Tuesday, October 8, 2024
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Jury Service

*** Jury Service Scam ***

Citizens in Ventura County have reported receiving calls from someone identifying themself as a member of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO) calling with regard to the failure to appear for jury duty. This is a SCAM. The caller is not a member of VCSO and their threats are not real.

Neither VCSO nor the Court’s Jury Services staff will EVER ask for Social Security Numbers, credit card numbers, bank account numbers or other confidential information with respect to jury service.

If you receive a SCAM call please contact your local law enforcement agency.

The Ventura Superior Court is OPEN.

ALL JURORS MUST CHECK GROUP # BELOW BEFORE APPEARING

Jurors are called in two sessions: A.M.: 8-12 and P.M.: 1-5

Jurors who appear before their group number is called in may be required
to return on another date.

The following reporting instructions are for Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Prescheduled jurors with Group 0000 report at 8:00 am

Group Numbers 26 through 42 report at 1:00 pm

You may be asked to reschedule if you arrive late.

Click here for directions

All jurors are on call for the week summoned unless prescheduled.
Continue to check each day after 4:00 pm until your group number is called or your summons week has ended.

Bring your summons, postcard or badge number with you when you report.

Respond Online

**  PHONE NUMBER 805-289-8661  **

Jury service is one jury trial or one day of service. If you are not assigned to a courtroom at the end of your first day of appearance, you will have completed your jury service for one year. If you are assigned to a courtroom, at the end of the day, you will need to return at the Judicial Officer's direction until you are excused or the trial has concluded.

Hours of jury duty:  8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Check-in time is 8:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. according the group number called. In the event you are assigned to a courtroom, plan to be here until 5:00 p.m.

Public walk-in window hours:  8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For Reporting Instructions:  Go online or call (805) 289-8661. Have your GROUP number available. Group numbers will be assigned to report at 8:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. Report for service if your group number is called in. Badge and Group numbers are located on your summons or postcard. If you prescheduled a specific date, your Group number is 0000. Check online or by phone for Group 0000 report time.

Students:  Students are not exempt from jury duty. Students may postpone jury service to the next school break. This request may be completed by clicking RESPOND ONLINE, by phone, or by mail.

RESPOND ONLINE:  Access summons status, juror questionnaire, request excuse, postpone, upload documents or print confirmation.

Speak with a clerk:  Call (805) 289-8661 between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.

Email address:  Jury Services email address is jury-service@ventura.courts.ca.gov. We cannot grant a request to be excused by email. You must complete the Juror Questionnaire on the summons, sign and mail it in, or complete the Juror Questionnaire online by clicking RESPOND ONLINE and following the directions.

On-call Instructions:
If you do not schedule a specific day and wish to remain on call for your scheduled week, check this page or call our main number (805) 289-8661 after 4:00 p.m. beginning the Friday before your scheduled week to determine if your group has been called in.

If your group is called in, report at the appearance time listed by your group. Check each business day after 4:00 p.m. until your group is called or the week has ended. If your group is not called by the end of your summons week, your service is completed for one year.


Jury Services Office

Mailing Address -

Ventura Superior Court
Jury Services Department
Room 113, Hall of Justice
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009-0113

(805) 289-8661
email: jury-service@ventura.courts.ca.gov

Jury Commissioner and CEO
Brenda L. McCormick

General Information on the Day of Appearance

Hours:  You must be available to report at 8:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. and able to stay until 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. We suggest you bring a book or other material to occupy your time. Our jury assembly rooms are equipped with TV and Wi-Fi.

Breaks:  You will have a morning and afternoon break and a lunch hour. 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.

Dress:  Business attire is suggested. Jurors are advised to dress in layers as the temperature of the jury assembly areas and courtrooms may fluctuate.

Parking:  Free parking is available at all Court facilities. DO NOT park in spaces reserved for handicapped or carpool or in spaces with limited time (violators will be ticketed). Make a note of where you parked your car. Parking location signs are located on each light standard.

Security Screening:  When entering the court facility you will be screened through a security device. Do not bring any knives, scissors, handwork needles, metal fingernail files, tools, wallet chains, handcuff keys, or any items that may possibly be used as a weapon. Items considered weapons will be confiscated upon entering. We do not have the facilities to store these items until the end of the day. Please do not bring them.

Qualifications and Excusal from Jury Service

Qualifications:  California law says you are qualified to be a juror if you:

  • Are a U.S. citizen
  • Are at least 18 years old
  • Can understand English enough to understand and discuss the case
  • Are a resident of the county that sent you the jury summons
  • Have not served on a jury in the last 12 months
  • Are not currently on a grand jury or on another trial jury
  • Are not under a conservatorship
  • Had your civil rights restored after conviction of malfeasance in office
  • Were convicted of a felony but not currently incarcerated, not currently on parole, postrelease community supervision, felony probation, or mandated supervision for the conviction, and not required to register as a sex offender pursuant to PC 290

No one is exempt because of his or her job, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, or economic status.

If you are qualified, please follow the directions on your summons and call in or report as instructed. You will receive additional information when you report for service.

Excuse requests:  Requests to be excused must be submitted by using the RESPOND ONLINE system, returning a completed summons, or writing a letter. You cannot be excused by email. All requests must be submitted under penalty of perjury and include a signature or processed through RESPOND ONLINE. Notification will be sent to confirm if your request is granted or denied.

If you need special accommodations, please contact Jury Services right away.

Postponement of Jury Service

Postponement:  You may postpone up to 90 days. Click RESPOND ONLINE. Enter your badge number, zip code and birth date. Click on Request Schedule Change. You may choose an available date. If Request Schedule Change is not available, please call the office. (805) 289-8661

Students:  Students may request a postponement of service to the next school break. Click RESPOND ONLINE. Complete the questionnaire using the Explanation box on the questionnaire or by clicking Request Schedule Change and choosing a date.

You may also contact Jury Services via email at jury-service@ventura.courts.ca.gov. When emailing the Jury Services Department, please include your full name and your badge number. You may not be excused by email. You will be directed to click RESPOND ONLINE and complete the questionnaire. Email response may take 2 to 3 days.


Respond Online

 

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.

Juror Fees

No fees or mileage are paid for the first day of service.

$15 per day and 34¢ per mile, roundtrip 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 6 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) 289-8661 between 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.

Special Accommodations

If you require special accommodations, please email or call our office (805) 289-8661. You may also click RESPOND ONLINE. Once you have entered the system, complete the Juror Questionnaire, mark that you will need accommodations, enter any comments in the explanation box, and submit under penalty of perjury at the bottom of the page. If you are hearing impaired and have requested a Sign Language Interpreter or if you need an accommodation that requires a response from Jury Services, you will be notified by phone, email or mail.

Grand Jury

For information about the Grand Jury, please visit the Ventura County Grand Jury web page.


For frequently asked questions about Jury Service, visit our FAQs page.

© 2024 Superior Court of California, Ventura County