Kalamazoo County Jury Services

General Information

Role as a Juror

Many have heard the term "jury of one's peers". In our country the job of determining the facts and reaching a just decision rests, not upon "the government" or any other "higher authority", but with a jury, which is a small cross-section of the people in the community – fellow citizens of the parties to the lawsuit.

Your part as a juror is vital. You and your fellow-jurors will decide all disputed questions of fact. The Judge who presides over the trial will decide the questions of law, but you, the jury, will have to consider all the evidence and, from what you see and hear during the trial, determine what the facts of the case really are.

Then you will apply the law (as explained by the Judge at the end of the trial) to the facts you have determined, and decide the case.

In other words, you, the jury – not the judge, not "the system" – will decide the case. Justice depends on you.

The purpose of a trial is to do justice, by deciding a dispute between parties fairly and impartially. The value to the community of your service as a juror in that effort cannot be overstated. You can go home when your period of duty is over with a sense of an important job well done.

Length of Jury Service

Jury service is the date of the summons and until discharged by the court. Judges will advise prospective jurors of the anticipated length of the trial when they are called into the courtroom.

Postponement of Jury Service

Summoned jurors that have a conflict with their assigned date should contact the jury services office no later than 7 days prior to the scheduled service date. The court typically does not allow more than one postponement.

Failure to Appear

If you fail to appear as directed by your summons, you may be held in contempt of court, fined and/or jailed, as provided by MCL 600.1346.

Compensation:

Mileage paid is calculated by court standards.
A check for your jury service including mileage will be mailed to you.

The Kalamazoo County Courthouses are non-smoking environments.

WiFi service is available in various locations throughout the Michigan Avenue Courthouse, free of charge, to any member of the public who brings in their wireless-enabled electronic device. Postings in the courthouse provide the steps and password for accessing service.

Please be aware that use of electronic devices must be in compliance with court policies, which prohibit use of electronic devices in the courtrooms.