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Contacting the Will County Jury Commission

How can I reach the Will County Jury Commission?
The Will County Jury Commission office is open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m until 4:30 p.m., closed all legal holidays.  Office phone 815-727-8612,  Jury Commission fax number is 815-727-8782.  The Assembly room for jurors is located on the first floor of the Will County Courthouse Rm 102.  Juror information management system phone 815-727-8930 or 888-505-8938:

Will County Courthouse
Will County Jury Commission
14 W. Jefferson Street, Room 201
Joliet, IL 60432

General Information

Hardship Excuse:  You must notify the Jury Commission immediately upon receipt of your summons if the Petit Jury term for which you are summoned will result in an undue or extreme inconvenience. You may request a temporary excuse because of grave illness in your family or a similar serious problem.

Length of Service: Jurors who are summoned for jury service in Will County are required to serve for one week or the length of a trial that they are selected for, whichever is longer. Will County utilizes an automated telephone system whereby summoned Jurors are required to call in to determine if they are to be present on their designated reporting date and time. Instructions for using the system are printed on the summons.

Jurors selection: Jurors are selected at random from the active drivers license, registered voters cards, identification or disabled persons ID cardholders residing in Will County.

Juror Compensation: Jurors are currently compensated at a rate of $10 per day and .30 per mile round trip between their residence and the Will County Courthouse.  (Mileage is determinted via GPS)

Parking: Juror receive parking instructions with their summons or visit the Parking page.

Misc:  Due to security regulations, please be advised that Jurors must pass through a magnetometer.

Normal operating hours at the Will County Courthouse are 8:30—4:30 Monday—Friday. The court house may only be entered through the Northeast and Southeast only. Items that may not be brought into the courthouse include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Weapons (or any item that may be used as a weapon in the opinion of Court Security Officers)
  • Recording devices
  • Cameras (without the permission of the Chief Judge)
  • Scissors
  • Pepper sprays or Mace

Jury Selection

How does the Jury Commission obtain names of prospective jurors?

The list of names that is used for jury service is created by a combined list of drivers/voters/ identification card and Illinois disabled person ID cardholders of Will County.  Names are randomly selected from the master list.

I can no longer fulfill my duties as a juror.  I would like your office to remove my name from your records.
Under no circumstances is the Jury Commission allowed to remove an individuals name.  If you feel you are not qualified you may wish to call the Jury Commission to request an excuse for a two year term.

I am not a resident of Will County or a citizen of the United States, may I serve?
No. You must be a Will County resident to serve as a juror in Will County. The law automatically disqualifies residents that are non citizens. 

Jury Service

Why is jury service important? 
The United States Constitution guarantees all people, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin or economic status the right to trial by an impartial jury of one's peers. In order to uphold this guarantee, we need those summoned to participate in the jury process to ensure every citizen's right to have their case decided by an impartial jury selected from a representative pool of prospective jurors.

Who is entitled to a jury trial? 
Any person charged with a criminal offense or any party in a civil case has the right to a trial by jury. All parties are equal before the law and each is given the same fair and impartial treatment.

What are my duties as a juror? 
Your duty as a juror is to weigh all of the evidence and testimony presented to you and to decide the outcome of the case based upon the law and the evidence. Your decision must be fair, impartial and free of any bias or prejudice. Jury service is the basis of our judicial system and is essential to the administration of justice.

How are jurors selected for a trial? 
After your panel is selected and reports to a courtroom, a process known as voir dire begins. During voir dire, the judge and possibly the attorneys will ask you questions to see if you can keep an open mind and be fair. After you have been questioned, you will either be selected or excused from that particular case. If you are selected, you and the other selected jurors will receive instructions from the judge.  If you are not selected, you will return to the jury room and may be sent to another courtroom.

How long does jury service usually last if I am a selected juror? 
The length of a jury trial depends on the actual case itself.  The average length of of a jury trial is two to three days.

