Jury Duty Frequently Asked Questions

Please read the entire summons thoroughly. The summons will inform you of when, where, and how to report for jury service. Additionally, you will follow the instructions on your summons to complete your juror questionnaire. No matter how you answer to the questions on the Juror Information Form, you must appear for jury duty on your reporting date and time listed on your summons. If you do not have Internet access or have difficulties accessing the website, please call the Jury Department at 678-493-6565 for assistance. Receipt of your juror questionnaire by the Clerk’s office will confirm your attendance. Please note: Receipt of a summons by any person residing in your household is service upon you.

Trial (Traverse) Jurors The length of service is generally one week, Monday through Friday. It is possible to serve as a juror on more than one trial. The judges strive to end court daily at 5:00PM. However, the conclusion of court each day is subject to the proceedings being heard in the courtroom. Jurors will be paid $35.00 per day for each day you are to report to the courthouse. A debit card will be issued to each juror. The debit cards will be loaded the Friday of trial week after 6:00PM. The debit cards do not need to be activated or registered. Grand Jurors Grand jurors serve for a four-month term and are to report on the second Monday and Tuesday of each month of the term. Grand jurors are paid $50.00 per day.

If you are requesting a one-time deferral or an excuse that is provided under Georgia Law, the one-time deferral or excuse affidavit must be received no less than seven (7) business days prior to your reporting date and time. Affidavits can be found on our website, cherokeecourtclerk.com/jury-duty, under the Jury Duty tab. Affidavits must be completed in its entirety and must be notarized if applicable (the Jury Department offers this service free of charge to jurors).You may submit the affidavit via email, mail, or fax. -ONE-TIME DEFERRAL: A one-time deferral may be granted under very limited circumstances. -LEGAL EXEMPTIONS (O.C.G.A § 15-12-1.1): • Full-time student at a college, university, vocational school, or other postsecondary school • Primary caregiver having active care and custody of a child six (6) years of age or younger with no alternative child care • Primary teacher in a home study program as defined in O.C.G.A § 20-2-690 with no alternative arrangements • Primary unpaid caregiver for a person over the age of six (6) with physical or cognitive limitations • Persons age 70 or older • Military duty or military spouse -MEDICAL EXCUSE: Persons who are permanently disabled either mentally or physically, please submit a completed Medical Certificate of Excuse (to be filled out by a physician). -NON-RESIDENT OF CHEROKEE COUNTY: Please submit proof of your new address (e.g., driver’s license) via email. -NON-U.S. CITIZEN: Please contact the Jury Department and complete the Non-U.S. Citizen Affidavit. -CONVICTED FELON: Please contact the Jury Department and complete the Convicted Felon Affidavit.

The Judges strive to end court daily at 5:00PM, however, the conclusion of court each day is subject to the proceedings being heard in the courtrooms. You will be asked to call the jury phone or check our website each evening after 6:00 p.m. to see if you will need to report for jury duty the next day or not. The days you are not required to appear for jury duty, you can resume your normal daily activities.

If you are traveling north on I-575, exit at 19B (Downtown Canton). At the end of the exit ramp you will turn right and travel 1.7 miles (you will pass the Darby Funeral Home). Stay to your right, and the Justice Center will soon be on your right. You may park directly behind the Justice Center or you may cross through the parking lot to the Historic Marble Courthouse and park behind it. If you are traveling south on I-575, you will use exit 19. At the end of the exit ramp you will turn to your right and travel approximately 1.6 miles (you will pass the Darby Funeral Home). Stay to your right, and the Justice Center will soon be on your right. You may park directly behind the Justice Center or you may cross through the parking lot to the Historic Marble Courthouse and park behind it. Please Note: GPS may direct you to exit 16. For a more direct route please follow the directions above. Cherokee County Justice Center 90 North Street Canton, GA 30114

The courthouse is very busy and parking is limited. We recommend arriving early to ensure a parking space. Parking areas are located behind both the Justice Center and the Historic Marble Courthouse. Additional parking is located at the Archer Street Parking Deck behind City Hall.

You are allowed to have food and drinks in the Jury Assembly Room. If you are carrying food or drink into the courthouse, please advise the deputies at the security checkpoint that you are serving as a juror. Complimentary water, coffee, hot chocolate, and tea is provided to jurors. A refrigerator and microwave is available for juror use. When you are called to a courtroom, you may only take a water bottle that has a twist top with you. DO NOT bring any steel/metal/glass cups, mugs, or bottles into the courthouse.

Please remember that you are entering a courthouse and that you may appear before a judge. Please use good judgment and dress as you would in an office environment. The courtrooms may be cold, so you may want to bring a sweater or jacket. The Jury Assembly Room is wireless. You may bring your laptop, cell phone, or something to occupy your time while you are waiting. The nature of court proceedings requires a considerable amount of down time for jurors. Do not bring anything of value that you cannot keep under your control as you move about the courthouse. The Jury Assembly Room is kept open for jurors throughout the day. Once you are in the courtroom, you will need to devote all of your attention to the case. This simply means you should not talk, read, or do any other activities. It is important that you give your full attention to the court proceedings. You may NOT bring any type of gun (hand gun or rifle), potential weapon or explosive material, knives, forks, pepper spray, mace, aerosols, scissors, knitting needles, or any sharp pointed item.

Do not bring your children to the courthouse. Please make appropriate arrangements for before and after school transportation, and after-school activities.

When you are in the Jury Assembly Room you are free to move about as you wish and you may also step outside the courthouse for a short break. When you are in the courtroom, you may raise your hand for the bailiff and the Judge will try to accommodate your needs.

The Judges determine when and for how long (usually an hour) jurors will be given a lunch break. The Jury Department will notify jurors as soon as they are given directions from each Judge.

In the event that you do not show up on the date and time you are summoned to appear, you may be found in contempt of court which is punishable by a fine and/or incarceration.

The right to a trial by jury is guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Georgia Constitution. Jury service is one the highest duties of American citizenship. In order to assure this right is afforded to all individuals, it is necessary for people in the community to be summoned to serve as jurors. Serving as a juror will also give you an opportunity to learn about the justice system and how your courts operate. While it may require some adjustment of your normal schedule and routine, we hope that any inconvenience will be minimal.

Jurors are chosen from a list of eligible citizens provided by the State of Georgia. Upon request from the court, a specific number of jurors are randomly selected and a summons is issued to those individuals.

In order to serve as a juror, you must be… • A U.S. Citizen • 18 years of age or older • A Cherokee County resident • A convicted felon whose civil rights have not been restored. If you do not meet any of these criteria, please inform the Clerk of Court's office.

Every evening after 6:00PM check the jury message by phone or website at www.cherokeecourtclerk.com/jury-duty. (www.cherokeecourtclerk.com/jury-duty.)To check by phone call 770-479-9011 (this is a recorded message and may be busy at times due to other jurors calling in as well). Do NOT check the Ejuror website for reporting instructions. Please only check the website or call the phone number listed above.