Home | Careers | Contact Us | Court Map | Court Services | Media | Links
Jurors
1st Day / ADA / Payment / More Information
What to Expect on the First Day
The first day of service is normally limited to jury selection. On occasion, jury selection will be made and the judge immediately will begin the trial. Generally, if selected for a trial, jurors will be released and told when to report back for trial and how many days the trial will last. If not selected, the first day of service will be the only service required.
It is very common for a judge to have multiple trials in a week and to be involved in selecting multiple juries. Generally, the juries are selected one at a time. If not called for the initial jury selection, jurors will remain in the jury assembly room until called. This wait can be significant and jurors are encouraged to bring something to read while waiting. A limited number of Internet connections are available for those citizens who bring a laptop with them.
Those citizens remaining through the lunch hour will be given a lunch break. Judges will look for a convenient break in the proceedings and therefore the time for lunch may vary. Generally, the break is sometime between noon and 1 p.m. and will last 30 minutes to an hour. Lunch is not provided. Those summoned to appear in the morning should bring a snack or sack lunch. Jurors summoned to appear in the afternoon should eat lunch prior to reporting. Jurors are strongly encouraged not to move their vehicles during lunch. Parking in the downtown area is limited and finding parking spaces upon returning from lunch can be a problem.
Depending upon the number of trials and the complexity of the cases, the jury selection process can last all day. Judges are well aware that citizens have other responsibilities and make every effort to conclude before the end of the normal business day.
For more information please review the: Handbook for Jurors Pamphlet
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the Jury Coordination Office, 301 S. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301, (850) 606-4204, within two (2) working days of your receipt of your jury summons; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711, via the Florida Relay Service.
Payment for Jury Service
If you will receive regular pay from your employer during jury service, you are not entitled to compensation for the first three days of jury service. If you will not receive regular pay, you are entitled to receive $15.00 per day for the first three days of service. All jurors will receive $30.00 on the fourth day and each day thereafter. If you are excused from service by your own request, you are not entitled to compensation. To insure proper payment, the Juror Check-In Form included with your jury summons must be completed before reporting on the scheduled date, and must be turned in to the Jury Coordination Office when you report.
For more information please visit the website of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for your county: