Is jury service mandatory?
The U.S. Constitution and the California State Constitution guarantee the right to trial by jury. A Summons and Response Form are mailed to you to determine if you are qualified to serve jury duty (See Code of Civil Procedure, Section 203(a).)
Where does the Jury Commissioner obtain names of prospective jurors?
Both the voter registration and motor vehicle records are used as source lists for prospective jurors. Names are randomly selected from the countywide population by computer. If your name and address do not match exactly in both the voter registration and motor vehicle records, you may have more than one record in the jury system. If this happens, you may receive more than one summons in a one-year period. If you receive more than one summons in a one-year period, please contact the Jury Office at 415-551-3608.
The Court receives its data from these two sources each year in October. If you have moved out of the City recently, the Court may have still received your name from either the DMV or the Department of Elections. You must notify DMV within 10 days of your move. Registering to vote in another county does not necessarily remove your name from the SF Department of Elections rolls; you should also call the Department of Elections to tell them that you no longer live in the City.
How many days will I have to serve?
You may be required to appear anytime during the five-day period of your jury service. You are required to obtain reporting instructions, by calling the Court at 415-551-3608 or visiting the Web site, every day for the duration of the one week of jury service. You are required to follow your reporting instructions for every day of your service week.
- If you are not required to report during the five-day period, your jury service is completed for one year.
- If you are asked to report and come in to the courthouse, but are not assigned to a courtroom for jury selection on the day you report, your jury service is completed for one year.
- If you are assigned to a courtroom for jury selection that is not completed by the end of that day, you are required to return to finish the selection for that trial.
- If you are selected to serve on a trial, your term of service will be the length of that trial.
May I postpone my jury service to a more convenient time?
Yes. The Court realizes prospective jurors may be summoned at an inconvenient time and is willing to postpone service to a more convenient time. You may postpone your jury service by calling the automated system at 415-551-3608 or by completing Box A on the Response Form and returning it to the Court. Jurors are entitled to a one-time postponement not to exceed 6 months from the summons date.
How do I know if I'm qualified for jury duty?
First, read the instructions on the Jury Summons. Second, review the qualification and excuse questions on the Response Form (on the back of the summons). If any of these situations apply to you, complete the appropriate boxes on the Response Form, sign and date the form, and return it to the Court in the envelope provided. Requests for excuse or disqualification must be received in writing and cannot be processed over the phone. However, if you have any questions about your qualification to serve, call the Jury Office at 415-551-3608. When prompted by the automated system, enter your badge number (located on the juror badge section of the summons) and follow the instructions for speaking to a clerk.
I have moved and no longer live in San Francisco. What do I do?
If you are not a resident of San Francisco, you are not eligible for jury service in this county. If you have the summons, complete the address change box on the Response Form and check box G. If you do not have the summons, send a letter to the appropriate Court location and provide us with your new address.
I am self-employed or my employer does not pay me while serving jury duty. How do I request to be excused from jury service?
If you would be subject to extreme personal financial hardship by serving on a jury, you may request an excuse in writing by completing the Juror Information Box and providing the information requested in Box M of the Response Form. Stating that you are not paid for jury duty is not sufficient grounds for excuse; you must describe the impact on your financial situation. Return such requests to the Court as soon as possible. If you no longer have the Response Form, you may submit this information in a letter to the Court. You will be notified by mail only if your request is denied. To check on the status of your request for excuse, you may call the automated system at 415-551-3608 and enter your badge number. If you do not received a letter before your summons date, you must call the number on your summons for instructions.
How often must I serve?
Jurors may be summoned for jury service once in every 12-month period. If you receive more than one summons in a 12-month period, please contact the Jury Office at 415-551-3608.
If I am summoned for 850 Bryant Street, can I report to 400 McAllister Street because it is closer to where I work?
No. The Court does not transfer jurors from one location to another. You must appear at your scheduled location on the reporting date. If you believe you have a special circumstance, you may request a transfer of location by submitting a request to the Deputy Jury Commissioner in writing prior to your summons date.
Why are jurors required to sit, sometimes for hours, in the jury assembly room?
What might appear to be a waste of time to you is actually time being used by the judge and attorneys working on matters that must be done outside the presence of the jury. These events often arise unexpectedly and cannot be planned for in advance. Please be aware of these issues and bear with us as we all work to accomplish our goal of achieving justice for all. When you report for service, you should expect to be at the Courthouse for the entire day, until 5:00 p.m.
Does my employer have to pay me while I serve on jury duty?
Employers are not required by law to compensate employees while they are on jury duty. Please check with your employer regarding the company's policy. However, your employer is required to give you the time off to serve.
Can my employer prevent me from serving as a juror?
State law (Labor Code, Sec. 230) prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating against an employee for taking time off to serve as a juror if the employee, prior to taking such time off, gives reasonable notice to the employer of the of the requirement to serve as a juror.
On the day I report for jury duty is it possible that I will be assigned to more than one courtroom for selection of jurors.
Yes. You may be sent to more than one courtroom for jury selection on the day that you report. For example, you may be excused from a trial because of its length and be assigned to another, shorter trial. When you report for jury service, you should expect to be at the Court for the entire day, until 5:00 p.m.
If I have a family emergency while I am attending jury duty, where can my family call so that I will get the message?
In case of a family emergency, a juror can be reached at the jury assembly room telephone number. Be sure that your family members have your badge number.
I have questions about my situation. Who do I call?
Please contact the Jury Office at 415-551-3608. Enter your badge number and follow the instructions. Jury Office staff are available for assistance Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., excluding Court holidays. The busiest phone times are early mornings (8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.) and Friday afternoons (after 2:00 p.m.).
