orange county superior court how many jurors can each lawyer excues

by Tate Rolfson 9 min read

If a lawyer wants to have a juror excused, he or she must use a "challenge" to excuse the juror. Challenges can be for cause or peremptory. There are unlimited challenges for cause, as well as 10 peremptory challenges in criminal cases (20 in death penalty or life imprisonment cases) and 6 in civil cases (Cal. CCP § sec. 231) per side.

Full Answer

How long does the average jury trial take in Orange County?

The average jury trial in Orange County takes up to 5 court days to complete. Jury trials do not always take place on consecutive days and they may take 2 business weeks or more to complete.

How do I apply to serve on the Orange County grand jury?

To receive an application to serve on the Orange County Grand Jury, a full-time commitment for one year, please visit www.ocgrandjury.org. This is a volunteer opportunity and not associated with jury service.

Can I serve on the Orange County grand jury while breastfeeding?

If you are currently (or will be at the time of your jury service) breastfeeding a child, you may request a postponement of up to 12 months. To receive an application to serve on the Orange County Grand Jury, a full-time commitment for one year, please visit www.ocgrandjury.org. This is a volunteer opportunity and not associated with jury service.

Is zoom available in Orange County Superior Court?

–The Orange County Superior Court implemented an online check-in pilot program starting June 7, 2021 to facilitate the use of Zoom for hearings, including law and motion calendars, at zero cost to the public. Courtrooms participating in this program will be using Zoom in lieu of CourtCall for remote hearings. Read More Here

image

How do I excuse jury duty in Orange County?

Requests to be excused must be in writing and submitted to the Office of the Jury Commissioner prior to the prospective juror's service date. You may also submit a request for an excuse through the eJuror online application at www.occourts.org/ejuror , no later than five days prior to the service date.

Do all 12 jurors have to agree in California?

A jury for the California Superior misdemeanor court contains 12 jurors. For a conviction to be made, all members of the jury must come to a unanimous decision. Otherwise, they will remain in deliberations until such a decision is reached.

What are excuses to get out of jury duty?

In terms of the Jury Amendment Act 2010, you may have 'good cause' to be excused if: jury service would cause undue hardship or serious inconvenience to you or your family. you have a disability that makes you unsuitable or incapable of effectively serving as a juror, without reasonable accommodation.

How can I get permanently excused from jury duty in California?

(c) Process for requesting permanent medical excuse (1) An applicant must submit to the jury commissioner a written request for permanent medical excuse with a supporting letter, memo, or note from a treating health care provider.

How many jurors does it take to disagree before a jury is considered hung?

Everyone has heard the term “hung jury”, but what exactly does it mean? In a criminal case in California, the jury verdict must be unanimous. All 12 jurors must agree that either the defendant is either guilty or not guilty. A hung jury happens when the jurors simply can't reach a unanimous verdict.

What happens if jury is not unanimous?

There is no requirement that jurors must come to a unanimous verdict. If the jury cannot unanimously agree on a verdict of either Guilty or Not Guilty, this is known as a hung jury. When further deliberation clearly will be unproductive, the judge will declare a mistrial.

Can you say no to jury duty?

Avoiding it, however, is ill advised: you cannot simply refuse and it is a criminal offence to not answer a jury summons without reasonable cause. You may, however, be able to defer (or possibly be excused) if you've served in the last two years or have a good reason.

What should I wear to avoid jury selection?

We suggest you wear comfortable clothing that fits with the importance and dignity of the courtroom. Shorts, tank tops, bare midriffs, or similar dress are not allowed. Business attire is always appropriate. Check your summons or local jury office for more information.

How many times can you postpone jury duty?

Jury service can only be deferred once. Applications to be excused from jury services are only considered in exceptional circumstances. You also have the right to be excused from jury service if you have previously served or attended to serve on a jury in the previous 2 years.

What disqualifies you from jury duty in California?

Read and understand English. Not convicted of a felony, or if convicted, no longer on parole, post release community supervision, felony probation or mandated supervision. Not convicted of a malfeasance in office, or have been convicted of a malfeasance in office and civil rights have been restored.

How often can you be called for jury duty in California?

How Many Times Can You Be Summoned for Jury Duty in California? California jury duty law has a one-day or one-trial jury service policy. This means that you are legally required to serve on a jury once a year. If a court chooses you in the final selection, your service will be complete after the trial ends.

How long can you postpone jury duty in California?

The Superior Court realizes prospective jurors may have been summoned at an inconvenient time and in most instances are willing to defer or postpone service to a more convenient time. Jury service may be postponed one time for a maximum of 90 days from the original summons date.

How often do you have to serve in court?

Service may be required as often as once per year and can be from one day to the length of one trial, starting at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. Business casual attire is suggested. Shorts and tank tops are not appropriate courtroom attire.

When will the Harbor Justice Center be closed in 2021?

This Order will remain in effect through July 28, 2021, or until amended or repealed.

Can you skip the line in jury duty?

Jurors may now skip the line and have a seat directly in the jury assembly room (when open). By accessing the “juror-portal” wifi network on your mobile device, you may now check-in for service and obtain access to free wifi. All you need is your 9-digit juror ID number that is printed on your summons. The juror self-check-in is available at all courthouse locations that conduct jury trials.

Can you ask past jurors for credit cards?

Employees of the Orange County Superior Court and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will never ask past or prospective jurors for information regarding cash cards, credit cards, bank accounts or social security numbers. Please do not provide this type of information to anyone claiming to be associated with or representing the Orange County Superior Court.

What is the Superior Court in Orange County?

