Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Alabama

 If you are not selected for a jury on the day you reported, your service will be concluded.  For the vast majority of persons, jury service will begin and end on the same day.  For those persons who are selected to serve as a juror, your service will conclude when the trial is finished. 

Parking in the downtown area is very limited. There are other lots near the Government Plaza and the day-rates vary.  PARKING ON THE STREET IS NOT ADVISED AND IS AT YOUR OWN RISK.  You may not leave jury service to put coins in the parking meter.  The court does not have the authority to pay for parking and cannot arrange to have parking tickets canceled.

While formal dress is not required, court proceedings are quite formal in nature. Since jurors are often referred to as officers of the court, you are requested to dress appropriately.

After being empanelled on your first day of service you will be given a juror badge to wear. You are asked to wear this badge at all times while you serve. This will identify you as a juror to security, and possibly will prevent you from overhearing conversations pertaining to your case. These are paper badges and you may obtain a new one as needed.

All instructions given by the judges and their staffs must be strictly followed until the case has concluded. Each judge will advise when breaks and recesses will occur in that courtroom.

Many employers require proof that you were summoned to report as a juror. Part 1 of the jury summons form will serve as your verification. If you are empaneled and sent to the Courthouse, you will receive a certificate of service form the court at the end of your service indicating the dates that you served and the amount of fees you were paid. If you are a Federal employee and you must have daily certification, please advise the administrative staff on the first day. You are responsible for the daily notation of the time you arrive and leave and Court Administration must certify this daily.

State law sets jury fees. For each day you serve you will be paid the regular jury fee of $25 plus travel expense of $.625 cents per round-trip mile from your residence to the courthouse. An Alabama employer is legally responsible for paying a full time employee’s regular wages while in service as a juror. Section 12-16-8 Code of Alabama.

If you are called by name or panel number to be a member of a jury trial panel, you and other members of the panel or panels will be sent to the Courthouse to report to the Ceremonial Courtroom (Mezzanine floor) or the Jury Assembly Room (8th floor). If you are selected to serve on a jury, you will be assigned to a courtroom. Once inside the courtroom, you should follow instructions given to you by the court attendant or by the judge. When a trial jury is selected and you are not a member of that jury, your jury service is concluded. If you have been selected to sit on a trial jury, generally, you will be permitted to return home at the close of each day’s court session. If you are unable to stay late due to your reliance on public transportation or a car pool, please notify the judge during the selection process. If an emergency arises while you are sitting as a juror, consult the judge about your problem. Should you need to get in touch with your family, the court attendant will be happy to assist you.

There are occasions when prospective jurors will have to wait, seemingly without a purpose. Even while waiting, jurors being ready and available are actively serving a purpose. For example, sometimes parties to a lawsuit will continue to negotiate and settle the matter after a jury panel has been assembled or after a trial jury has been selected. Sometimes cases are settled during the course of the trial because the parties and their attorneys feel that you as jurors might decide their dispute less to their advantage. On occasion the judge may need to talk to the attorneys or hear arguments on points of law out of the hearing of the jury. Often the reason for this delay may not be explained to you. Please remember that this time is spent discussing and simplifying legal issues. Cases may even be settled during or because of these conferences.

1. Selection of a Jury
   1. Voir Dire examination
   2. Challenges for cause
   3. Preemptory challenges (striking of the jury)
   4. Seating of the jury and administration of juror oath
2. Opening Statements:
   Brief outlines by the attorneys to inform the jury what the case is about and what they expect the evidence will be when presented.
3. Presentation of Evidence
4. Closing Arguments:
   Summation by the lawyers as to the evidence presented and the reasonable inferences that could be drawn from the evidence.
5. Judge’s Instruction as to the Law
6. Deliberations by Jury
   1. Selection of foreperson
   2. Weighing of evidence
7. The Verdict

The jury’s verdict in both civil and criminal cases must be unanimous.  It must be the independent verdict of each and every juror.