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General
Information
How
was I selected for jury service?
Before the start of each jury year, the Clerk of
Circuit Court draws the names of a sufficient number of eligible jurors from the
master list of jurors. This selection is a random process, whereby names of
potential jurors were drawn from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s
Drive License and Personal Identification Cardholder list.
How
long am I on call for Jury Service?
Your jury term will continue for one month as
indicated on your jury summons. You need only report for jury service 5 times
during the length of your term. However, if a particular case requires more time
to conclude, your service may be more than 5 days. You are exempt from jury duty
for four (4) years after your month of service.
How
am I compensated?
St. Croix County will pay you $15 for each half-day
and $30.00 for each full day that you serve as a juror. You will also receive
compensation for your travel to and from the court house at the rate of 32 cents
per mile. When a trial is in progress, meals will be provided for you.
Compensation checks are disbursed on a monthly basis.
May I
be excused from Jury Service?
By law, no qualified juror is exempt or may be excused
from jury service, except by order of the Court, based on a finding that jury
service would entail undue hardship. Any such request must be done in writing
and addressed to the attention of the jury clerk. A request from exclusion due
to vacation must be made in writing, addressed to the attention of the jury
clerk, well in advance of your scheduled vacation date. If you find you are ill
on a day you’ve been summoned to report for jury service, you must call the
office (715/386-4629) as soon after 8:00 a.m. as possible.
What
if my address changes?
If your residence should change during your term of
jury service, we ask that you notify the Clerk of Courts office immediately.
How
will I know if I must report for Jury Service?
A notice will be mailed to you approximately three
weeks prior to your month of service. This notice will advise you of the dates
for which you have been selected to serve. St. Croix County uses a Telephone
Information Recording to provide you with up-to-date information regarding the
status of jury trials. Please call anytime after 5:00 p.m. the evening before
each scheduled trial. The message will continue to run until 8:00 a.m. the
morning of the trial. If you report for
jury service after the message indicated it was not necessary to do so, you will
not receive compensation, or credit toward your service for that day.
Juror Telephone
Information Service 715/386-4629 or 800/640-8524. The message will advise you if
a specific case will proceed to jury trial, as scheduled.
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Your
Duty as a Juror
As a juror you are in the position of
responsibility and are expected to conduct yourself in such a way that no one
may question your impartiality and integrity.
Some Simple Rules to Follow:
- Be
prompt: Tardiness causes delay and wastes the time of all involved.
- Listen
Carefully: You will base your decision on the evidence presented to you.
- Keep
an open mind: Do not form hasty conclusions or opinions.
- Do
not discuss the case: During the trial, you should not talk about the
case to anyone, including other jurors.
- Do
not read or listen to outside newspaper or radio accounts: Newspaper and
radio accounts may present a biased or unbalanced evaluation of the case.
- Control
your emotions: You may be confronted with exhibits or testimony which
make you uncomfortable. Be prepared. You should not show any visual
expression or make any audible sound that can indicate you have been
affected.
- Do
not inspect the scene of a case on your own: If the Judge determines
that an inspection of the scene or premises involved in a case is
appropriate, the Judge will arrange for the jury as a whole to make this
inspection, accompanied by the court officials, attorneys, and the parties
involved.
- Report
any violations of these rules to the bailiff: If you have become aware
of anything outside the courtroom that causes you concern, inform the
bailiff.
The most important qualifications of a juror
are fairness and impartiality. You must lay aside all bias and prejudice. You
are the foundation of our Judicial system, and your actions and decision should
reflect this important rule.
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How are
Cases Tried?
The trial is composed of a series of events
in a specific order that is determined by state law.
The Series of Events:
Opening
statements: Each attorney will discuss the merits of the case pertaining to
his/her client. The attorneys will outline what they will attempt to show during
the trial.
Evidence:
The plaintiff will present its evidence in the form of testimony, called
direct examination and may introduce evidence in the form of exhibits. The
defendant will also present evidence in a similar manner.
Argument
to the jury: After all evidence has been presented, the parties will present
arguments or closing statements to the jury.
Instruction
to the jury: After arguments have been completed, the Judge will instruct
you on the questions to be answered and the laws that pertain. The Judge may
give his/her instructions before final arguments.
Deliberations:
The jury will then be given an oath and taken to the jury room where you
will then discuss the case until you have reached a verdict. After delivering
the verdict to the Court, you will be dismissed from the courtroom.
For information on jury service click
www.courts.state.wi.us
(jury service in Wisconsin)
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Consult the St. Croix County Clerk of
Court's web page for office location, telephone number, and hours of
operation. Thank you for visiting our web page. We look forward to serving
you.
