Reporting for Jury Duty
Stearns County Attorney
County Attorney: Janelle P. Kendall
Call in Procedure
Stearns County has a “call in” system to inform jurors when their services will be required. The jury tape runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Instructions and the call in phone number are included in the jury questionnaire packet jurors receive in the mail. Stearns County Court Administration (320.656.3620) is the department to call with juror questions.
Where to Report
If your juror group number is selected, report to the Jury Assembly Room at the Stearns County Courthouse, 725 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud. Parking is available in the parking ramp to the west of the Courthouse. Note that there are some parking restrictions around the courthouse; use of the ramp for persons reporting for jury duty is recommended. The court will reimburse parking costs.
When to Report
First day jurors are instructed what time to report on the jury call in line. On subsequent days, jurors will be advised what time to report. Please be prompt. One late juror can waste the time of the many persons involved in a trial. Generally, your service day will be completed between 4:30 – 5:00 P.M.
What to Bring
Jury service can entail some waiting time in the Jury Assembly Room, while you wait for assignment to the courtroom. You may want to bring reading materials, stationery, etc.
How a Jury is Chosen
After you have reported for jury duty, the jury panel is sent to the courtroom for jury selection. A jury of twelve people will be selected for felony trials, and six people for gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor trials. The judge in the courtroom will explain the case and introduce the lawyers and other participants. As part of jury selection, the judge and lawyers will then question the jury panel members to determine if anyone has knowledge of the case, a personal interest in it, or any feelings that might make it hard to be impartial. This process is called “voir dire”, a phrase meaning “to speak the truth.”
Questions asked during voir dire may seem personal but should be answered completely and honestly. The questions are not intended to embarrass anyone but are used to make sure that members of the jury do not have opinions or past experiences which might prevent reaching a fair and impartial decision.
Challenges
During voir dire the lawyers may ask the judge to excuse a juror from sitting on the case. This is called “challenging a juror.” There are two types of challenges: a challenge for cause and a peremptory challenge. Challenges may or may not require the lawyers to state any reason for excusing a juror. Challenges are intended to allow lawyers, both prosecution and defense, to do their best to assure that the trial is fair.