Q: I received a jury summons in the mail. What do I do?

A: Please take the time to read the summons. A common mistake many people make is simply not reading through the summons. Much time and preparation went into the design of our summons. Some of your initial questions and concerns will be easily addressed through the information contained in the jury summons itself. If after reading through the summons and/or our website and you still have questions or concerns, please contact the jury office at 419-213-4740. We will be glad to assist you in any way we can.

Q: I received a jury summons for Lucas County and I no longer live in Lucas County. What do I do?

A: To be eligible to serve in Lucas County, You must reside in Lucas County. If you have moved from Lucas County, please fill out the appropriate section of your jury summons. Once you have filled it out, mail the excuse form back to the Jury Commission. In the meantime, you may want to contact the Board of Elections to make sure they know you have moved outside the county. You can reach the Board of Elections at (419)213-4001. Otherwise, you could continue to be called for service in Lucas County.

Q: What is your fax number or your e-mail address?

A: The fax number is: 419-213-4151
The e-mail address is: Jury Commission Email link
The mailing address is: Jury Office, 700 Adams St., Toledo, OH 43604

Q: I have an excuse, can I just call and give the jury office the information?

A: No. All requests for an excuse must be in writing. You may mail, fax or e-mail your request. A return envelope is not provided.

Q: I recently served as a juror. I received another summons, do I have to serve again?

A: Yes. You can be called, by this Court, once per jury year. A jury year runs from September through August.

Q: I've been called several times for jury duty and yet I know a lot of people who have never been called. Why?

A: The drawing of prospective jurors each jury year is a completely random process. There really isn't a good explanation of why some people are called more than once when others haven't been called at all. You may be interested to know that 90% of the people who report for jury duty have never served before.

Q: I meet the eligibility requirements for serving as a juror but am I really "qualified" to serve?

A: You do not need any special skills, training, or legal knowledge to be a juror. You do need to be able to listen carefully, follow instructions, keep an open mind, and be willing to make a decision free from personal feelings or biases. As a juror, you will be responsible for impartially evaluating all the facts that are presented to you during the trial and, as the judge instructs, apply the law as it is written to the facts of the case.

Q: I am scheduled for a Monday/Tuesday. When do I call the recording?

A: You should call the recording Sunday evening after 5:00 pm for your Monday instructions, and Monday evening after 5:00 pm for your Tuesday instructions.

Q: What do I need to submit to demonstrate a financial hardship?

A: To demonstrate hardship, please include the following: A letter from employer stating you will not be paid while on jury service; A letter from yourself explaining why jury service is a hardship; A copy of a recent pay stub; and a list of monthly outgoing expenses (do not need copies actual bills)

Q: I am a college student, does that excuse me from jury service?

A: No. However, you may change your jury service dates to better accommodate your schedule.

Q: I am a stay-at-home parent, and do not have child care, what should I do?

A: Send an e-mail or fill out & mail your excuse form stating that you are a stay-at-home parent and the ages of your children.

Q. I require accommodations for a disability, what do I need to do?

A. Hearing impaired jurors are encouraged to participate. Interpreters will be provided at the Court's expense and may be requested by calling the Jury Commission at least one week before your service. In addition, the Court offers a wireless amplification system that can assist those with hearing aids. If you need another type of assistance, please contact the Jury Commission at least one week in advance of your service. The phone number is (419)213-4740.

Q: I have transportation issues, what should I do?

A: Public transportation is available throughout much of Lucas County. Please call TARTA at 419-243-RIDE for more information.

Q: Do I have to respond to the jury summons?

A: Yes. Your jury summons is an official court order. If anyone fails to report for jury duty without a lawful excuse from the court, they may be brought before the court for possible contempt of court proceedings. If found in contempt by the judge, the court may impose a fine and/or other punishment as provided by Ohio law. Without jurors, the jury system cannot work the way the authors of the Constitution of the United States wanted it to. We realize the sacrifice that we are asking you to make. We also understand that you may be apprehensive about being called to serve. However, the overwhelming majority of people who serve find the experience to be highly rewarding. When asked, most people say they wouldn't mind doing it again sometime in the future.

Q: Can I bring a laptop or e-reader with me?

A: Yes. Electronic devices are permissible, however, the jury assembly room is not equipped with Wi-Fi

Q: Can I volunteer for jury service or send someone in my place if I am unable to serve?

A: No. State law and local rules require that all prospective jurors be selected at random from the source list that is used.