What type of trials may I be selected to serve on as a juror? 
There are basically two types of jury trials, criminal and civil.  In a Criminal trial, the jury decides the guilt or innocence of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt.  In a Civil trial, the jury decides whether any monetary  damages should be awarded.

Is jury service mandatory?
The United States Constitution and the Illinois State Constitution guarantees the right to trial by jury. Failure to respond to a jury summons may subject you to penalties provided by law.  All Will County residents are obligated by state law to serve as a juror unless they are:

  •     Not a United States citizen
  •     Not a resident of Will County, Illinois
  •     Not 18 years of age or older

What is the proper dress attire for jury service? 
Jurors should dress comfortably, but properly for a courtroom.

What am I allowed to bring to jury service? 
Jury service can require a potential juror to wait a considerable length of time. For this reason, you may want to bring reading material, office work, or lap tops.  You may bring a lunch or dine at one of the many restaurants in the downtown area. Jurors may Not bring: camera cell phones, video and audio recorders, cameras, chemical sprays, metal belts, large scissors, knives or work tools.

May someone attend jury service with me? 
No. Only those summoned for jury service are allowed in the jury assembly room. You may have someone escort you to and from jury service, but that person is not allowed to enter the jury assembly room. The jury assembly room is for prospective jurors ONLY.

When can the jurors expect to be released for the day? 
Jurors will be dismissed after all court orders have been filled.

What happens if you fail to appear for jury service? 
Failure to appear for jury service when summoned is a serious matter. You may be held in contempt of court and could be fined.  It is in your best interest to appear if you are summoned to avoid any further court action.

Are vending machines, public telephones and restroom facilities located in or near the jury assembly room? 
Yes. There are vending machines located in the jury assembly room.  Public telephones are located just outside the entrance of the jury assembly room.  A restroom is located at the entrance of the jury assembly room.  Cellular phones may be used in the jury assembly room.  All electronic equipment must be turned off when jurors enter a courtroom, or a judge is present. 

Work Issues

Are employers required to pay employees while on jury service? 
No. An employer is NOT required by law to pay employees who are on jury service.  However, many employers do. You need to check with your company's human resources department before serving to see if your company pays your salary for days you are a juror. If you DO receive your salary, your company may require a letter of attendance from the Jury Commission.  These letters will either be mailed to your home or faxed to your workplace.

How soon after jury service will I receive my juror pay? 
Jurors will be paid $10.00 per day plus mileage.  Payment is mailed to your home ten to fourteen working days after the completion of your jury service. 

Does my employer have the right to terminate or penalize me for performing my American right as a juror? 
No. Illinois law prohibits an employer from terminating or otherwise penalizing an employee because the employee serves as a juror.

Excuse from Service

May I request an excuse from jury service?
A prospective juror may be excused if he/she: has a physical or mental disability that would prevent him/her from serving.  The prospective juror may be required to provide a doctor's note verifying their disablility.  Is the sole care giver for another and alternate arrangements are not feasible.  Is unable to read and or understand the English language.  A member of the active military service.  Each request is individually reviewed.  Potential jurors are encouraged to express their request truthfully and to the best of their knowledge.  Failure to do so is against the law.  Jury service is a citizen's civic duty and responsibility.

I am unable to judge anyone because of my moral or religious beliefs.  May I be excused?
Illinois law does not provide for an excuse from jury service for moral or religious beliefs.  You are still required to appear for jury service.  During the voir dire, the trial judge will decide.

I know that I will not be selected to be on a jury because of my career, my relatives and or my friends.  May I be excused?
You are still required to report for jury service.  A trial judge will decide if you should be excused.

Postponement

Is postponement of jury service an option?
The Jury Commission realizes prospective jurors may have been summoned at an inconvenient time.  Our office is willing to defer service to a more convenient time in most instances.  Jurors may request a Onetime postponement after being summoned.  Subsequent postponements are not allowed unless it is an extreme emergency that was not anticipated when the original summons was sent.


Hopefully, we have been able to provide you with the information that you have needed.  However, if you feel your individual question has not been addressed call the Will County Jury Commission for further advice and assistance.