Hours of Service

The jury assembly clerks are available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and telephone hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays.

General Information

You should plan to be available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the day you report for jury duty. Due to the nature of jury service and the court process itself, there are often periods of waiting. Our assembly rooms are equipped with TV's and magazines, but we suggest you bring a book or other material to occupy your time while waiting to be impaneled for a jury. There are brief recesses throughout the day, and you will have at least one hour for lunch.

Ventura County is one judicial district so all jurors are summoned to the county seat at the Hall of Justice in Ventura. When necessary, some groups of jurors are ordered to report directly to the East County Courthouse in Simi Valley for jury selection on cases scheduled for those trial courtrooms. Reporting information is available each evening after 5:00 p.m. at our recorded message number or at this website.

At the Hall of Justice, the jury assembly room has magazines, books, puzzles, playing cards, and a TV room for your use. Our Juror Business Center offers a copy machine, workstations for laptop computers, and a limited number of PCs with internet access. Wireless access (802.11b & 802.11g) is also available for laptop computers.

There is a cafeteria located at the Hall of Justice and restaurants within walking distance of the Government Center. For your convenience, there are also ATM machines on premises.

Due to the limited size of the East County Courthouse facility, there is no cafeteria onsite and the assembly room doesn't have ample space to provide a Juror Business Center, but there is a TV, magazines, and puzzles for your use. Vending machines are available in the building, as well as an ATM machine and public copiers. Stores and restaurants are all within walking distance of the courthouse.

Duration of Trial

Jury trials in Ventura County average four days in length. The trial judge will advise jurors of the duration and may excuse prospective jurors from serving on a particular case if the service would amount to an extreme hardship. Ventura County jury service is a one trial / one day term of service.

Excusal from Jury Service

Jury service is not voluntary, and there is no permanent excuse. Any request for excuse must be submitted in writing. Any request to be excused from serving on a jury trial due to loss of income and/or business closure must be directed to a trial judge, only after you have appeared and served one day as summoned. Unless notified in writing that your request for excuse is granted, you may assume it has been denied. If the date of appearance is not satisfactory, you may request a postponement to a future date within 90 days. When listing reasons such as medical, job, or dependant care issues, be prepared to receive a postponement and not an excuse.

Postponement of Jury Service

Your jury service may be postponed to any future date within 90 days. In some circumstances a postponement of more than 90 days might be necessary. Every effort will be made to reasonably accommodate those requests that may require an additional extension of time.

To request a postponement you must complete the postponement section of the jury summons, or you may speak with a clerk by calling 654-2256 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

You may also contact the Jury Services Department via email at jury-service@ventura.courts.ca.gov. We respond to email between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday except holidays. You will receive a response within 2 business days. When emailing the Jury Services Department, please include your full name as it appears on your summons, juror badge number, report date and group number.

Notice to Employer; Right to time off

Section 230(a) of the Labor Code reads: No employer shall discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for taking time off to serve as required by law on an inquest or trial jury, if such employee prior to taking such time off, gives reasonable notice to the employer that he is required to serve.

Employers are not required by law to compensate employees with their regular wages while on jury duty. Many employers do have jury benefits and will continue wages while serving.

Students

No one is exempt from service by reason of occupation. Based on student status, students may request a postponement of service to the next school break.

Dress

Business attire is suggested. Jurors are advised to dress in layers as the temperature of the jury assembly areas and courtrooms can be unpredictable.

Juror Fees

No fees or mileage are paid for the first day of service. $15 per day and 34¢ per mile, one way from the juror’s home to the courthouse are paid for second and additional days of service. Jurors employed by government agencies or districts receive regular salary during service, therefore no juror fees are paid to those jurors pursuant to provisions of the law.

Jurors serving their second and additional days of jury service can expect to receive their warrant of payment within 4 weeks of completing service. If you do not receive your juror fees in that time, please call our office and speak with the payroll clerk. Call (805) 654-2256 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.