ANSWERS TO FREQUENT JUROR INQUIRIES

Courthouse Security

Cell Phones Not Permitted

Everyone is required to pass through security including a metal detector.  The security area is staffed by Deputy Sheriffs.  Please be advised that cell phones and certain other electronic devices are not allowed in the Courthouse.   Laptop computers are permitted for use in the Jury Assembly Room only (not in court rooms).  The Jury Assembly Room has wireless internet for your convenience.  Storage lockers are available in the Detention Facility lobby across the courtyard at 1435 North Courthouse Road for a small fee (you will need coins).  iPods and eReaders are permitted.  iPads are not permitted (per order of the Sheriff).

No sharp objects such as knives and scissors or weapons or glass bottles are permitted in the Courthouse.

City of Falls Church Residents

Please note that the 17^th Judicial District includes residents of Arlington County and the City of Falls Church.  If you do not live in Arlington County or the City of Falls Church you are not eligible for jury duty here (follow the instructions in the summons to request a disqualification by supplying your full new address for verification purposes).

Directions to Courthouse

Jurors are to report to:

Arlington County Courthouse
1425 North Courthouse Road, 10th or 11th Floor (as printed in the summons)
Arlington, Virginia  22201

.You can also call the Circuit Court Office at 703-228-4399 for directions. The nearest major arterial is Arlington Boulevard (Route 50 at the Court House Road exit).

Transportation & Parking

Metro (Orange Line) with a stop at the Courthouse, or Metrobus or ART bus are all convenient options.   If you drive, you are responsible for your own parking arrangements.  The parking lot across Courthouse Road has a limited number of spaces in a row reserved for jurors (1^st row facing Courthouse Road; signs read "Reserved Court Permit Parking").  Display the Juror Parking Permit attached to your summons on your dashboard when parking in that row or any other space.  Everyone must pay to park, even when using the reserved parking spaces.  There is no free parking, even for jurors, in the courthouse area.  Use the "Pay and Display" system and pay for a minimum of four (4) hours of parking to assure sufficient time to the lunch break.  If you will stay after the lunch period, it will be necessary to pay for more parking.  Paid underground parking is available in Courthouse Plaza, 2100 & 2200 Clarendon Blvd., or Colonial Place at 2111 Wilson Blvd.  Whatever option you choose when you drive, be sure to place the PARKING PERMIT included at the bottom of your summons on your vehicle dashboard when you report.

View a PDF map of parking opportunities in the area.

Jury Assembly Room, 10th Floor

The Jury Assembly Room has a snack vending machine, water cooler, and coffee machine.  You can bring beverages and food in the room.  We have no fridge at this time.

The room has Wireless internet (Wi-Fi) access.

Jurors may use the telephones in the Circuit Court Office on the 6th Floor in the courthouse.  This would typically be after your service has ended on the day you report.  Jurors must be available to the court at all times while in the courthouse on jury duty.

If you are called from the Jury Assembly Room to potentially sit on a trial, you must take your belongings with you.  No personal items are to be left in the Jury Assembly Room.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations

If you need accommodations during your jury term, please contact the Jury Coordinator at 703-228-3124 upon receipt of your summons.

How Jurors Selected

The Circuit Court uses certified Voter Registration rolls to create a random selection of jurors.

Questionnaires are sent out annually to potential jurors to ascertain eligibility for service.  These questionnaires are reviewed by Jury Commissioners (a body of citizens appointed annually by order of a Circuit Court Judge) before any jurors are called for service by summons of the Sheriff.

Types of Cases

The types of cases considered by Circuit Court include:  CIVIL -- Suits between individuals for money damages (usually involving personal injury or contract disputes); and CRIMINAL -- Government prosecuting individuals for alleged violations of criminal or traffic laws.

Length of Service

A jury term lasts one (1) week (Monday through Thursday; no trials are scheduled for Fridays) unless a trial carries over.  Most trials are one or two days.

You will not be required to report everyday for service.  In addition, trials are not typically called for Fridays but Thursday trials sometimes (rarely) carry-over to Fridays.

A typical court day for those serving on a trial runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but could be longer at the court's direction.

Certain Individuals Exempt from Serving

The following is a list of individuals who are exempt from jury duty:

Statutory:

• Not a citizen of the United States
• Convicted felon whose voting/civil rights have not been restored
• Not a resident of Arlington County or the City of Falls Church for the past 12 months
• Not a legal resident of Arlington or the City of Falls Church for the past 6 months
• Served as a juror in any State court within last 3 years (does not apply to Federal court service)
• Pending case in Arlington Circuit Court
• Medical condition which prevents service (a doctor's note will be required)
• Over 70 years of age and choose not to serve (although we hope you will choose to serve)
• Primary caregiver to child or disabled relative (a detailed explanation is required; ages and your role)
• Sworn law enforcement, correctional, jail officer, or firefighter (occupation title required)
• Licensed, practicing attorney (license number and state are required, along with a short explanation of the "practicing" nature of your work.  Submit by email or mail to Jury Coordinator, Arlington Circuit Court, 1425 N. Courthouse Rd., #6700, Arlington, VA  22201)

Non-Statutory:

• Full-time teacher (you will be asked to defer your service to a break or the summertime).
• Difficulty or inability to understand or hear (the County makes accommodations for disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act).

If you received a summons and believe you are exempt from jury duty or are eligible and choose not to serve, please make a request to be excused at the juror website or hotline at 703-228-0533.

