How long will I serve?

• Petit Jury - You will be "on call" for 2 months. You are instructed to call the automated jury line after 5:00 p.m. beginning the Friday before the date on your summons to receive your reporting instructions. Most trials are 3 to 5 days in duration, and most jurors serve an average of 5 days. If you are not selected on a case the day you report, you will be given further instructions regarding your call-in status. Court sessions usually run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but the lengths of court sessions do vary, and so do the lengths of trials.
• Grand Jury - The Grand Jury term of service is 12 months unless, in the rare instance, the court finds that an extension would be in the "public interest." Our Grand Jury meets every month for an average of 3 to 4 days.

How many days do the trials last?

Jury trials can last anywhere from less than one day to many weeks in length. The majority of our trials in the Northern District of Oklahoma last 3 to 5 days. If you are subject to a lengthy trial, you will have an opportunity to advise the court that a long trial would be a problem for you.

How many hours a day will I be at the courthouse?

On the first day of jury service you will usually be asked to report by 8:00 a.m. for an orientation before going to the courtroom for a jury selection. If you are not chosen to serve, you will be dismissed. If you ARE chosen to serve, you will probably begin trial that same day. Normal trial hours run from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with time for lunch and breaks. While serving, the number of hours may vary each day. The trial judge will advise you when to leave and report back each day.

Will I ever serve late into the evening?

Sometimes trials will run into the evening hours. If that happens, you will have ample time to make any necessary arrangements and advise your family. Sequestration is always a possibility; however, you will be informed of that possibility on the day of selection.