Jury panels are selected for a "trial term," which is a two-week period, but the actual days of service vary. You could serve only a few days — or possibly longer. You could also be released without being seated on a jury. In some cases, juries are selected but released before a trial even begins.
Your presence in the jury panel is important regardless of the timeframe or whether you are ultimately selected for a case. The judicial system depends on the availability of qualified jurors. In many cases, the very presence of a jury panel prompts the parties to settle their disputes before the trial begins.
By mid-morning on your first day, the jury panel will be escorted to the courtroom, where the judge and courtroom deputy will begin the process of jury selection.
If you are serving in Montgomery, you will go through security and then gather in the jury assembly room, where you will receive an orientation to jury service and watch a video.
If you are serving in Dothan or Opelika, after going through security, you will be directed to the Clerk's Office or an assembly area.
During this assembly time, the Jury Administrator or clerk personnel will record your one-way mileage for reimbursement and provide a certificate of service for your employer, if needed.
Voir Dire — The Questioning Process
The selection process involves a questioning procedure called voir dire. The purpose of voir dire is not to intimidate or embarrass any juror, but to determine whether each person can provide a fair and impartial hearing for both sides of the case.
Questioning covers two main areas:
Both the judge and the attorneys will have an opportunity to ask the jury panel questions. Jurors will be given the opportunity to answer questions out loud or privately before the judge.
During voir dire, the judge may release some jurors from service altogether or release certain jurors from a particular case while keeping them in the panel for the judge's next case.
After voir dire, the attorneys work with the judge to finalize the jury. Each side is given a number of peremptory strikes — the ability to remove a juror for any reason. Attorneys may also request a strike for cause if they believe a juror cannot provide a fair hearing. These discussions happen outside the hearing of the jury panel, and jurors will not be informed of the reasons.
Being removed from a jury panel by a peremptory challenge is not a reflection of your ability or integrity. It is a standard and longstanding part of the process.
After Selection
When voir dire and jury selection are complete, the jurors will return to the courtroom. The judge will announce the names of those selected to serve on the jury and provide instructions about the case timeline.
If you are not selected, your two-week service period has ended and the judge will thank you for your participation.
If you are selected, the judge will give you instructions about when the trial begins. In some cases, opening statements will begin that same day; in others, you will be asked to return on a future date.
Questions? Contact the Jury Administrator.