Geary County Jury Information

The jury questionnaire form must be filled out by you and returned in the enclosed self-addressed, stamped envelope within seven (7) days of receipt. The questionnaire is for the purpose of assisting the judge and attorneys in the jury selection process.

Any person willfully or corruptly making false answers to any of the questions shall be deemed guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Failure to answer questions shall be punishable with contempt of court. (K.S.A. 43-161). Regardless of your personal situation, all juror questionnaires must be completed and returned for processing.

If any of your answers upon such questionnaire disqualify you from service, you will be notified in writing or by telephone that you are excused. If you do not receive such notification, you are required to appear as set forth above, unless, after checking with our answering service, you find that the trial has been canceled. (See Cancellation Procedures below.)

REPORTING FOR JURY SERVICE

Please report to the Jury Waiting Room on the 2nd floor of the Geary County Courthouse, 138 East 8th Street, Junction City KS by 8:30 AM. No cell phones are allowed in the courtroom. Please leave them in your vehicle when you report to jury duty. You may also want to bring a jacket with you, as the courtroom is usually cool.

Please call the jury clerk at (785) 762-5221, extension 1455, if you have any questions about jury service.

CANCELLATION PROCEDURES

A telephone answering service is available at (785) 762-5221, Option 1 to keep you informed with the latest information we have concerning your jury service. As soon as we know you are not needed, such message will be placed on the answering service. You can call this service on any date. You should call this service on the evening before you are to appear after 5:00 p.m. and follow the automated menu. If there is no answer or message on the service about your appearance date, you should appear as set forth above. When a cancellation has taken place, a message will be placed on the service for your information.

If the trial is canceled and you appear at the courthouse, you will not be paid for jury service. It is your responsibility to call the jury information line. The Court will not call you in the event of trial cancellation.

To the right of your name on your jury summons is your juror number. It is possible, on occasion, some jurors will be excused and some may be required to attend. This may be done by reference to your juror number, so please retain your summons for future reference.

LENGTH OF SERVICE

Your jury service will normally consist of you appearing on the date and time given and, if selected as a trial juror, staying until completion of the trial.

JURY FEES

Jurors receive $10.00 per day for their service, plus mileage at the state rate, if you live outside the city limits of Junction City. Any questions regarding your payment should be directed to the Clerk of the District Court Office.

QUESTIONNAIRE QUALIFICATION

If it is necessary for another person to fill out this form for you, his or her name, address, and the reason should be stated on the back of the questionnaire.

DISABILITY STATEMENT

If you have a disability that requires special facilities, please indicate the nature of the disability and the type of facilities required on the back of the questionnaire.

COMMON JUROR QUESTIONS

How did I get selected to be a juror?

The 8th Judicial District primarily uses the list of licensed drivers provided by the state. A computer randomly selects a pool of potential jurors for each trial. If your mailing address is incorrect on the summons, it is usually because the information is incorrect on the drivers license list received from the state.

What if I am not a county resident?

If you are not a Geary County resident you do not have to serve as a juror. Some people live near county borders and will receive an incorrect juror summons. Please indicate this information on your juror questionnaire and return it as requested.

Do I get paid?

You will receive $10.00 a day for jury service. Jurors residing outside the city limits of Junction City will be paid round-trip mileage at the state rate. Reimbursement is made by the county the first of every month for jury service and mileage checks.

What age disqualifies me as a juror?

While there is no law regarding age, the 8th Judicial District will excuse jurors over the age of 80, if requested. Please indicate your preference on the juror questionnaire.

What if I have a disability?

The 8th Judicial District will accommodate anyone wishing to serve as a juror. Please indicate your needs when you return the questionnaire. You may also request relief from serving as a juror if the service creates a hardship.

How often will I have to serve?

The 8th Judicial District will not require you to serve as a juror more than once in a 12-month period. However, you may be summoned to appear up to 3 times in a 12-month period if the trial you are summoned for is canceled.

Are college students required to serve?

If you are a full time college student, living a considerable distance from the city where court is held, please indicate that on your juror questionnaire. Each student requesting excused status will be reviewed on an individual basis.

Can I obtain a jury service verification letter for my employer?

Please notify court personnel if you are in need of a letter verifying your jury service. The Clerk of District Court will provide these upon request, if you are required to appear for trial.

What about missing work?

Jury service is the duty of all citizens, including employers and employees. Employers must not reprimand you for jury service. If needed, District Court will provide documentation of your attendance for your employer. See the previous question for details.

IMPORTANT! Regardless of your personal situation, all juror questionnaires must be returned for processing!

JURY DUTY SCAM

Identity thieves are tricking individuals into revealing their personal details by telling them that they failed to report for jury duty and warrants for their arrest are being issued.

Court workers in the 8th Judicial District will not telephone individuals to ask for personal information because you have supposedly missed jury duty. Also, they will not call because they are allegedly assembling juries and need to pre-screen those who might be selected to serve on them. The only time you would hear from Court workers by telephone (rather than by mail) about anything having to do with jury service would be after you have mailed back your completed questionnaire, and even then only rarely.

For more information on this jury duty scam, you could visit the following web site: http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp.