Jury Division

As a juror you participate in an important public process and fulfill a civic obligation. All persons accused of a crime or involved in a civil dispute have a constitutional right to have a jury decide their cases. When you serve on a jury, you make important decisions affecting other people's lives as well as your own community.

All potential jurors are selected at random from a list that is created using contact information from the Department of Motor Vehicles and voter registration, and the California Franchise Tax Board.

Jurors receive a summons in the mail and are placed on standby beginning with the date printed on the summons and continuing through Friday of that business week. If you are required to report for service and you are not selected for a trial and you are not ordered to return for a second or subsequent day, your term of service will be completed. If you are selected for a trial, your term of service will be the length of that trial.

Trial length depends on how complex the issues are and how long jurors spend in deliberations. Most trials are completed within a week. The judge knows approximately how long the trial will take and he or she will give you an idea when your group is called for jury selection. Judges are aware that long trials can be difficult. Let the judge know if it would be a serious hardship for you to serve on a long trial. Please be patient during this process because a lot of people have similar concerns about time.

Jurors who cannot serve during the date on the summons may use a one-time deferment by calling the Court's automated attendant at 831-480-8005 and follow the menu options. Jurors can also defer using the Court's online eResponse System by clicking the link that is located above that says "eResponse System." Please follow the instructions for seeking a deferment. Jurors must select a new date between 6 to 12 weeks from the original date listed on the summons. Jurors will receive a new summons by mail approximately one month prior to the newly selected date.

Jurors receive a per diem of $15 per day starting on the second day of service and $0.34 (34 cents) per mile from their residence to the courthouse (roundtrip). Complimentary Santa Cruz Metro bus passes are also available upon request. Please allow 6-12 weeks from the completion of the trial for your check to come in the mail. If it has been more than 12 weeks, please contact the Jury Clerk at (831) 420-2203

Two types of trials have juries: criminal trials and civil trials. Juvenile and family law trials do not have juries.

No. Staff of the superior courts will never ask past or prospective jurors for personal information like financial history, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or Social Security numbers. Do not provide this type of information to anyone claiming to be associated with the courts, and contact your local jury office if you receive this type of request. If you receive a telephone call, an e-mail or other form of electronic communication from someone identifying himself or herself as a court employee and requesting your personal information, you may be the victim of a jury fraud scam. Please do not provide any information and immediately contact the fraud unit of your local police department and the jury office of your local court.

Selection is random. If you have already responded to a summons or have served in the past 12 months, contact your local jury office. Explain to the staff person that you have been summoned twice in 12 months. It is important for you to contact the court to resolve the problem.

Jurors are summoned randomly from countywide lists maintained by the Department of Motor Vehicles, the local registrar of voters, and the California Franchise Tax Board. Inclusion in the list of eligible jurors does not guarantee that you will be immediately selected for jury service. If you have not been selected, you may contact the Department of Motor Vehicles and your local registrar of voters, and the California Franchise Tax Board to update your mailing address.

You do not need to speak perfect English to serve as a juror. The court uses common, everyday language that people can understand. The work done by the courts affects all people, so it is important that all communities be a part of our justice system. No one person has to know everything. Jurors decide the outcome of a trial as a group, with each member making an important contribution. If you cannot understand English, follow the instructions on the summons or contact the jury office. If you need assistance, a friend or a family member who speaks English can call for you. However, you may still have to come in person to request a disqualification.

Many people who have been convicted of a felony may perform jury service. The law changed in 2020 and now limits only certain people who have been convicted of a felony. You may not serve on a jury if you were convicted of a felony and are serving a prison or jail sentence, are currently on parole, post community release supervision, felony probation, or mandated supervision, and if you are required to register as a sex offender. Persons who have been convicted of malfeasance in office and whose civil rights have not been restored are also prohibited from serving on a jury. If you do not fall into one of these prohibited categories, you should report for jury service if you receive a jury summons.

Your employer must allow you time off to serve on a jury. That is the law. The California Labor Code prevents any employer from firing or harassing an employee who is summoned for jury service. School employees and students are protected as well in different parts of the law. However, you must let your employer know well in advance as soon as you receive your summons. You should contact the court if you have a problem with your employer. Remember that you can defer jury service to a more convenient time. Read your summons carefully or contact the jury office to find out how to request a one-time deferment.

If you are a mother who is breastfeeding a child, or if you have a child or an adult under your care, you may ask for a deferment or to be excused from jury duty. Follow the prompts on eRespsonse or our interactive phone system carefully. If you are having trouble, contact the jury office at (831) 420-2203.

If you need certain accommodations such as assistance with a wheelchair, hearing amplification, or special seating, contact the jury office right away. Let them know what you will need. If they cannot reasonably accommodate you, you may request to be excused from jury service.

The judge and court staff try very hard to reduce the time prospective jurors spend waiting for assignment. The court asks for your patience and suggests that you bring a book or other reading material to occupy your time while waiting. The judge and court staff will explain delays when possible. The court is equipped with free WiFi Internet access for jurors.

Individuals with medical conditions covered by the American With Disabilities Act of 1990 or other applicable state and federal laws, and whose condition is unlikely to resolve may request to be permanently excused from jury service. If you meet this requirement and would like to be excused, you must submit information to the court prior to your schedule date of service (on your summons). You must send a written notification to the Court along with a supporting medical letter from your health care provider stating the you have a permanent disability that makes you incapable of performing jury service. The supporting letter must be dated, on letter head, and signed by the provider. Both the written notification and the supporting letter can be delivered in person, mailed, or emailed to the following locations:

1. Superior Court of Santa Cruz County
   Attention Jury Services
   701 Ocean Street, Room 120
   Santa Cruz, CA 95060
2. Email: jury.information@santacruzcourt.org

You will be promptly notified about whether your request to be permanently excused has been granted or denied. If you were permanently excuse, you may contact the Court at any time to be reinstated by providing a signed, written request tot he Jury Office that the permanent medical excuse was withdrawn. If you are request for permanent disqualification is denied, you may reapply at any time. See California Rule of Court 2.1009 for more information.