Excuses from Service

Jury duty is critical to the administration of justice under the U.S. Constitution.  Excuses from serving the entire jury term can be considered after careful consideration of the individual’s circumstances.  Please note that excuses for such matters as "busy at the office" usually cannot be honored.  A detailed explanation is required to be submitted with requests with any required documentation sent via email or fax to 703-228-7079.  Some of the reasons the court may consider excuses include:

        -    Undue financial hardship or extreme inconvenience
        -    Primary caregiver to children, elderly or disabled
        -    Medical condition which prevents service (a doctor's note will be required)
        -    Doctor with scheduled patients
        -    On active military duty
        -    Essential to business or enterprise where jury duty would cause the business to close or cease to function

One or two day excuses, such as for long scheduled doctors appointments, are routinely granted during your one week of service.  Let the Jury Coordinator know when you attend orientation.

        NOTE:  EXCUSES WILL NOT BE GRANTED WHEN POSTPONEMENT / DEFERRAL IS AN OPTION.

Sending Required Documentation to Support Request for Deferral or Postponement

Almost all requests to have your jury service deferred or to be excused require documentation to the Court.  Confirmed travel plans, doctor's notes, etc., can be either emailed to the Jury Coordinator or faxed to 703-228-7079.

Procedure for Reporting for Jury Duty

Remember to bring your summons with you when you report, which includes your Juror Badge and Parking Permit  Photo identification is required to be shown to the Jury Coordinator.  If you drive, place the Parking Permit in the windshield of your vehicle.  You must pay for parking; there is no free parking in the courthouse area, including for jurors.  Use the Pay and Display system and pay for a minimum of four (4) hours.  You will be able to pay for more parking, if needed, during the lunch recess.  Jurors are reimbursed for expenses each day they report.

Orientation is performed by a Circuit Court Judge or the Clerk of the Circuit Court or designated Court representative.  

At orientation you will learn how you were selected, your duties as a juror, your daily routine for the term, how the trial process works, and have your questions answered.  You will also be given a copy of "The Answer Book for Jury Service" prepared by the Judicial Council of Virginia.  The Handbook can also be found online at http://www.courts.state.va.us/courts/circuit/jury.pdf.

Daily Routine for Term

Every evening after 5 p.m. , jurors should check their reporting status for the next day using the Candidate ID printed on the summons and your zip code.  Check at either:

• Juror Website (https://egov.arlingtonva.us/jury/)        NOTE:  "You are not scheduled to report" means that you do not report and should check back the next day.
• Juror Hotline at 703-228-0533

During an emergency or severe weather conditions, call 703-228-4510, Press 3, or check your local news station.

If you are sick on a day you are scheduled to report, please call the Jury Coordinator at 703-228-3124 or leave a message with the staff at 703-228-4399.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Jurors should check the juror website or hotline again the morning you are to report for any updated information.  Cases may settle over the evening and scheduled jurors no longer needed the next day as originally anticipated.

Expenses

Jurors receive $30 cash per day as reimbursement for expenses (parking, lunch, etc.) each day you report, whether or not you sit on a case.  This is reimbursement for your out-of-pocket expenses, not payment for services rendered.  Questions sometimes arise from employers on whether their employees should accept this reimbursement.  Please note that the Arlington Circuit Court has no jurisdiction over the policies of employers in this regard.  You are advised to check with your employer as it relates to their policies regarding jury service.

For federal government employees, visit the Office of Personnel Management at https://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/html/courtlv.htm.

Employer Policies

The Arlington Circuit Court encourages employers to exercise some schedule flexibility for employees summoned for jury duty.  Their service is a critical part of the administration of justice.  Virginia law requires employers to excuse employees from regular work days when summoned for jury duty.  Employers should refer to the following excerpt from the Virginia Code:

§ 18.2-465.1. Penalizing employee for court appearance or service on jury panel.

Any person who is summoned to serve on jury duty or any person, except a defendant in a criminal case, who is summoned or subpoenaed to appear in any court of law or equity when a case is to be heard or who, having appeared, is required in writing by the court to appear at any future hearing, shall neither be discharged from employment, nor have any adverse personnel action taken against him, nor shall he be required to use sick leave or vacation time, as a result of his absence from employment due to such jury duty or court appearance, upon giving reasonable notice to his employer of such court appearance or summons. No person who is summoned and appears for jury duty for four or more hours, including travel time, in one day shall be required to start any work shift that begins on or after 5:00 p.m. on the day of his appearance for jury duty or begins before 3:00 a.m. on the day following the day of his appearance for jury duty. Any employer violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Courtroom Etiquette

Jurors must not talk to any parties to a case at any time. This could cause your removal from the jury panel and/or affect the case in other ways.

No food or drink, except for bottled water, is allowed in the courtrooms. If you sit on a jury, you will be able to store your personal items in the secured jury deliberation room which is opposite the courtroom.

Your full attention to the trial proceedings is critical to the outcome of the case.

Dress Code

Your attire should be comfortable but appropriate for the court room.  Also, be prepared for temperature variations in the courtrooms.

Lunch

The Judge will break during a trial for lunch at the appropriate time.  This is the time for you to also pay for additional parking, if needed.

HELPFUL ATTACHMENTS:

• Recommended Parking Map

Further information will be provided on orientation day. Please come to the Arlington Courthouse, 1425 North Courthouse Road, 10th Floor, Arlington, Virginia. Thank you for your service.

Questions about jury service?  Email us.