Extra Jury Duty Information

Extra Important Jury Duty Information

How to Read & Answer the Questionnaire

When you receive a summons in the mail read both sides of the form carefully.

• A signature line is provided and your signature is required.
• The back page requests information for our demographics and to help the attorneys during the jury selection, called "voir dire."
• Qualifying questions one through eight must be answered to determine eligibility for jury.
• Question nine is for individuals age 70 or over to choose to serve or not.

How to Request a Postponement

If the period of time called to serve jury duty presents a hardship due to employment, vacation, family business, or any other hardship, a citizen can request a deferral of service to another jury term.

Miscellaneous Information

• Employers are required by law to give employees time off for jury service.
• Jurors are paid $10 for each day that they report to the courthouse plus round trip mileage at the rate of 27 cents per mile. Additionally, jurors who are normally caring for their children during the day can be reimbursed for childcare expenses up to $50 per day in addition to other fees paid.
• Jurors are provided with a complete orientation program when they first report to the courthouse. Jurors are randomly assigned to both civil and criminal trials throughout their term of service.

Contact Information

If you would like further information about jury service in Watonwan County, contact the jury office at 507-621-6005 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. To check to see if you are called for jury duty, call the jury call in number at 800-421-6910 or 507-621-6006.