Where does the Jury Commission obtain names of prospective jurors?
In accordance with Illinois law, the names of prospective jurors are obtained from the DuPage County Election Commission and the Illinois Secretary of State.
Your name was randomly drawn by computer from a combined list of DuPage County residents who hold an Illinois driver’s license, State of Illinois Identification Card or Disabled Person Identification card, aged 18 and older, as well as registered voters.
If you are summoned as a Trial juror, also known as a Petit juror, you will serve either for the length of one trial or one day.
If you are summoned as a Regular Grand or a Supplemental Grand juror your service will be at the minimum for that day. If you are selected to serve on the Grand Jury, your service will be one day a week for a three-month period (approximately 13 days).
The average trial is 2 to 3 days. However, there are trials that can last longer or shorter than the average. At the end of the day, if you are not selected to hear a trial or assigned to a courtroom for jury selection, you will be released and discharged from your service by the Jury Commission staff. Once selected as a juror to hear a case, you will be dismissed by the Judge at the conclusion of the trial.
You should anticipate and make all necessary arrangements for a full business day, until approximately 4:30 p.m. However, the day can go longer if you are involved in a late afternoon jury selection or you are a juror actually hearing a case. If selected as a juror to hear a case the trial judge will inform you of the daily schedule for that trial.
Business or business casual attire is the most appropriate. T-shirts and shorts are not appropriate. Extremes in dress may cause you to be sent home and rescheduled for service.
There is free parking in the garage located to the east side of the Judicial Center. Please follow the signs that will direct you to “Court Business Parking”.
The DuPage County Judicial Center is a secured facility. All persons entering are subject to search. Do not bring items such as knives, scissors, needles, glass bottles, etc. Personal electronics (cellular telephones, PDAs, laptop computers, etc) with camera capabilities are prohibited from the building.
You may bring personal and work related materials. The Jury Commission lounge provides free wireless internet access for those with wireless laptop computers. However, all those items must remain the Jury Lounge area if you are assigned to a courtroom. There are a limited number of lockers available to secure items. The lockers require a quarter. Please bring change for the day. The Jury Commission staff does not have change available.
Please contact the Jury Commission Office prior to your service if, for medical reasons, you are required to carry a syringe.
Only rarely is a jury “sequestered”. If sequestered, the Court will provide meals, lodging and the retrieval of jurors’ required personal items for them from their homes.
Lunch is not provided; it is on your own. There is a cafeteria located within the Jury Lounge. There are also a number of restaurants located within a short drive of the Judicial Center. You may go home for lunch if you live close enough to be back at the time directed.
As established by the DuPage County Board, jurors receive $10 for their first day of service and $15 per day for any subsequent days of service. A travel fee will also be paid which is pre-determined by your summons address.
Employers are not required by law to compensate employees while they are on jury duty. Please check with your employer regarding your company’s policy.
Can my employer prevent me from attending jury duty?
Illinois law requires that your employer give you the time off for jury service. No employer can discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate or coerce any employee for attendance at jury duty. An employer that does may be charged with civil and / or criminal contempt and will be liable for damages. A juror encountering this situation should contact the Jury Commission at phone number listed below.
I work a night shift, can my employer require me to work?
Illinois law provides that an employer may not deny an employee time off for attendance at jury duty because an employee is assigned to work a night shift. An employer cannot require a night shift worker to work while the employee is doing jury service in the daytime. An employer that does may be charged with civil and / or criminal contempt and will be liable for damages. A juror encountering this situation should contact the Jury Commission at phone number listed below.
Yes, you may request a short, one time postponement of your jury service. Requests can be submitted in writing on the form provided in your summons or through this website. Postponements are generally 30 to 60 days. NO POSTPONMENTS WILL BE MADE OVER THE TELEPHONE.
Are there exemptions from service for being a teacher or student?
There are no occupational or student exemptions from jury service. You may request a short postponement of your service to allow you the opportunity to arrange your work or school schedule. Students attending classes out of the area can request a postponement to the next school break.
Serving in a jury will be a hardship for me, can I be excused?
The Jury Commission recognizes that jury service can sometimes create personal or occupational hardships. The Jury Commission staff will work with you to select a service date, within a short period of time, which may be less of a hardship.
The majority of jurors will complete their service in one day. During the process of jury selection, you will have the opportunity to explain your personal situation to the Court. You may have to explain your situation in more than one courtroom. At the end of the day, if you are not selected to hear a trial or assigned to a courtroom for jury selection, you will be released and discharged from your service.
In order to serve as a juror you must be at least 18 years old. There is no upper age limit for service. However, if because of advanced age there is a medical or physical reason that prevents you from serving, you may request to be excused from service. All requests must be submitted in writing on the form provided in your summons. Each request will be considered individually. Please provide as much information as possible so that an appropriate decision can be made.
I no longer live in DuPage County, can I still serve?
You must have a DuPage County address in order to serve as a juror. Please use the form provided with your summons to be excused from service. All requests must also provide verification of move through either an updated driver’s license or voter card.
The address on the summons is correct, but it is not in DuPage County?
There are a number of communities that are in more than one county. On occasion, we will summon someone who does not reside in DuPage County. Please send back the form provided in your summons and request to be excused from service. Make sure you indicate that the address is correct however not within DuPage County.
I am not a citizen of the United States, can I still serve?
You must be a citizen of the United States in order to serve. Please use the form provided with your summons to be excused from service. All requests must also include verification of non-citizenship (Alien Registration Card, Visa, Passport, Matricula).
I have a case pending, or have a criminal conviction, can I still serve?
A pending court case or a criminal conviction does not exempt you from being a member of the jury pool. During the jury selection process, the Judge and the attorneys will determine whether you are eligible to serve as a juror on that specific case.
