Jury FAQ

Can my boss threaten to fire me if I serve as a Juror?

Oregon law (ORS 10.090) provides that it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discharge, intimidate, or coerce an employee due to their service as a juror. An employee who believes their employer has violated the law may file a civil suit or file a complaint with the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries.

What if I scheduled an appointment before I received the jury summons?

Requests for days off during your term of jury service may be arranged IN ADVANCE by making the request with the jury coordinator. You may do so at orientation or by email or telephone throughout your term of service. When you are instructed to report, we are relying on you being available for the full length of a trial or grand jury. In the event you become ill and can't appear, it is mandatory that you call the jury coordinator during weekday business hours.

What if now isn’t a good time?

Requests for deferral with good cause may be made by making the request on the Juror Response Form that you received with your summons. You will receive a postcard notifying you of the Court's decision. The new term must be within one year from the date you are summoned to appear. Please let the Court know which months would be more convenient.

Does everyone come the first day of the term?

Yes, everyone attends jury orientation on the first day of their term.

What if I have a disability?

Anyone with a disability who needs accommodation to participate in jury service should advise the jury coordinator of the disability and the type of accommodation needed at least four days prior to the term. Assistive Listening System (ALS) devices are available for the hearing impaired. If you need hearing accommodations, please notify the Jury Coordinator of your need as soon as you receive your Jury Summons.

What should I bring with me?

You don't need to bring anything with you but please know your juror number. You are welcome to bring a book, magazine, laptop computer, etc. Wireless internet is available in the jury assembly room. A few courtesy computers are also available for internet use.

How can I be excused from jury duty?

If you are age 70 or older or are a woman breast-feeding a child and you ask to be excused, the Court must excuse you from service. Please make the request on the Juror Response Form that you received with your summons, and you will be excused from jury service. The Circuit Court may also excuse you if:

jury service causes you, your family, or your employer undue hardship or extreme inconvenience; or,
you are the sole caregiver for a child or other dependent, personally attend to the dependent during the Court's normal hours, and are unable to afford daycare or make other arrangements for the care of the dependent.

The Court will weigh the basis for your excuse against its need for jurors. You must show good cause to the Court why you should be excused under these standards. The Court may deny a request for excuse under (a) or (b) above and require you to serve or defer your jury duty to a later date.

If you no longer live in Columbia County, are not a citizen of the United States, or are under the age of 18, you do not qualify to serve as a juror. Contact the jury coordinator in writing, and you will be excused from jury service. You will receive a postcard notifying you of the Court's decision.

What NOT to wear or bring to court:

Weapons, including handguns, pocket knives, and chemical sprays are not allowed in the courthouse or court facilities. It is a Class C felony for any person to intentionally possess a weapon in a court facility (ORS 166.370).
Caps and hats - must be removed upon entering the courtroom and/or at the customer service windows on the main floor
Bare feet – shoes are required
Sunglasses
Revealing or abbreviated clothing such as shorts, tank or cropped tops
Strong perfume or cologne
Food and drink
Non-service animals

How do I contact the Jury Coordinator?

Email: Columbia.Jury@ojd.state.or.us

Phone: 503-397-2327 extension 324

Where am I supposed to park?

Parking is in the parking lot across from the courthouse annex. Additional parking is located on 2nd and St. Helens Street, across from the movie theatre.