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Juror FAQs

Jury Duty - A Key Part of Justice

Serving on a jury, also called petit jury duty, is an important party of our democracy.  Both the Oregon and the U.S. Constitutions protect your right to a trial by jury because it helps ensure fairness in the justice system. 

Jury duty isn't just a right - it's also a civic responsibility.  When you serve, you're helping make sure that justice is carried out fairly for everyone.  Jurors are selected at random from a combined list registered voters and DMV records. 

 FAQs

​Complete the eResponse

Oregon law requires you to fill out the jury questionnaire - even if you believe you can't serve. 

You must respond no matter your:

  • Age
  • Citizenship status
  • Criminal history
  • Job
  • Health
  • Schedule
  • Where you live
You still need to complete the full questionnaire even if you plan to ask to be exused, disqualified, or exempt.​

​​When is it due?

Please response within 10 days of recieving your jury summons.

You can complete your response online by visiting the Jury Response webpage​.

If you can't respond online, you may visit the courthouse and use the public computer kiosk.

Before you ask to be excused from jury service, you must first complete the jury eResponse on the Jury Response webpage.  This is required for all excusal requests. ​

​When Do I Need to Send Documents?

You must provide proof if you are asking to be excused for any of the following reasons: 

  • Student - Proof of enrollment
  • Vacation or business trip - Proof of purchased travel
  • Planned medical event - Documentation of the appointment
  • Medical condition ​- A note from your treating doctor
​Send your documents by email to: Columbia.Jury@ojd.state.or.us
​Include your Juror ID in the email. 

Your jury status will stay pending​ until your documents are received and approved. You may still be required to report. 

Mandatory Excusals

The court must excuse you if:  

  • You are 70 years or older​ on the date of jury service and do not wish to serve
  •  ​​ You can also call 503-397-2327, then press Option 2, then 2​.
  • ​You are a ​nursing mother

​Discretionary Excusals

The court may excuse you​ if:

  • Serving would case serious hardship for you, your family, or your employer
  • ​You are the sole caregiver for a child or dependent during court hours and cannot afford daycare or find other care
​If you ask for a discretionary excusal, you must explain your situation in detail.  The court will review your request and may still require you to serve. 

​Before you ask to delay your jury service, you must first complete the jury eResponse on the Jury Response webpage​.  This is required by law - even if you plan to request a deferral, disqualification, or exemption. 

​What Documents Do I Need?

You must provide proof for certain deferral requests:

  • Student - Proof of enrollment
  • Vacation or business trip ​- Proof of purchased travel
  • Planned medical event - Documentation of the appointment
  • Medical condition ​- A note from your treating doctor

​Send your documents by email to:  Columbia.Jury@ojd.state.or.us​

Your jury status will stay pending​ until your documents are received and approved.  You may still be required to report. 

​Deferral Options ​(ORS 10.055)

  • First Deferral:
  • ​ You may ask to delay your service to a date at least 90 days from your original report date, but not later than one year from that date.  A new jury summons will be sent to you. 
    • ​
  • ​​​Second Deferral: 
  • ​A judge or clerk may approve a second deferral for up to six months.  You must explain why you need more time.  ​

When Can I Defer To?

You may request to start your jury service on the first Monday of any odd-numbered month:  January, March, May, July, September, or November​.

Jury reporting instructions are updated by 5:00 PM the business day before your scheduled service date. 

To find out if you need to report:
If your juror number ​is listed, follow the instructions provided. ​​​

​ Important Reminder

Sometimes, trials are canceled or rescheduled at the last minute - event the day before they are scheduled to start.  This means you may not need to report. ​

If you don't check the Jury Schedule or call the instructions line and you show up or spend money unnecessarily, you will not be reimbursed for those expenses.​

​Before your jury service starts, please look at these helpful resources:

If you have dates when you cannot serve, you must email your request to the court at Columbia.Jury@ojd.state.or.us

  • ​Include all dates that may conflict with your jury service
  • Attach supporting documents (such as travel plans, school schedules, or medical notes)
  • ​Send your request at least 24 hours before ​your scheduled call-in date. 

​Be Ready to Serve

If you are told to report for jury duty or grand jury, you must be available for the entire length of the trial. 

Some trials last more than one day, so please plan to serve multiple days​ if needed.

​If You Get Sick

If you become ill and cannot report, you must call the jury coordinator right away at 503-397-2327. 

​If you ignore your jury summons or fail to appear without permission from the court: 
  • ​​​​The court may order you to appear in front of a judge and explain why.
  • If you ignore that order, you could be held in contempt of court.
  • ​You may also recieve a failure to appear notice and face penalties.
If you can't serve, follow the steps to request a deferral or excusal.  Visit the Jury Response webpage​​ to get started.

In Columbia County, jury service lasts for two months. ​

Check the schedule for the specific dates you need to report for.  Jurors are responsible for keeping track of their assigned dates and must submit any planned absences in writing ahead of time.​

A special summons is issued when a jury is needed for a complex or high-profile trial.  

All jurors who receive a summons - including those responding on behalf of someone who is incarcerated or deceased - must complete the jury response form (webpage)​. If you don't have internet access, ​you can use the public juror kiosk at the courthouse to respond.​

A grand jury is a group of people who hear evidence in criminal cases and decide if there is enough evidence to formally charge someone with a crime (called an indictment). ​

In Columbia County, grand jurors meet one day a week for two months.​​

​You don't need to wear a suit or dress to jury duty, but you should dress respectfully.  As a juror, you play an important role - you're the judge of the facts. You won't be wearing a robe, but you should dress like you're doing important work. 

The courthouse is an older building, and temperatures can vary from room to room.  The heating and cooling systems don't always work well.  To stay comfortable, we recommend dressing in layers so you can add or remove a sweater or jacket as needed. 

Jurors often spend long hours together in shared spaces.  Please wear clean clothes and avoid strong perfumes or colognes out of respect for others. 

Free parking is available in the lot next to the courthouse annex building. 

Additional parking can be found on 2nd Street and St. Helens Street​, across from the movie theater.​

Jurors are paid $10 each day they serve.  You also get 20 cents for every mile you travel from home to the courthouse and back.  If you serve three or more days, you will be paid $25 per day starting on the third day. 

If you have extra costs because of jury duty - like needing a hotel room or a taxi because you live far away - you may be able to get money back.  These requests are looked at one at a time.  

 ​To ask about getting help with costs, email the Jury Coordinator at Columbia.Jury@ojd.state.or.us​

No.  Oregon law protects you while you serve on a jury.  Your employer cannot fire you, threaten you, or try to stop you from serving.  They also can't make you use vacation or sick time for jury duty.  

If you think your employer broke this law, you can: 

  • File a complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), or 
  • ​Start a civil lawsuit ​in court.  ​
​For more details, read ORS 10.090 (webpage)​​ to understand your rights.​​

You can reach us by email or phone: 

  • ​  ​ ​ ​​Email: Columbia.Jury@ojd.state.or.us
  • ​   Phone: 503-397-2327 (Press Option 2)

Please allow up to 48 hours ​for a response - email is usually the fastest way​ to get a reply. 

If you leave a voicemail, we will return your call in the order it was received.

If you have a disability and need an accomodation, please tell the Jury Coordinator as soon as you get your Jury Summons.  Let them know: 

  • ​That you have a disability, and

  • What kind of help or accommodation you need. 

For example, Assistive Listening System (ALS) devices​ are available for people who are hard of hearing.  ​

To learn more or to request help, visit the ADA webpage​​.​


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