1. How am I selected for the jury duty?
2. How long do I have to serve?
3. Do I get paid for my service?
4. Where do I park?
5. Is child care or elder care provided?
6. If I have a legitimate reason why I cannot serve on my assigned day for jury duty or if I have a health issue, what should I do?
7. What am I allowed to do while I wait to be selected for jury duty? Can I bring my lunch?
8. Exactly what are the legal excuses from jury service?
9. What information about me will be given to the litigants who are picking the jury?
10. What is the difference between a grand juror and a traverse (trial) juror?

    You are selected from a list of registered voters and licensed drivers. Jurors are selected on a random basis.  You cannot serve on a jury in Bibb County if you are not a resident of Bibb County, have been convicted of a felony, or have a matter currently pending in the Bibb County Courts.

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      Most trials last two or three days; however some trials may take longer. The trial day usually ends between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. but on rare occasions could go later. If so, you may request to call your family to notify them. You are seldom asked to serve on more than one trial in a week, unless we have a particularly busy week. Normally, your service is only for one week (Monday through Friday) at the most.
    You are always given an opportunity to let the Court know about any appointments, family obligations and other concerns you may have during the orientation process. In the rare event that your trial is expected to last longer than one week, you will be notified so that you can let the Court know about appointments during the time period in question.

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    In Bibb County, you are paid $20 for the first day and $25 for each subsequent day of service. You will be given a single check at the end of your service.
    If required by your employer, you will also be given a certificate showing the days you served. We have the special certificate required by the Post Office.
    If you are dismissed by telephone, you will automatically be sent a certificate along with your check.

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    You may park on Mulberry Street, or in any of the nearby parking structures. If you receive an overtime parking ticket for parking on the street, we can have the ticket taken care of on Monday. After Monday, you will need to park in any of the nearby parking structures or in the limited number of public parking spaces behind Mulberry United Methodist Church. (Mulberry Methodist spaces require exact change ($2.00) to be placed in a numbered slot corresponding to your parking space.)
    We do not validate parking, but your jury check is for the purpose of paying for parking, transportation and meals. OCGA 15-12-7.

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   No child or elder care is provided. However, you may call ahead and request to be excused if you normally stay with a child under six years of age or younger during the day, or if you home-school your children. (This does not include professional day care workers.) If you have other care concerns, you may mention them at the appropriate time during jury orientation.

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    You may call the office of the Superior Court Clerk at 478-621-6527 and request a one-time "carry-over" to a later date. You will also be given an opportunity to let us know about any problems and urgent appointments you may have during the orientation on your first day of service. If you are ill, you may have your doctor fax an excuse to Leslie Posey at 478-621-6033. Please make sure the doctor mentions the date of your jury service on the excuse.

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    You will receive an orientation in the Jury Assembly Room on the Fourth Floor of the Bibb County Courthouse. You may relax in this room at any time when you are not actively involved in the jury selection process.
    You may bring your lunch with you; however, you will be excused from the Jury Assembly Room at lunch time and may leave the building to obtain lunch at one of the many restaurants located in the downtown area. There is also a small Snack Bar on the first floor of the Courthouse, serving wrapped sandwiches, microwaveable pizza, hot dogs, ice cream treats, drinks and other items.
    Bathroom facilities and various food machines are available in the Jury Assembly Room for your use. The Bibb County Courthouse is a non-smoking building. You may smoke outside the building next to the steps on Second Street, and around the corner on Mulberry Street, where benches have been provided.
    There is a small collection of magazines available in the Jury Assembly Room, but it is suggested that you bring the reading material of your choice for your use during "down time."
Note: Certain Judges have asked that you NOT bring newspapers to read while serving as a juror.

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    1. Over 70 years of Age. For Bibb County residents that are over the age of 70, jury service is optional.
    2. Full time Student. You may be excused if you are carrying 12 or more academic units (hours) during the day and your school is in session during the jury week.
    3. Child Six or Under. You may be excused if you normally stay home during the day to care for a child who is six years of age or younger. (Day care workers are not included.)
    4. Written Doctor's Excuse. You may be excused if you bring with you or fax ahead of time a written excuse stating your name, the date you are called for, and the nature of your illness or disability.
    5. Active Military Duty. You may be excused if you are currently on active military duty.
    6. Home Schooling. You may be excused if you home school your children.
    7. What if none of these apply to me?  You will be given an opportunity during the orientation process to state any other appointments or concerns you may have about your jury service.

     When jury selection begins, the litigants are told your name, your occupation, your marital status, your spouse's occupation, and the area where you live. At jury selection, additional questions are asked to determine if you can be fair to both sides if you are selected to serve on the jury.

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