The Clerk's Office can excuse you from jury duty for one of the following reasons:
- You have served as a juror in Sumter County within the past 12 months
- You have been convicted of a felony and have not had your civil rights restored
- You are 70 years of age or older
- You are an expectant mother or a parent that is not employed full-time and has custody of a child under six years of age
- You are a full-time Federal, State, or Local Law Enforcement Officer or Investigative Personnel for these entities
- You are responsible for the care of a person who, because of mental illness, intellectual disability, senility, or other physical or mental incapacity, is incapable of caring for himself or herself
- You are not a citizen of Sumter County
- You are not a citizen of the United States
- You are a practicing attorney or physician
- A person may be excused from jury service upon a showing of hardship, extreme inconvenience, or public necessity
Safety Measures
To ensure the well-being of all who enter the courthouse, the court has enacted the following safety measures.
- Temperature Check: Each person entering the courthouse will receive a temperature check, and anyone with a temperature at or above 100.4 will be denied entry.
- Social Distancing: A distance of at least six feet must be maintained between all individuals in all areas of the courthouse.
- Face Coverings: A face covering over the nose and mouth must be worn by everyone in the courthouse.
- Screening Questions: Each person seeking entry into the courthouse will be asked health screening questions to determine if entry into the courthouse will be authorized:
- Cleaning Protocol and Barriers: Heightened cleaning protocols have been established to disinfect surfaces and physical barriers are in place to support social distancing
Selection of Jurors
To be selected as a juror, you must be at least 18 years of age, possess a valid Florida Driver's License or Identification card, and be a resident of Sumter County. Juror names are randomly selected from a list provided by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The names of non-driver Florida (Sumter County) residents who wish to voluntarily submit affidavits offering their names for possible use in compiling jury lists also may be included.
Reporting
Please call the jury recording at (352) 569-6990 after 5:00 P.M. on the Friday before the date you are to report for jury service for instructions concerning your attendance. Jury status updates will also be posted to the Events Calendar located on the home page of this website each Friday before a scheduled Jury Summons date.
You will be directed to report to the 1st floor of the Sumter County Judicial Center. Jury service lasts for one day or, if you are selected for a jury, for the length of the trial. Please dress appropriately. Do not wear beach attire or shorts. Bring a jacket or sweater because the courtrooms are air-conditioned.
Failure to Appear
In accordance with s. 40.23(3), Florida Statutes, any person who is duly summoned to attend as a juror in any court and who fails to attend without any sufficient excuse, may be considered in contempt of court.
Juror Pay
Jurors who are regularly employed and who continue to receive wages while serving as a juror are not entitled to receive compensation from the state for the first three days of juror service. Jurors who are not regularly employed or who do not continue to receive regular wages while serving as a juror are entitled to receive $15 per day for the first three days of juror service. Each juror who serves more than three days is entitled to be paid by the state for the fourth day of service and each day thereafter at the rate of $30 per day of service. Jurors are not entitled to additional reimbursement by the state for travel or other out-of-pocket expenses. A juror who receives unemployment benefits does not lose such benefits because he receives compensation for juror service. The sheriff, when required by order of the court, shall provide juries with meals and lodging, the expense to be taxed against and paid by the state.
Length of Service
Types of Trials
In a civil trial, parties in dispute come into court to determine and settle their case. The person who brings an action against another is the "plaintiff". The person against whom the action is brought is the "defendant".
In a criminal trial, the people of the State of Florida, represented by the State Attorney, bring charges against the defendant. The State Attorney is commonly referred to as the "prosecutor". The "defendant" is a person or corporation accused of a violation of law.
Grand Jury
The grand jury consists of 15 to 21 members who serve a six-month term of duty with the court. (The term can be extended by the court for up to 90 days to allow for completion of unfinished business.) At least 12 members of the panel must vote in agreement to return an indictment. As prescribed by judicial administrative order, grand jurors are selected from the list of licensed drivers and those who hold valid Florida I.D.'s supplied by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. They are paid on the same basis as trial jurors (see jury pay topic) for every day they meet in session during the term of court. A grand jury has broad powers to investigate a wide range of criminal offenses and to examine the performance of public officials and public institutions. Its deliberations are conducted in secret, in conjunction with the State Attorney or a designated assistant state attorney. Grand jurors are given the following oath, as prescribed by F.S. 905.10: