JURORS – IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
CANCELLATION: Please make sure we have an accurate and up-to-date way to contact you by telephone. Without it, we have no way to contact you other than your address!!! We do not want you to show up unnecessarily.
If the jury setting gets cancelled for which you have been summoned, a phone message will be sent to the phone numbers you provide to the Circuit Clerk’s office.
- Jurors are to arrive at the courthouse at the designated time and sign in at the Circuit Clerk’s office.
- Cell phones and any other electronic devices are not allowed in the courtroom; they need to be secured in the car or at home.
- Once in the courtroom, the judge and attorneys pare down the larger group into a panel of 12 (twelve) jurors, with 1 (one) alternate by asking a series of questions which is called Voir Dire.
- Please dress for your comfort level as the courtrooms may feel cool to you.
- You are welcome to bring reading materials or gamebooks such as crossword or Sudoku. There may be long periods of waiting.
- No drinks are allowed in the courtroom.
- Rest room and water breaks will be taken regularly.
If you have any questions, please email dgarrett@monroecountyil.gov.
We hope you and your family are doing well. Thank you.
General Juror Information:
Jurors: You are an extremely important part of the judicial system of the 20th Circuit Court in Monroe County. Thank you for your willingness to serve. Click the following links for general juror information videos:
How Are Jurors Chosen?
In the State of Illinois, jurors are selected from a pool compiled by the Circuit Clerk. The Circuit Clerk’s office receives a database of names once a year from the State. The names in the database come from three sources. If you DO NOT update this information, your name may still be pulled for duty.
- The Illinois Secretary of State – records of those with a driver’s license, state identification card, or disabled persons identification card
- Local County Clerks and Election Commissions – records of those who have registered to vote
- The Illinois Department of Labor – records of those who have applied for unemployment compensation
The list of names provided by the State is downloaded into the court case management system, which uses an algorithm to randomly select potential jurors. Jurors will receive a Summons with specific dates of service and other important information which MUST be answered. The Court decides who is excused from jury duty, not the Circuit Clerk or Deputy Circuit Clerks.