employer may discharge, threaten to discharge, or take any disciplinary action against a permanent employee who is summoned to serve as a juror if the juror gives reasonable notice to the employer of the jury summons prior to serving as a juror.
Additionally, your employer cannot require you to utilize annual, vacation, or sick leave for the time spent serving as a juror.
Juror Code of Conduct
While a case is being tried, you may not talk about the case among yourselves or with others, nor should you listen to outside conversations. You may not mingle with lawyers or witnesses during a recess, nor accept such favors as a ride home from witnesses, parties, or counsel. If any interested party approaches you or other jurors, immediately report this communication to the judge. Each juror must retain impartiality.
Juror's Compensation
Petit Jurors
Individuals are paid, by the court, for their services as a petit juror. The pay is calculated by the number of days that petit jurors are summoned and instructed to report to the Safety Building for jury selection. Petit jurors are compensated at the rate of $40.00 per day for each day present. After the tenth day of being seated on a jury trial petit jurors are compensated at the rate of $80.00 per day. However, if you are not seated on a jury trial and are excused before noon, you will receive $25.00. Checks are mailed within 30 days.
Grand Jurors
Individuals are paid for their services as a Grand Juror. The pay is $25.00 for half-day and $40.00 for full day, per reporting session. Checks are processed at the end of the month in which the Grand Juror has reported for duty.