Scott T. Gusweiler, Judge
General Division
101 South Main Street
Georgetown, Ohio 45121
Phone (937) 378-4101 Fax (937) 378-4212
Can I volunteer for jury service or send someone in my place if I am unable to serve?
State Law and Local Rules require that all prospective jurors be selected AT RANDOM from the source list that is used.
I received a jury summons for the previous resident of my home. What should I do?
You should treat the summons as you would any other piece of mail that does not belong to you. Simply write “NOT AT THIS ADDRESS – RETURN TO SENDER” on the outside of the summons and put it back in the mail. We will process it as an undelivered summons.
I’ve been called several times for jury duty and yet I know a lot of people who have never been called. Why?
The drawing of prospective jurors each 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.
I got a jury summons for a deceased family member. What should I do?
We apologize for any undue hardship this has caused. Please mark the outside of the summons “DECEASED” and return it to our office. We will be sure to take the name out of our system. You should also contact the Board of Elections to make sure they have been notified that the family member is deceased. Otherwise, the name will remain on their records, allowing us to have access to it each year when new jurors are pulled.
What kinds of cases will I be involved in?
The GENERAL DIVISION of the Common Pleas Court hears cases that are criminal and civil in nature. Criminal cases in the Court of Common Pleas are on a felony level and punishable by a sentence of six (6) months or more in a state penal institution. Civil cases filed in this Court involve civil disputes exclusive of probate or family law matters. Examples of civil cases include personal injury claims, medical malpractice, and contract disputes.
I meet the eligibility requirements for servicing as a juror but am I really“qualified” to serve?
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 as the jurors collectively determine them to be.
How did my name get selected for jury duty?
Your name was obtained from the list of registered voters in Brown County, which was provided by the Board of Elections. The drawing of prospective jurors is performed according to statutory guidelines, which assure a random selection of a fair cross section of the community. Being a registered voter is NOT a pre-requisite to serving. Your voting record (how you voted or voting frequency) has nothing to do with your ability to be selected. It is only the source list that is used to obtain jurors’ names.
Will my family be able to contact me at the courthouse in the event of an emergency?
Absolutely. Our number here is (937) 378-4101. You may leave this number with family, school, childcare providers, etc., in the event that an emergency should arise during your service. If in the Jury Room, you will be paged to take your call at the front desk. If you are in trial, we will get a message to you in the courtroom, in the event of an emergency only. All messages that are NOT of an urgent nature will be given to you when you recess for a break or lunch.
I got a jury summons for Brown County and I no longer live in Brown County. What do I do?
To be eligible to serve in Brown County, you must reside in Brown County. If you have moved from Brown County, please call the Jury Commissioner at (937) 378-3233. You may want to contact the Board of Elections to make sure they know that you have moved outside the county. Otherwise, you could continue to be called for service in Brown County.
What hours will I serve?
Normal business hours for the Court are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you are in the jury pool, your report time will be 8:45 a.m., and you will need to remain in the Jury Room until released by the Bailiff. You will be released for lunch. Release times each day will vary, but usually fall approximately between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. If you are seated as a sworn juror, the Judge will tell you what time to report each day.
What if my employer requires me to turn in a statement that verifies my attendance to jury duty?
Work Verifications/Proof of Service Reports will be provided for you at the completion of your service. We do not keep track of the actual hours you spend in Court, only the number of days that you report. Your employment is protected by law while you are serving as a juror. If you have any problems with your employer in connection with your jury service, please notify the Jury Commission immediately.
Is it possible that I might report for jury duty but never get to sit on a Jury?
Unfortunately yes. Although there is a slight chance that you will never get called for a case, there is a possibility that you will not be seated as a sworn juror. It is our hope that every juror will at least have the opportunity to go through the jury selection process. Also, you may experience a situation where you are called to sit as a prospective juror and the case resolves just moments before the trial begins. If this should happen to you, please do not feel as if your time has been wasted. Your presence alone encourages resolution.
What happens when I report for jury duty?
When you arrive at the Court, the clerk will check your card with his list to verify your jury number and ask you to take a seat in the courtroom. When all the jurors have been checked in, the Judge will welcome the new jury pool to their service and go over areas of concern. After orientation, we will hopefully be assigning new jurors to courtroom service.
I got a jury summons in the mail. What do I do?
First, don’t panic. Second, please take the time to READ IT!! A common mistake many people make is simply not reading through the summons. It will explain your report date, when and where to report, dress code, contact phone numbers and information about this website. If after reading through the summons and/or our website and you still have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call us at (937) 378-4101. We will be glad to assist you in any way we can.
Do I have to respond to the jury summons?
To answer your question directly, 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. Indirectly, let us say this, 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 to do it again sometime in the future. Jury duty for most people will mean a substantial, though temporary, change to your everyday life, rearranging schedules and missing work. But if you were ever involved in a dispute or charged with a criminal offense, wouldn’t you want someone just like you to make those same sacrifices in order to be a part of your Jury?