Information for Jurors
Web Reporting Instructions
Prospective jurors must check the links below in accordance with your Jury Summons location.
73 W. Flagler St
Miami, FL 33130
1351 NW 12th St
Miami , FL 33125
Telephone Reporting Instructions
Jurors must call the telephone number indicated after 5 p.m. the FRIDAY before their start date for recorded instructions on when to report. The recording will instruct jurors to report on a specific day based on their start date and their juror number, so please locate your juror number and your start date on your summons prior to telephoning. The telephone number for your recorded reporting instructions for jurors who are reporting to the Jury Pool at the Dade County Courthouse is 305-349-7222 and for the Jury Pool at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building, it is 305-548-5575.
The Clerk of Courts of Miami-Dade County, Florida fully recognizes and appreciates the significant role our jurors serve in the American Justice System. They make it possible for our courts to fulfill the constitutional guarantee of trial by jury by rendering verdicts which determine the outcome of both civil and criminal cases. Our judiciary and administrative staff are committed to making jury service in our civil and criminal courts a comfortable, informative and rewarding experience.
What is a jury?
A jury is a body of qualified citizens selected and sworn to decide disputed issues of fact in a civil or criminal trial, according to the law and the evidence presented in court.
Approximately 300,000 citizens in Miami-Dade County are randomly selected by a computer each year to be summoned to jury duty for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Summonses are mailed to citizens who possess a valid Florida driver's license or Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Receiving a Jury Summons
When you receive a jury summons, read it carefully as it provides answers to almost every question about jury duty. The summons contains a juror badge, information regarding excusing or postponing service, payment and parking instructions. You must bring the summons with you when
Lost Jury Summons
If you have lost or misplaced your jury summons, please contact (305) 548-5695 or (305) 349-7775 for assistance, Tuesday through Friday, between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, please have your Florida Driver's License number or Florida Identification card number available so that the jury pool staff can assist you with your jury service information and determine where you are to report. If our jury pool staff cannot locate your jury service information with your Florida Driver's License number or Florida Identification card number, you may have been summoned to the Federal Court (305) 523-5190.
Attire and Dining
Please dress in appropriate business attire. Bring a jacket or sweater due to building temperature variations. Please no shorts or uniforms.
A cafeteria/snack bar is located inside either courthouse on the first floor and also inside the jury pool assembly rooms. Various restaurants are within walking distance of the Dade County Courthouse. For those bringing their lunch, a refrigerator and microwave are available in the Jury office at either courthouse.
Length of Service
The State of Florida utilizes a one day/one trial jury management system. That means that on the day you report for jury service your obligation is to be available to the Court for possible selection on a trial. If you are not selected to serve on a trial or in an ongoing selection by at the end of the first day, you will not have to report again the next day. However, if on your first day, you are selected on a trial, or in a selection process, you must serve until the end of the trial selection process or until the judge indicates that you are no longer needed. The average length of a jury trial in Miami-Dade County is three days.
Language Comprehension
Language comprehension issues are addressed in the courtroom, after you report on your start date at 8:00 a.m.
If the date of jury service is inconvenient, it is a policy of the Court to grant one courtesy request for postponement of jury duty.
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Mark option number 11, Request for Postponement,
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Select a specific non-holiday, Monday not more than 60 days from the start date on your summons.
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Complete all the information on the juror affidavit including signature, telephone number, should we need to reach you for additional information, and the employment section even if you are not working or not employed.
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Requested dates are usually accommodated.
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Full-time students must provide a specific date during their next school break.
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Mail the part of the summons containing option number 11, to the reporting address which is the same as the return address on the summons.
Request for Excusal
Jurors requesting to be excused must check the appropriate box on the summons, include additional documents or proof if required, complete all the information on the juror affidavit including signature, telephone number, should we need to reach you for additional information, and the employment section even if you are not employed.
The following persons MUST request to be be excused from jury duty and provide the appropriate documentation to be disqualified.
