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Juror Resources

Juror Orientation

jurors in a courtroomOn the first day of your jury term, we will conduct new juror orientation. Please view the Jury Schedule on this website OR call 541-883-5503, option 1 and listen to the message for when to report.  During this orientation, you will have the opportunity to learn about jury duty in general and in Klamath County.   Orientation is mandatory and will approximately 1 hour.

The right to a jury trial in certain cases is guaranteed in our constitution. A person who is entitled to a jury trial is entitled to a jury that represents the full community. It is important that a fair cross-section of community be represented on the jury to prevent discrimination, including discrimination based on race, religion, sex, national origin, age or economic status. Your service as a juror is one of the most important things you will do in participating in our system of government and ensuring justice in our community.  We hope to make your experience as rewarding as possible. And we thank you for your willingness to take the time to serve your community.

 Trial Jurors

Most jurors serve on jury trials. Jury trials are held for criminal and civil cases.  Most jury trials last one or two days, but occasionally take longer. The Court makes every effort to effectively use juror's time and only call jurors to report for service when trials are scheduled to begin the following day. Once a juror has served as instructed by the court, the juror's obligation is complete for a two-year period.

 Grand Jurors

Some jurors are selected to serve on a Grand Jury. Grand Jurors listen to evidence and testimony of witnesses presented by the District Attorney and determine whether someone should be charged with a crime.  If you are selected to serve for Grand Jury, the term is for two months.

FAQs

The length of your jury duty term is one month. Within your one month term you generally will not have to serve more than 10 days. If you are a juror on a trial that will last longer than your 10 days of service and/or past your one month, you must continue service for the duration of that trial. In all other instances, your service will end at the close of the last business day for which you were summoned.​

If you were called for Grand Jury, the term of service is two months. 

Procedures

  • Respond to the court as instructed on your summons
  • Attend Grand Jury orientation, which is generally held on the first Friday of your term and may last one to two hours
  • Jurors not selected for Grand Jury will be moved into the regular jury pool for that month

Scheduling Days Off

If selected for Grand Jury any requests to be excused for a day must be made through the District Attorney’s office. In an emergency, call the District Attorney's office at 541-851-3611​.

Duration of Service

The length of Grand Jury duty will be 60 days and jurors will generally be asked to attend twice a week. Once the Grand Jury is selected the District Attorney facilitates and will be able to answer any questions about scheduling and procedures.​

Generally jury trials in Klamath County begin on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, but on some occasions they can be scheduled to begin on any day. Check in with the court every day after 5:00 p.m. to ensure you have the most current information of your Jury term to see if your Juror number has been called for a trial starting the next day. This can be done by accessing the Jury Schedule webpage. You will receive instructions on when and where to report. Please review the message carefully and report to the Jury Coordinator as instructed.​

Your 10-digit Juror ID number is located on the front of the Juror Summons postcard sent to you in the mail. This is NOT the same as your 5-digit Juror No.

Your Juror ID number is located underneath the barcode on the front side and under Step 1 Respond to Summons on the back side. You will need your Juror ID number for completing the Online Response Questionnaire, and following submission of your Online Response Questionnaire, you can request to be Deferred to another date, or submit your request for a Qualifying Excusal.

If you are unable to complete the questionnaire online call, contact the Jury Coordinator at 541-883-5503​ Option 2.

​Your 5-digit Juror No. is located on the front of your jury summons postcard underneath your Juror ID number and under Step 2 on the back side in the shaded box on the bottom right where you will find your Start Date, Term of Service, Juror No. and Reporting Location.

You will need your Juror No. when checking our website or calling in after 5:00 PM the evening before each of the days you are scheduled to appear to ensure that you have the most current reporting information.  ​​

​Court rules require anyone in court to dress and act with respect. This includes court staff, attorneys, parties to a case, jurors, witnesses and the public. The Court can remove people from the courtroom who do not dress or act with respect. You don't need to bring anything with you, but please know your juror number.

You are welcome to bring a book, magazine, laptop computer, cell phone, etc. Wireless internet is available in the jury assembly room.

​Items such as knives, chemical sprays, knitting needles, recording devices and cameras are not allowed inside the courthouse. 

​The Klamath County Sheriff's Office provides security at the Klamath ​County Circuit Court. Security equipment in use at building entrances includes magnetometers (walk-through metal detectors), x-ray scanners, and handheld metal detectors. If you have a pacemaker, tell the court security officer about it before you enter the metal detector.

The main objective of court security is to maintain a safe and secure environment for everyone in the building. Everyone's cooperation is needed in order to achieve this very important goal. Weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited and will be confiscated. A variety of items are prohibited because they are hazardous or could be used as potential weapons. 

