Jury Duty
Juror Disqualification Criteria
An individual fitting any 1 of the following categories is disqualified from serving as a Municipal Court juror:
- You are a convicted felon
- You are not a resident of the Town of Summerville
- You are not a U.S. citizen
- You cannot read, write, speak, or understand English
- You have less than a 6th grade education
- You have a mental/physical condition that prevents you from serving
- You have served on a Summerville Municipal Court jury within the same calendar year
- You work in a court capacity
Juror Exempt Criteria
An individual fitting any 1 of the following categories is exempt from serving as a Municipal Court juror:
- An affidavit (notarized statement) must be submitted attesting to the above statements.
- You are 65 years or older and wish to be excused
- You are the primary caregiver of a disabled person or person 65 years or older who cannot care for themselves
- You have legal custody and duty of care of a child under the age of 7
- You served on a Summerville Municipal Court jury during the previous year
Juror Transfer Criteria
An individual will be transferred to a future jury trial session if she/he is a student or school employee.
An affidavit (notarized statement) must be submitted attesting to the above statements.
What to Expect
You have received your jury summons, which states that you have been selected by law to act as an officer of this court by serving as a juror. Because this may be the first time that you have ever been called for service, this information has been provided to you and you are urged to read it very carefully. The information contained herein is not intended to take the place of the instructions given by the judge in any case. In the event of a conflict, the judge’s instructions will prevail.
Civil Obligation
As citizens of South Carolina, and of the United States, each of us has an obligation to make a contribution to the American system of justice. You are now being called upon to participate in one of the cornerstones of the judicial process, a trial by jury. The mandate of justice for all can only be achieved through the combined efforts of judges, lawyers and citizens serving as jurors.
Your role as juror, as the "judge" of facts, will require you to carry out your duties attentively, intelligently and fairly. Remember, your vote as a juror is usually final.
Receiving Your Summons
When you first receive your summons for jury duty, read through the summons and also the disqualification, exemption and excuse of jurors list. If you meet the criteria for disqualification then you will be excused and the court will make note of this on the jurors list. If you have a question in reference to being excused then please call the court at 843-875-2010.
We suggest that you call the Court around 9 a.m. on the day of the trial that you are scheduled to attend to check for any cancellations. When you arrive, check in with the clerks and take a seat in the courtroom until the court is called to order. You will not need to bring your jury summons with you, however it is helpful to the clerks.
Working Together Smoothly
Every reasonable effort will be made by the court to make your service as a juror comfortable and with as little inconvenience as possible; however plan accordingly before coming to court as you may be in court for quite some time. Cases set for trial may be postponed or settled just as they are scheduled to begin, which can cause delays.
Please help the court operate more smoothly by being patient and cooperative and by being on time as instructed. It may happen that during your service as juror you may never be called upon to actually sit in on the trial or a case-but your very presence and availability as a juror is a contribution of great importance.
Dockets
Jury trial dockets can be viewed at the Court and are available a month prior to term. Although the jury trial dockets reads "Preliminary Hearing Docket," these are the final dockets for jury trials.
Jury Selection
Jurors for Summerville Municipal Court are randomly selected from a database that contains information from the South Carolina Election Commission and the South Carolina Highway Department.
If you are selected for a specific jury trial term, you will receive a Municipal Court Juror Response Form. The Juror Response Form must be completed and returned to Municipal Court.
Reporting
Please arrive promptly and please do not bring beverages, children, relatives, or friends with you on the day you report for jury duty.
Upon arrival, you will be shown to a courtroom separate from all other case parties attending jury trials. It is important that you do not speak with any case party, even if it is a relative.
Hearing Your Name
When the clerk calls your name, you should be prepared to stand and state your name and occupation. At that time, the judge may ask questions to determine your qualification to serve.
Dismissal
If you are dismissed or told to report the following day, be sure to you know when and where you are to report. Each morning, a roll will be taken to record your presence.