Jury Duty

Jurors are called upon to try two types of cases - civil and criminal. A juror will not know which type of case they will be serving on and it may change from one day to the next.

Civil Versus Criminal Cases

Civil cases are usually disputes between two or more parties concerning monies, damages for injuries, or property. Criminal cases are filed in the name of the State of Mississippi on an indictment returned by the Grand Jury charging that person, or persons, called defendants, committed the particular crime. Because crime is a violation of the laws of the state there are laws which provide specific punishment for the guilty.

Call for Jury Duty

Once you are called upon to serve, you must call the night before (after 5 pm) you are summoned to court and each night thereafter. The Clerk's Office also updates the status of a current jury online.

  • Circuit Court Jury Duty: 662-469-8369
  • County Court Jury Duty: 662-469-8345

Qualifications

To be a juror, you must meet the following qualifications:

  • 21 years of age or older
  • Can read and write
  • Not a convicted felon, habitual drunkard, or common gambler
  • Has not been convicted of the illegal sale of (or does not have interest in) alcoholic beverages in the last five years
  • Does not have a case pending in this court

Prospective Jurors

Prospective jurors names are drawn at random, by lot or chance, from a jury wheel. Therefore, an individual may never be called to serve and others may be called several times. All citizens are obligated to take part in seeing that justice is done and our form of government "by the people" is to endure.

A juror is paid a nominal fee by a pay warrant for their services. The circuit clerk keeps a daily record of the jurors who serve. In regards to excuses from Jury Service, only legal excuses provided by law should be presented. In general, these include:

  • Illness, or presence required at home
  • Personal hardship
  • Emergency
  • Served on jury duty (on actual trial of a case) in this court in the last two years
  • Older than 65 and you desire to claim this personal exemption