Court security will not hold unauthorized items for return later. Any prohibited item that is brought to the court will be taken from you and permanently destroyed.​​

Prospective jurors may be allowed to have jury duty deferred one time, to start no later than one year from the date of the original jury duty. If you would like to defer jury duty and commit to serving within one year, indicate your preferred new date on the response card or in a letter.

A Judge, the Trial Court Administrator or the Jury Coordinator may excuse a person from jury duty for reasons listed in Oregon law (statutory excusal) or for other documented reasons, if good cause is shown.

Statutory Reasons for Excusal from Jury Duty:

  • Over 70 year of age when service begins and you wish to be excused, check the appropriate box on the response card, sign and return the card. You may serve if you wish by following the procedures to respond and appear for Jury Duty.
  • Breast Feeding A Child; if you are a woman breast-feeding a child on the date jury duty begins and you wish to be excused, check the appropriate box on the response card, sign and return the card. You may serve if you wish by following the procedures to respond and appear for Jury Duty.
  • Not a Klamath County Resident; if you do not reside in Klamath County (based on DMV and/or voter records) you must contact the Jury Coordinator with your new address by email or on your Juror Eligibility Response card.

Other Reasons You May Request Excusal – Non-Statutory

In its discretion, the circuit court may excuse you from serving jury duty for non-statutory reasons. If you ask to be excused in writing the court may ask for additional documentation to support your request such as a letter from a physician or your employer. The Judge will weigh the basis for your excuse against the public’s need for jurors. The court may deny a request for excuse and require you to serve.

The deadline for written requests to be excused or to delay jury duty is one week before your service begins.​

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​If you are unable to report on the day stated on your summons, you may ask that service be deferred. You may only defer jury duty for up to one year. This request should be made within ten days of when you receive your summons.   You will be notified only if your request to be excused or deferred is denied.​​

​​Oregon law provides that your employer may not discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate or coerce you by reason of your service as a juror. Please report any such problems to the court, which has jurisdiction to prevent or restrain any such violations. However, your employer's policies or agreements with you regarding payment of wages during times of jury service are not affected by the Oregon law.​​

​​The Court has the power to order that you appear in Court and explain why you were unable to report for jury service. Citizens who don't appear for jury service may be punished for contempt.​​

​Let the Jury Coordinator or Courtroom Clerk know if your employer requires verification of your jury service.  Each day you report, we will have a verification form available for you.​​

​​Juror per diem is established by the legislature at $10.00 per day for the first two days and $25.00 per day for each day thereafter.  Round trip mileage reimbursement is $0.20/mile for the vehicle mileage traveled between your home and the courthouse.  Additional information regarding jury pay will be provided when you report for jury duty.

Unless otherwise provided by the terms of an employment agreement, a juror must waive the juror's fee provided if the juror is paid a wage or salary by the juror's employer for the days that the juror is required to attend a court. The provisions of this subsection do not affect any claim a juror may have for mileage reimbursement.​

​Free parking is provided at the Klamath County Courthouse in the County lot across Klamath Avenue from the library.  Please refer to green areas on the map​ for other parking available with your jury permit. The parking permit provided on your jury summons is for on-street and lot parking.

Anyone receiving a Jury Summons needing a special accommodation for health or disability should ​contact the Jury Coordinator no later than ten days prior to the date of service.​

​Email: KLA-Jury@ojd.state.or.us.​ (preferred method)
Phone: 541-883-5503, option 2
Fax: 541-882-6109​

​Email: KLA-Jury@ojd.state.or.us.​ (preferred method)
Phone: 541-883-5503, option 2
Fax: 541-882-6109

Grand Jury
Phone: 541-851-3611

  • DO NOT provide the requested information or payment.
  • DO NOT reply directly to the text or email, click on any links, or open any attachments, even if it appears that the message is coming from the court or a local police agency. Scammers often create messages that look like they are coming from a legitimate source.
  • If possible, get the caller’s name and number and then hang up.
  • Reach out directly to your local circuit court jury coordinator to verify or report the contact. Contact information for the state circuit courts is available at courts.oregon.gov/courts. For Oregon’s federal courts, information about jury service and possible scams is available at ord.uscourts.gov/jurors.​

If you have received one of these calls, emails, or texts and have given out personal information, monitor your account statements and credit reports carefully. If any unauthorized charges are made, report the theft to local law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission at 877-438-4338 or www.consumer.gov/idtheft. Also, contact a credit bureau to request that it place a fraud alert on your credit history.​​

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