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Resources and Links for Jurors

Information & Resources

Trial by jury is a cornerstone of our democracy. The Oregon and United States Constitutions protect our right to trial by jury. Jury service is one of the most important rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. This page contains an orientation video, juror handbook, and access to online response forms.

Some circuit court websites have additional information for jurors in their courts. This may include specific information on that court's etiquette and juror instructions. If a circuit court summoned you to serve as a juror and you have questions, check the court's website, read the summons carefully, and review these pages. If you have misplaced your summons or have questions that the webpages and summons don't answer, please contact your local jury coordinator.

Confirm or Defer my Call for Jury Service

Many circuit courts have their own online jury response forms that you may fill out in order to confirm or defer your jury service. Please check the dropdown list below to see if your court has an online form.

How do I ask the court to excuse or defer my jury service?

The jury summons will tell you how you can request to be excused or defer your jury service. Only the court can defer or excuse your jury service. The central administrative office cannot defer or excuse your jury service.

I received a summons, but I no longer live in Oregon. What do I do?

If you have moved out of state and receive a summons, immediately send the court your updated address information and ask to be excused.

The Oregon Judicial Department uses a list based on information from the Oregon Division of Motor Vehicles (driver license and ID card information) and the Secretary of State (voter registration information). After contacting the court, please update your address information with Oregon Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). DMV has a form available that updates your address. This form also updates your voter’s registration. This is the best way to ensure that you do not receive a summons in the future.

What kind of criminal background makes someone ineligible to serve on a jury?

A person is ineligible to serve if the person has had rights and privileges withdrawn and not yet restored under ORS 137.281. ORS 137.281 explains that someone’s rights and privileges, including that of being a juror, are withdrawn if the person has been sentenced to incarceration in a county jail, a state prison, or a federal prison because of a felony sentence, and
•the conviction has not been set aside or
•the person has not been discharged.

If the conviction is later set aside or once the person is discharged, the person can serve
•on a civil trial jury,
•on a criminal trial jury or a grand jury, if enough time has passed. (See below.)

ORS 10.030 (3)(a)(E) and (f) say that a person cannot serve on a criminal trial jury or on a grand jury if the person has been
•convicted of a felony or served a felony sentence within the 15 years immediately preceding the date the person is required to report for jury service; or
•convicted of a misdemeanor involving violence or dishonesty, or has served a misdemeanor sentence based on a misdemeanor involving violence or dishonesty, within the five years immediately preceding the date the person is required to report for jury service.

ORS 10.030(3)(b)(A) defines “felony sentence” as any incarceration, post-prison supervision, parole or probation imposed upon conviction of a felony or served as a result of conviction of a felony.

ORS 10.030(3)(b)(A) defines “misdemeanor sentence” as any incarceration or probation imposed upon conviction of a misdemeanor or served as a result of conviction of a misdemeanor.

ORS 166.270 defines “Has been convicted of a felony.”

DMV OnLine Services

Do I need to Report for Jury Duty?

Many circuit courts post the schedules of when certain juror numbers are to report to the courthouse. Please check the dropdown list below to see if your court has a jury schedule online. If your court does not appear on the dropdown list you will need to call the phone number listed on your juror card.

What Should I Expect?

Jury service has several steps:

Citizens who are registered voters or have drivers licenses or other ID cards receive a summons from the court
The citizen who receives the summons needs to respond as instructed
A judge or court staff will give jurors an orientation on expectations and responsibilities
Please view the Juror Experience Video at the top of this page for more information on the jury service process

Court Etiquette

Information About the American Jury System

Oregon Rule of Civil Procedure 58 - Trial Procedure

A Manner of proceedings on trial by the court. Trial by the court shall proceed in the manner prescribed in subsections (3) through (6) of section B of this rule, unless the court, for good cause stated in the record, otherwise directs.

B Manner of proceedings on jury trial. Trial by a jury shall proceed in the following manner unless the court, for good cause stated in the record, otherwise directs:

B(1) The jury shall be selected and sworn. Prior to voir dire, each party may, with the court’s consent, present a short statement of the facts to the entire jury panel.

B(2) After the jury is sworn, the court shall instruct the jury concerning its duties, its conduct, the order of proceedings, the procedure for submitting written questions to witnesses if permitted, and the legal principles that will govern the proceedings.

B(3) The plaintiff shall concisely state plaintiff’s case and the issues to be tried; the defendant then, in like manner, shall state defendant’s case based upon any defense or counterclaim or both.

B(4) The plaintiff shall introduce the evidence on plaintiff’s case in chief, and when plaintiff has concluded, the defendant shall do likewise.

B(5) The parties respectively may introduce rebutting evidence only, unless the court in furtherance of justice permits them to introduce evidence upon the original cause of action, defense, or counterclaim.

B(6) When the evidence is concluded, unless the case is submitted by both sides to the jury without argument, the plaintiff shall commence and conclude the argument to the jury. The plaintiff may waive the opening argument, and if the defendant then argues the case to the jury, the plaintiff shall have the right to reply to the argument of the defendant, but not otherwise.

B(7) Not more than two counsel shall address the jury on behalf of the plaintiff or defendant; the whole time occupied on behalf of either shall not be limited to less than two hours.

B(8) After the evidence is concluded, the court shall instruct the jury. The court may instruct the jury before or after the closing arguments.

B(9) With the court’s consent, jurors shall be permitted to submit to the court written questions directed to witnesses or to the court. The court shall afford the parties an opportunity to object to such questions outside the presence of the jury.