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Persons who are under 18 years of age.
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Persons who are not U.S. citizens (proof of non-citizenship must be submitted).
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Persons who are no longer residents of Miami-Dade County (if you live in another state, include a copy of your new Driver License from that state, if you live in Florida but not in Miami-Dade County, submit a copy of your Florida Driver License with your new address).
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Persons presently under prosecution for a crime (proof of current ongoing criminal case must be submitted).
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Convicted felons who have not had their civil rights restored (proof of conviction, probation order and/or charging document must be submitted).
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Deceased persons (death certificate must be submitted, certified copy not required).
The following persons are allowed to serve, but MAY be excused from jury duty upon written request:
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Persons physically unable to serve (an original, current, signed doctor's certificate must be submitted).
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Persons who served as a juror within one year of their summons date (submit a copy of your certificate of attendance from the court where you physically reported for jury service within one year).
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Persons responsible for the care of an infirm or disabled family member, who are not employed full-time (additional information may be required).
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Expectant mothers (submit a doctor's certificate).
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Active, full-time law enforcement officers (submit your agency name and personnel office telephone number on the juror affidavit). This exemption does not include correction officers in Miami-Dade County.
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Persons 70 years of age or older.
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Parents with a child 5 years of age or younger, who are not employed full-time (additional information may be required).
All requests must be in writing. Telephone requests for excusal or disqualification will not be accepted.
Note: Work, transportation, travel or hardships not listed here or on the summons are NOT grounds for excusal but you may reschedule your service by following the instructions above under Request for Postponement.
Jurors not reporting for duty may be held in contempt of Court and/or fined up to $100.
Conduct for Jurors on Trials
All jurors should observe the following simple rules of conduct:
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Carefully follow all instructions of the judge.
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Do not be late for court. The trial cannot proceed until all jurors are present.
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Sit in the same seat in the jury box. This allows the judge, lawyers and clerk to identify you more easily.
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Listen carefully. It is important that you hear every question asked and every answer given since your verdict will be based on the evidence presented.
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Do not talk to anyone about the case until the judge instructs that you are allowed to do so. This includes the clerk, lawyers, judge, bailiff, family and friends. You may not talk to other jurors about the case until you all have retired to the jury room for final deliberations. If anyone tries to talk to you about the case or attempts to influence you as a juror, you should report it to the judge immediately.
Payment for Jurors
Miami-Dade County Ordinance
Sections 11-31, et seq., of the Code of Metropolitan Miami-Dade County provides that employers are to pay employees for jury service if:
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The employee is regularly scheduled for work at least 35 hours a week.
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The employer has at least 10 full-time employees.
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The employee serves as a juror in Miami-Dade County.
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The employer has offices or does business in Miami-Dade County.
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The employee gives the employer a copy of the summons and notice of jury service at least five working days prior to absence from work.
Payment under this ordinance does not include commissions.
If a juror receives payment for jury service from their employer and also from the State, the employer may deduct the amount received from the State from the employee's pay.
According to Florida Statutes, during the first three days of jury duty, payment by the State is as follows:
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If your employer does NOT continue to pay your regular wages or you are NOT employed, or self-employed, then you are entitled to receive payment from the State in the amount of $15.00 per day for the first three days and $30.00 per day thereafter. When you report for jury duty, be sure to fill out a Request for Compensation form so that you will be mailed a check at the end of each week that you are in attendance either in a continued selection or on a trial. A Request for Compensation Form is not necessary if your employer is paying your regular wages while you are on jury duty.
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If jury service lasts four days or more, all jurors automatically receive $30 per day for the fourth day of service and each day thereafter, regardless of employment status.
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One check is mailed for each week of jury service and each check is mailed approximately four weeks after the week served.
Attendance Certificates
An attendance certificate, which specifies the dates of jury service, may be obtained from the Jury Pool staff at the end of a juror's service.
Florida law prohibits any employer from firing an employee who is serving on jury duty.