PWC - Jury Duty

Location: Judicial Center, Jury Assembly Room (to the right of the elevators when exiting on the third floor), 9311 Lee Avenue, Manassas, Virginia 20110
Juror Parking

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays

Phone: 703-792-6047 E-mail: courts@pwcgov.org

Jury Duty Information Line: 703-792-6032

The Circuit Court Clerk's Office Court Administration Jury Section works with Juries.

Beware Jury Duty Scam

The Jury Duty Scam has been posted on the FBI, U.S. Courts and Prince William County Police Web sites. It is not our practice to ask you personal information such as your Social Security number, date of birth or credit card numbers over the phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is entitled to a Jury Trial?
Generally, any person charged with a criminal offense and many parties to a civil case have a right to a jury trial. All parties are equal before the law and each is entitled to the same fair treatment.

Who is qualified to serve on Jury Duty?
Jurors must:

•	Be at least eighteen (18) years of age;
•	Be a United States Citizen;
•	Be a resident of the County of Prince William or Cities of Manassas or Manassas Park for at least six months;
•	Be a resident of Virginia for one year;
•	Never have been convicted of a felony, unless the juror’s civil rights have been restored;
•	Be able to communicate in the English language; and
•	Not be currently adjudicated mentally incompetent or insane.

How are Jurors selected?

•	Once a year, approximately 12,500 prospective jurors are randomly selected from the Voter Registration Lists of the County of Prince William and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park to receive a jury questionnaire. When these questionnaires are returned to the Clerk's Office, they are reviewed by jury commissioners (who have been appointed by the Court) to determine which citizens are qualified to serve as jurors. Those who qualify make up the master jury list for the following calendar year. Men and women over 18 years of age and from all walks of life have an equal opportunity to be called for jury service.
•	Questionnaires are sent to perspective jurors in August.
•	Selections are made in the month of September for the following year. Jurors are summoned each month to serve for a month.
•	Randomly selected prospective jurors receive a JURY SUMMONS in the mail approximately four weeks prior to their jury service date. Upon receipt of the summons, the juror should read carefully the front and back of the summons.
•	Be sure to read BOTH sides of the summons, even if you think you are not eligible to serve as a juror or would like to be postponed or excused. If after reading ALL of the information and instructions on the summons you still have questions, call the Jury Management Section at 703-792-6047.

After I return my questionnaire, will I be contacted by the Court?
You will only be contacted by the Court after returning your questionnaire if you have asked to be excused or reported special circumstances. If you had no special circumstances and did not ask to be excused, you will not be contacted by the Court.

Am I required to report for jury duty?
Failure to respond to a summons for jury duty is a violation of law and may result in criminal sanctions. If you have questions, contact the Jury Manager at 703-792-6047.

Who is exempt from jury service?
Only a limited number of persons are ineligible to serve as jurors. Virginia Code § 8.01-341 lists those persons who are exempt from jury service and Virginia Code § 8.01-341.1 lists persons who may claim an exemption from jury service.

How can someone be excused from Jury Service?

•	Requests to be excused from jury service are granted only by a Judge.
•	Your request must be in writing and received within five (5) business days of receipt of your summons. All correspondence must contain the juror’s identification number that appears below the barcode on the juror badge. You may mail (9311 Lee Avenue, Jury Management Division, Manassas, VA 20110) or fax (703-792-5346) your request.
•	Your request must clearly and specifically describe the hardship that jury service may cause you.
•	Failure to return the summons with the appropriate written request within the five (5) day time limit may automatically qualify you for service.
•	Status as a student is NOT valid reason to be excused. However, you may request to be postponed to a time during school breaks.
•	Excuses from jury service for such matters as “busy at the office” usually cannot be honored. If you have medical or other serious issues that make it difficult to serve at all, please write to: Judges of the Circuit Court, 9311 Lee Avenue, Manassas, VA 20110. You must include a telephone number where you can be reached or a message left during the day. One or two day excuses, such as for long scheduled doctor appointments are routinely granted during the term.

What about my job?
Your employer cannot fire, demote or otherwise penalize you for missing work while performing jury duty. Many employers continue to pay your salary while you are on jury duty. It is advisable to give your employer ample notice of your jury duty and to determine your employer's policy with regard to payment of wages/salary while serving as a juror to find out what the policy is at your job. (Virginia Code § 18.2-465.1) Prospective jurors, who are not paid by their employer when on jury duty, will NOT be excused. You may, however, request a postponement to a later time.

What if an unexpected emergency keeps me from coming to the courthouse?
It is very important that all jurors report each day and that they be on time. Your absence may delay a trial and result in hardship on the participants or cause unnecessary costs to be borne by the litigants. If you have an emergency (sudden illness or a death in the family), immediately call the Jury Manager at 703-792-6047.

