Court Administration: Frequently Asked Questions
***How do I respond to my juror questionnaire online?***
After I have served, when am I qualified to serve again?
Can I volunteer for jury service?
How are jurors selected for a jury trial?
How are jurors selected for jury service?
Is there anything I should avoid once I have been summoned for jury duty?
Must my employer pay me while I'm on jury service?
What are my duties as a juror?
What are the different types of cases for which I might be selected?
What are the qualifications required to be a juror?
What does the jury commission do?
What facilities are available?
What is the compensation for jury service?
What should I wear to jury service?
Who is entitled to a jury trial?
Why is jury service important?
Will I receive a letter of attendance for my employer?
Jury Service Questions
***How do I respond to my juror questionnaire online?***
Click the Juror eResponse System link in the Peoria County Circuit Court menu on the left. (You may want to save this address in your Favorites.) Enter the Juror ID from the upper right-hand corner of your questionnaire and your Zip Code and click the Log In button. If you have any problems, call 672-6076.
After I have served, when am I qualified to serve again?
After completing jury service, you should not be called to service again for a period of 1 year from the date you last served. If you are summoned again within this time period, simply call the jury commission office at (309) 672-6076 to be excused.
Can I volunteer for jury service?
Because jury service is a random selection, it is not possible to volunteer.
How are jurors selected for a jury trial?
After a jury panel is selected and is taken to the courtroom, a process known as voir dire begins. During voir dire, the judge and attorneys will ask jurors questions to see if you can keep and open mind and be fair. After the juror has been questioned, the juror will either be selected or excused from that particular case. If a juror is selected, you will then receive instructions from the judge as to what is expected of you. Those jurors, who were not selected, will return to the jury assembly room and wait for another jury trial to start.
How are jurors selected for jury service?
Every year the Jury Commission office receives a list of names that have been randomly selected from driver's license, voter 's registration, and Illinois ID card. This list is obtained from the AOIC (Administrative Office of Illinois Courts) in Springfield, Illinois. These names are then combined into one master list and names are randomly selected to receive a juror questionnaire. When the questionnaire is returned, the jury commissioners then qualify potential jurors. Once qualified the jurors are randomly selected to receive a jury summons.
Is there anything I should avoid once I have been summoned for jury duty?
Avoid reading, listening, or watching media accounts of trials that may be scheduled during your term of service.
Must my employer pay me while I'm on jury service?
No, according to Illinois law, "An employer may not deny an employee time off for jury duty. No employer shall discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate or coerce and employee by reason of the employee's jury service, or the attendance or scheduled attendance in connection with such service..." 705 ILCS 304/4.1(a) Remember to provide your employer with a copy of your summons immediately upon receiving the summons.
What are my duties as a juror?
Your duty as a juror is to weigh all of the evidence and testimony presented to you and decide the outcome of the case based upon the law and the evidence. Your decision must be fair, impartial, and free of any bias or prejudice. Jury service is the basis of our judicial system and is essential to the administration of justice.
What are the different types of cases for which I might be selected?
There are two basic types of cases: criminal cases and civil cases. The differences between the two are as follows: In a criminal case, the jury decides the guilt or innocence of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. In a civil case, the jury listens to both the plaintiff and defendant side and decides on the issue in question. The jury may also decide whether or not money damages should be given and if given how much those damages will be.
What are the qualifications required to be a juror?
To qualify as a juror you must be: A resident of Peoria County At least 18 years of age or older Able to understand the English language A United States citizen
What does the jury commission do?
The jury commission consists of three jury commissioners who provide qualified jurors to the Circuit Court of Peoria County. The office's duties include: mailing juror questionnaires; mailing juror summons; qualifying jurors; assessing requests to be excused or postponing to a future date; providing orientation and answering juror questions; random panel selection; and paying jurors for their service.
What facilities are available?
There are a variety of vending machines for soft drinks and food available on the ground floor of the courthouse. There are also several restaurants close by. In the jury assembly room, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate is available to the jurors. There is also a refrigerator and microwave if you wish to bring your lunch. There are telephones located in the jury assembly room that are available for juror use.
What happens during a trial?
Events in a trial usually happen in a particular order, although the judge may change the order. Here is the usual order of events: Selection of jury Opening statements Presentation of evidence Closing arguments Jury instructions Jury deliberations Announcement of the verdict
What is the compensation for jury service?
Jurors are paid $15.00 a day for their service. Jurors are also paid 10 cents a mile for their travel to and from the courthouse. Juror checks are mailed out within 14 days of your last day of service.
What should I wear to jury service?
Jurors should dress appropriately in keeping with courtroom decorum.
Who is entitled to a jury trial?
Any person charged with a criminal offense or any party in a civil case has the right to a trial by jury. All parties are equal before the law and each is given the same fair and impartial treatment.
Why is jury service important?
The United States Constitution and the Illinois Constitution guarantee all people regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status the right to trial a trial by an impartial jury of one's peers. In order to uphold this guarantee, we need those summoned to participate in the jury process to ensure every citizen's right to have their case decided by an impartial jury selected from a representative pool of prospective jurors.
Will I receive a letter of attendance for my employer?
You will receive a proof of service for your employer once you have completed your jury service.