Every two years a master jury list is prepared by a Jury Commission composed of three private citizens. The list is prepared by systematically taking the names of voter registrations and driver's license rosters of Chatham County residents and is designed to avoid favoritism and discrimination. This means that a prospective juror may be called if that person's name appears on either list. All County residents are eligible for jury service except those who have served on a jury within the last two years, who are under 18 years of age, or have been convicted of a felony, and such service may be as a trial juror or as a member of the grand jury. Prospective jurors are summoned for a specific day of the week and, if selected to serve on a jury, will serve for that day or for the duration of that trial, whichever is longer.
Jurors can serve on more than one jury trial.
For example, if a person is selected on a jury trial on their first day of service and the trial is completed early in the morning that person will be eligible for selection to another jury trial. Anyone not selected, or not in the process of selection, will be excused at the end of the day. It is mandatory that a prospective juror provide the Jury Clerk with his or her current address and Social Security number in order that the jury service payment may be processed. That person will suffer an extreme financial burden if required to serve That person is unable to comprehend or communicate in English That person lacks child care for pre-school aged children and is not able to obtain someone else take care of them. Requests to be excused from jury service should be clearly explained, and medical records or a doctor's statement may be attached when appropriate.