Can Jurors change their Jury Service Report Date?

•	Yes. Please read the section on the back of the summons titled "Postponement of Jury Service." Then, fill out the postponement form at the bottom of the summons. Be sure to write your name and juror identification number on the form. You must mail or fax the completed form within five (5) business days of receipt of your summons.
•	Your request must clearly specify the reason you request a postponement, your available dates, your juror identification number, and your name as it appears on the summons. If possible, you will receive your new date and any other information that is pertinent to your jury service by e-mail.
•	The Jury Management Office will do its best to accommodate your request.

How do I know if I have to report the next day?
Jurors call the jury recording at 703-792-6032 the evening before their assigned day indicated on the summons to determine if they are needed the next day. On average, jurors will only be required to come in for jury duty two days out of the time period assigned.

How will I know what to expect during my jury service?
The morning that you arrive for jury duty you will be shown an orientation video that will explain your role as juror. In addition, the jury officer will take attendance and answer any questions you might have.

How long will I be on jury duty?
Jurors summoned for jury service are on call one day a week for one-month. Jurors are assigned a particular day of the week. Each week, jurors must call a recorded message the evening before their assigned day to determine whether or not they need to appear.

Once you have completed your one-month service, you are ineligible under state law to serve again for a period of three years. This applies only to state circuit courts. You may still be eligible for jury service in a federal court.

How are jurors selected for a particular trial?

Each day, jurors report to the Jury Assembly Room and their attendance is taken. When a judge is ready to begin the jury trial, the jurors needed for the case are selected from those persons in attendance for that day. The jurors’ names are called and the panel of jurors is escorted to the courtroom.

Once the jury panel reaches the designated courtroom, the jurors are questioned under the supervision of the judge. During this questioning, some jurors may be excused from the case. Once all of the questioning has been completed, each attorney in the case is allowed to remove a certain number of jurors from the panel. The trial jury will consist of the jurors remaining on the panel. Jurors not selected may return to the Jury Assembly room or may return to their vehicles. Their service will be complete.

Once all of the jury panels have been selected for the day, the remaining jurors, if any, in the assembly room will be excused and their service will be complete.

Is it possible that I might report for jury duty, but not actually sit on a jury?
There are times when you will report for jury duty only to be released early in the morning. When this happens it means the parties have reached a settlement or entered a plea, and the case will not be tried. We try to avoid having you come in when not needed, but if there is a last minute settlement or plea, you may be released without hearing a case. If this happens you are still reimbursed $30 for travel, and the defendant or parties will still bear the cost of a jury trial.

How long will I be in Court?
It is impossible to predict how long a trial will last. Most trials are completed in one day, but a few cases require two or more days to complete.

You will be given a lunch break and possibly a morning and/or afternoon break as well. If you find that you need a break at another time, please notify the bailiff (sheriff’s deputy).

Will I be reimbursed for serving on jury duty?
You will be paid $30 for each day you must report to the courthouse and do. This amount is set by statute and is considered reimbursement for your travel and other expenses. Approximately three weeks after the end of service, you will be mailed a check for jury duty.

Is there anything I can do to make my jury service more comfortable?
Yes. While efforts are made to reduce delay and avoid waiting time, you may have to sit for some time before you know whether you have been chosen to actually sit on a jury. You should bring a book, a crossword puzzle, or any other activity you can do quietly while waiting.

What may jurors wear to jury service?

•	Jurors should dress comfortably, but appropriately for a courthouse. Court proceedings are conducted with dignity and respect. Your dress should be suitable for the occasion. Please keep in mind that the temperature in courtrooms is sometimes cool, so please dress accordingly.
•	Unsuitable clothing include such items as: shorts, mini skirts, tank tops, halters, flip flops. Those items are NOT PERMITTED. If you report to jury service wearing inappropriate attire, you will be required to return home to change to more suitable attire or you will be given a new report date and will have to return on that date.

What about lunch?
You will be given time for lunch each day. A cafeteria is located on the lower level of the Judicial Center, which serves both hot and cold lunches. If you prefer you may bring your lunch, there is a refrigerator and microwave available for juror use.

Grand Jury
The Grand Jury determines whether the accused will be indicted and held for trial in Circuit Court. It meets the first Monday of each month at 8:45 a.m. When the first Monday falls on a holiday, the Grand Jury will meet on the first day following the holiday that the Court is open. To view the Circuit Court schedule, click here.

Links

•	Answer Book for Jury Service, Virginia Supreme Court
•	Handbook for Virginia Grand Jurors, Virginia Supreme Court
•	Glossary of Terms Commonly Used in Court, Supreme Court of Virginia

Please notify the Circuit Court Clerk's Office by e-mail if you find that any of the links on this page do not work.