THOMAS JEFFERSON (1789)

If you have been summoned for Jury Duty you need to call 521-6640 after 5:00 PM the evening prior to your scheduled appearance date and follow the recorded instructions or check the Online Status on the Jury Service web page.

Enter your nine digit participant number which starts with 100. You are on standby for 1 week until you are requested to appear. You must call each evening, including holidays and weekends, for the duration of your standby period to determine if you need to appear.

Occasionally, you may be instructed to telephone again in the morning for a possible afternoon appearance.

Please bring the summons with you, as it contains your attendance slip, juror badge and parking permit.

If you arrive 30 minutes late you may be rescheduled to appear at another time. If you work out of the county during the day, contact our office at (707) 521-6640 for instructions.

A security system is in place at all Court locations.

Weapons or sharp objects (Swiss army knives, knitting needles, scissors, pepper spray, mace etc.) of any kind, large tip pens or markers will not be allowed through security.

Shorts and tank tops are not allowed in the courtroom.

Children may not accompany prospective jurors while on Jury Duty.

Per Code of Civil Procedures section 203, all persons are eligible and qualified to be prospective trial jurors, except the following:

1) You are not a citizen of the United States
2) You are under 18 years of age
3) You are not a resident of Sonoma County
4) You do not have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the English language to act as a juror
5) You have been convicted of a felony and your civil rights have not been restored
6)You are currently serving as a grand juror
7) You are an active peace officer as defined in Penal Code Section 830.1 and 830.2(a)
8) You are the subject of a conservatorship.

As a sworn or prospective juror, you will receive $15.00 per day plus mileage, beginning from your second day of service.  Effective January 1, 2003, mileage is .34 cents per mile one way between your residence and the court.  

A check will be mailed to you approximately six weeks after completion of Jury Service.

Employers are not required by law to pay employees their regular salary when on Jury Duty. We suggest you advise your employer of your scheduled Jury Service when you receive your summons. It is advisable to check with your employer regarding company policy before coming to court. Verification of your appearance is required by some employers and will be provided by Court staff upon request at the end of the day or when you are excused.

Completion of Jury Service for one year is fulfilled by either being seated as a trial juror, appearing in person as needed during the scheduled week, generally from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or by calling all week and being dismissed.

Please be prepared to remain at the courthouse the full day. Due to the nature of Jury Service and the court process itself, there are often periods of waiting. We suggest you bring something to read. There are brief recesses throughout the day, and you will have at least one hour for lunch. If sworn as a juror, your service will continue until the trial is completed. .

Parking for the Hall of Justice is available on Administration Drive, Paulin Drive, Ventura Avenue, or in the long term parking lot on Ventura Avenue.

Jurors may park in the green 2 hour or 90 minute spaces if you place the Juror Parking Permit, from the summons, on the driver's side of the dash board with the current week's date showing.

Parking is not permitted in any other specialty zones even with your summons in the window. Parking regulations are strictly enforced.

If you are traveling north on Hwy. 101, take the Bicentennial exit east. Turn right at the stop light onto Ventura Avenue. Follow Ventura for two blocks to the long term parking lot located on your left. Our office is located in the Hall of Justice which is one block west of the parking lot.

If you are traveling south on Hwy. 101, exit the freeway at Steele Lane and turn left. Follow Steele Lane to the second stop light and turn left onto County Center Drive. Follow County Center Drive to the stop sign then turn left onto Administration Drive, proceed north to the Hall of Justice. Turn left on Ventura Avenue to the long term parking lot located on your right.

The Jury Assembly Room is located on the first floor of the Hall of Justice, in the enclosed hallway at the north east end of the building, Room 102-J.