The Superior Court is a unified state trial court serving the County of Orange. The court has seven locations and hears all matters in criminal, traffic, civil, probate, juvenile, family law, and mental health cases. To learn more, click on this link

When will the Orange County Superior Court start using Zoom?

Court Begins to Restore Some In-person Appearances. –The Orange County Superior Court implemented an online check-in pilot program starting June 7, 2021 to facilitate the use of Zoom for hearings, including law and motion calendars, at zero cost to the public. Courtrooms participating in this program will be using Zoom in lieu ...

When is Juror Appreciation Week 2021?

On May 24, 2021, Collections extended hours of payment services will be terminated. Read More Here. Santa Ana, CA – The Orange County Superior Court will celebrate Juror Appreciation Week, May 10–14, to recognize the service and participation of jurors from our community.

When was the second week of jury duty established?

Recognition for jurors during the second week in May was established by a special resolution passed by the California Legislature in 1998 to acknowledge the important contributions of citizens who devote their time and effort in “making the cherished right of trial by jury a reality. Read More Here.

When will Zoom be available in Orange County?

Court News. –The Orange County Superior Court implemented an online check-in pilot program starting June 7, 2021 to facilitate the use of Zoom for hearings, including law and motion calendars, at zero cost to the public. Courtrooms participating in this program will be using Zoom in lieu of CourtCall for remote hearings.

How much do jurors get paid?

A: Starting with the second day of service, jurors are paid $15.00 per day and 34 cents for each mile traveled, one-way. Mileage is computed by an automated system based on your zip code. The system computes the straight-line distance from your home to the court to which you have been summoned. Jurors employed by a federal, state, local government entity, school district, Regents of the University of California, public authority or by any public entity as defined in California Code of Civil Procedure section 481.200 who receive regular compensation and benefits while performing jury service, are not paid juror fees.

How often can you get a jury summons?

A: Jurors may be summoned for jury service once every 12-month period. If you receive more than one summons, this includes a summons from the Federal District Court, in a 12-month period, please contact the Office of the Jury Commissioner at 657-622-7000.

How long does it take to get a jury check?

A: Jurors generally will receive their payment checks 5 to 21 days after they complete their service. Depending on dates of jury service, you could receive more than one check for total payment of all your jury service dates.

How to be disqualified from jury duty?

citizen. You may submit a request for disqualification through the eJuror online application at www.occourts.org/ejuror , no later than five days prior to the service date, or in writing.

How long is jury duty postponed?

A: Jury service may be postponed for approximately 4 to 6 months, through the eJuror online application at www.occourts.org/ejuror , no later than five days prior to your service date, or by calling the Office of the Jury Commissioner at 657-622-7000.

What to wear to a jury meeting?

As the room temperature of the jury assembly areas and courtrooms can be unpredictable, you may want to bring a sweater or jacket.

How are Orange County names drawn?

A: Names are drawn randomly by computer from lists of registered voters and Department of Motor Vehicles driver's license and identification card holders for Orange County. The law requires a fair cross-section of each county's qualified residents to be available each day for jury duty.

How many jurors are there in California?

A jury for the California Superior civil court contains 12 jurors. For a conviction to be made, at least nine members of the jury must be in agreement on the verdict.

How many jurors are there in a misdemeanor trial?

Jury sizes for a misdemeanor trial are generally smaller than a jury for a felony trial. A jury for the California Superior misdemeanor court contains 12 jurors. For a conviction to be made, all members of the jury must come to a unanimous decision.

What are the felony cases in California?

Serious criminal cases including violent crimes, property offenses, and drug offenses are tried in California felony court. Felony juries are generally larger than juries for less serious offenses, and have more stringent conviction requirements due to the severity of the crime and potential punishment.

What is a civil family court case?

Many civil family court cases involve California divorce cases or other family law issues such as child custody cases , etc. The instructions for a California civil jury generally differ from those given to a criminal jury.

How old do you have to be to be on jury duty in California?

California has a statutory exemption that allows individuals over a certain age to request exemption from jury duty. A juror over the age of 70, may be excused from duty due to physical or mental reasons.

Can you report for jury selection if you qualify for one of the statutory excuses?

Generally, if you qualify for one of the statutory excuses, you can respond to your jury duty summons letter with an excuse note containing proof of your excuse, and you will not have to report for jury selection.

Do jury summons mean you will be on a jury?

Remember - A Jury Selection Summons Doesn't Mean You'll Be On A Jury. Keep in mind that your initial jury duty summons is only for attending jury selection day, where it will be decided if you are to actually serve on a jury during the "Voir Dire" process.

Is jury duty a civic requirement in California?

While jury duty is a civic requirement for all eligible citizens in California, there are a number of excuses that can be used to legally get out of being required to report for jury selection or jury duty, or receive a deferral.

How many applicants are considered for grand jury?

Applicants are judged on the knowledge, skills and abilities required for successful performance as a grand juror. This screening process identifies approximately 90 applicants for further consideration. Those applicants who appear to be qualified are invited to an interview before members of the committee.

How many names are needed for a grand jury?

Finalists for the list of potential grand jurors must include 25 to 30 names. The law requires that potential grand jurors shall be selected from the five supervisorial districts in proportion to the population of those districts.

How long is the term of a grand jury?

The complex, diverse responsibilities of grand jurors make it necessary to give a serious commitment to the time requirements. The Grand Jury term is one year, from July 1 through June 30...

How old do you have to be to be a grand jury?

The law states grand jury applicants must have the following qualifications: Citizen of the United States. 18 years of age or older. Resident of state and county or city and county for one year prior to being selected. In possession of natural faculties, ordinary intelligence, sound judgment, fair character. Possess sufficient knowledge of the ...

image