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Superior Court of
California
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Tentative Rulings:| Placerville 1| Placerville 2 | SLT 3 | SLT 4 | Placerville 6 | Cameron Park 9 | SLT 12 | |
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Jury Information - General Information
The right to a trial by jury is the privilege of every person in the United States, whether that person is a citizen or not. This cherished right is guaranteed by both the U.S. and California Constitutions. Jury trials cannot be held unless people – citizens of the state in which the trial is held – are willing to perform their civic duties. Jurors are essential to the administration of justice. How Jurors Are SummonedThe selection and management of jurors is governed by the California Code of Civil Procedure. Jurors' names are selected at random from lists of registered voters and persons who have valid California drivers' licenses or identification cards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The two lists are combined to create one Master Jury List. The summonses are mailed approximately three weeks prior to the service date. The summons contains information and instructions on how to have jury service postponed; how to request to be excused for service; or how to notify the Court of disqualification from jury service. If you have been summoned for jury duty, read the summons carefully and follow its instructions as it contains important information along with the name and address of the Court and the date of your jury service. Term of ServiceThe El Dorado Superior Court operates on a One Day/One Trial system. Jurors are instructed to call a recorded telephone message, or use the Automated Jury Program the court day before the date you are scheduled to appear, after 5pm, for reporting instructions. Once instructed to report to a courthouse, a juror may or may not be selected to serve as a juror in a trial court. The Jury Commissioner is required to have a sufficient number of jurors for all anticipated trials. The jury staff tries to carefully estimate the number of jurors needed but there are many variables outside their control. For example, a case may settle at the last moment. If a prospective juror is selected to serve on a trial as a sworn juror, the term of service will be the length of that trial. Trials vary in length, but generally last one to three days. Pay PolicyState law does not currently require employers to continue paying the salary of employees while they are serving as jurors. However, many employers including state, federal, and local government agencies, have a policy which compensates employees for at least part, if not all the time spent for jury service. Before coming to court, the juror should talk with his or her employer. Prospective jurors are paid the amount mandated by the State Legislature, $15.00 per day for the second and subsequent day(s) of service. "Service" is defined as physically reporting to the courthouse. The mileage reimbursement is .34 cents per mile one-way from your home to the courthouse, beginning with the second day. Checks are processed on a weekly basis. Jurors may receive more than one check for jury service. Payroll checks are not forwarded by the Post Office. Therefore, it is important that the jury office has the correct name and address of each of its serving jurors in order to make sure the jurors receive their checks timely. Employer ResponsibilitiesEmployers cannot discriminate against employees serving on jury duty. Employers must allow employees time off to serve on a jury. The California Labor Code, section 230, prohibits any employer from firing or harassing an employee who is summoned to court for jury service as long as reasonable notice is given. The California Education Code, sections 44037 and 87036 protect teachers and students as well. Employers can also be prosecuted criminally and face a misdemeanor charge if found guilty.What if a Juror Does Not Report as Instructed?Every resident of El Dorado County who is qualified to serve and who does not have a legal hardship or excuse must appear for jury service when summoned. Willful failure to appear is contempt of Court. Contempt of Court is punished by fine of up to $1,000.00 and/or five days in the county jail. Special Assistance RequestsIf you will need special arrangements when you report (e.g., assistive listening device, accessibility, sign language interpreter, etc.), please call 530-621-7469 West Slope or 530-573-3078 SLT at least five days prior to your service date. If you are requesting a sign language interpreter, it is possible that your service date will be rescheduled to the next available date for an interpreter. You will be notified of any changes. Tank tops, shorts and bare feet are not permitted. The temperature of the jury assembly areas and courtrooms can be unpredictable. Jurors are encouraged to dress appropriately and accordingly as an officer of the court. How do I get to the courthouse and where do I park? Addresses and maps to each courthouse are provided with your summons. There are parking lots at each court location, except for the Main Street Courthouse. Main Street parking options: Free parking is available at the Placerville Station II parking facility located at 2890 Mosquito Road. Shuttle service from the Placerville Station II parking facility is provided every 15 minutes on jury selection days during juror reporting times. El Dorado Transit bus and express services is available on non-jury selection days. Click here to review the El Dorado Transit Placerville East/West/Express schedules. You must have your summons with you in order to receive the free shuttle,
bus & express services. Regulated fee parking is available at the downtown
parking garage and lots as indicated on the map, at your own expense. Pay
stations at the regulated fee parking lots will accept cash and credit
cards. Parking tickets are the responsibility of the juror; the Court cannot
waive these tickets. Coming East: 1. Highway 50 East to Placerville. Going West: 1. Highway 50 west to Placerville. Telephone/Website Notice of your Need to AppearWEST SLOPE TELEPHONE: 530-621-6404 SOUTH LAKE TAHOE TELEPHONE: 530-573-3355 Your appearance as a prospective juror is canceled by a prerecorded telephone message and by using our Automated Jury Program. You must telephone the number indicated above or view our website after 5:30 p.m. the court day before you are scheduled to appear.
Jury Duty - Disqualifications/Request for Excuse/PostponementDisqualificationQualifications for jury service are established by California Code of Civil Procedure, Section 203, and are outlined below. If you find that you are not qualified to serve, please complete the portion of your summons titled "Request for Disqualification or Excuse." Once completed, detach and return the Request by mail or hand carry it to the Jury Commissioner's office. Requests must be received by the jury office at least three working days prior to your service. Otherwise, you are expected to be available as scheduled. YOU MUST:
YOU MUST NOT:
Request for PostponementJury Service is not voluntary, but a civic duty imposed upon all citizens by statute (CCP 204). As a trial juror, you will become an officer of the Court. You will be performing an important and vital role in the efficient and fair administration of justice. That may mean rearranging schedules, canceling appointments and missing work. Jury staff will be as flexible as possible when re-scheduling jurors for jury service. If your summoned date is not convenient, you may request ONE postponement for a period of up to 90 days. (Students & Teachers may be rescheduled to the next school break. Breastfeeding mothers may be postponed for a period of up to one year.) To request a postponement, please either submit a written request for postponement by mail or hand carry the written request to the court or calling the Telephonic Jury System at 530-621-6404 for West Slope or 530-573-3355 for SLT. You may also use our Automated Jury Program to request a postponement. The jury office must receive the request at least five court days prior to your service. Otherwise, you are expected to be available as scheduled. Request for ExcuseCalifornia Rule of Court, Rule 860, specifies the grounds on which the Jury Commissioner's Office is allowed to excuse jurors from jury service. It states, "Jury service, unless excused by law, is a responsibility of citizenship. The Court and its staff shall employ all necessary and appropriate means to ensure that citizens fulfill this important and civic duty." Postponing jury service is preferred to excusing a prospective juror. Inconvenience to a prospective juror or employer is not an adequate reason to be excused from jury duty. Requests to be excused must be made in writing and supported with facts and/or appropriate documentation as outlined below. In order to be excused, jury service must represent an undue hardship as outlined below.
Requests for excuse must be submitted in writing. To request an excuse, follow the instructions and complete the portion of your summons titled "Request for Disqualification or Excuse". Once completed, detach and return the request by mail or hand carry it to the court. The jury office must receive requests at least three working days prior to your service. Otherwise, you are expected to be available as scheduled. You will be contacted if your request is denied. Are You Late?Contact the Jury Commissioner's office as soon as you know your are going to be late, West Slope 530-621-7469, South Lake Tahoe 530-573-3078. If you appear late, you may be rescheduled to a new date. Proof of AttendanceWork certificates are provided upon completion of your service.
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Automated
Jury Program