Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find information that might help you understand how to find things or learn about information you might need to know about your city or town.
Jury Commission
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Jury Commission
Individuals must have all the following qualifications to serve as a Lake County, Illinois juror:
- US Citizen
- Lake County, Illinois Resident
- 18 Years of Age or Older
- Understand the English Language
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Jury Commission
In Lake County, jurors are selected from lists of licensed drivers (at least 18 years of age) and registered voters. These are combined into a single juror database. For each week of jury service, the computer system randomly selects names to provide jurors for the Courts.
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Under the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution, a jury may not be selected in a manner whereby there is a systematic exclusion of any distinct class of persons in the population, or from lists which fail to reflect a representative cross section of the community or under any other prejudicial circumstance that denies a defendant a fair trial by an impartial jury. In order to uphold this, we need those summoned to participate in the jury process to ensure every citizen’s right to have their case decided by an impartial jury selected from a representative pool of prospective jurors.Jury Commission
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Illinois requires a jury trial in all criminal cases including ordinance violations. Juveniles are entitled to a jury trial only under the Habitual Juvenile Offender Act. Generally, in civil cases, claimants seeking monetary damages have the constitutional right to a trial by jury, while those seeking other forms of relief do not, unless provided for by statute. All parties are equal before the law and each is given the same fair and impartial treatment.Jury Commission
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Your duty as a juror is to weigh all of the evidence and testimony presented to you and to decide the outcome of the case based upon the law and the evidence. Your decision must be fair, impartial and free of any bias or prejudice. Jury service is the basis of our judicial system and is essential to the administration of justice.Jury Commission
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Petit jurors in Lake County serve for 1 week, unless a trial to which you are assigned runs longer. During your week of service, when not actually on a trial, you will be on telephone alert. This allows you to go about your daily business until needed. If you have been selected as a Grand Juror, your term of service will be 1 day a week for a 4-month period.Jury Commission
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Jury Commission
The Illinois General Assembly and the Lake County Board have established a per diem reimbursement for jury service. This reimbursement is not intended to replace daily wages. Rather, it's a token of the Court's appreciation and should cover your mileage and daily expenses during jury service. Debit cards will be distributed to jurors upon check-in.
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Jury Commission
Should a juror become ill while serving as a juror or an emergency arises, the juror should inform the Jury Assembly Room staff, or the judge if the juror is sitting on a trial. When the situation is explained, every effort will be made to find a solution. The juror may be excused or deferred to another date.
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Jury Commission
A petit, or trial jury, is generally 12 people sworn to try a criminal or civil case, hearing evidence and rendering a verdict. In some cases, additional jurors can be chosen as alternates. Some types of cases may use a jury of 6 people. A grand jury, so named because it is comprised of a greater number of people (16) than a petit jury, is sworn to hear evidence presented by the prosecution and determines if probable cause exists that a crime has been committed.
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Jury Commission
When a juror is summoned, they become a part of the judicial process of this state. The services of a juror are as important as those of the judge. Jurors are obligated to perform these services honestly and conscientiously without fear or favor. The jurors must base their verdict on the evidence as they will hear it in court and on the law as the judge instructs them. The entire group of jurors will be asked to rise and swear or affirm to answer truthfully all questions asked of them concerning their qualifications to act as a juror in the case. A prospective juror is questioned. The answers to these questions enable the Court and the lawyers to decide which jurors to select. It may seem that some of the questions are personal, but it is not the intent that any question should embarrass or reflect upon a juror in anyway. Each juror may be asked whether he or she has a personal interest in the outcome of the case, has preconceived opinions about it, or is prejudiced in any way. The law permits each attorney to excuse a certain number of jurors without giving reasons. This should not offend the juror, if they are excused from sitting on the jury.
The jury is composed of fair and impartial persons who will listen attentively and decide the case only upon the evidence and instructions of the Court. After the jury has been selected, the jurors will be asked to rise and swear or affirm to well and truly try the matters at issue and render a true verdict according to the law and the evidence. It is the duty of the juror to listen to the judge, witnesses and lawyers, to deliberate calmly and fairly, and to decide intelligently and justly. All of the evidence available to allow jurors to make a decision will be disclosed during the trial.
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Persons with a prior felony conviction are not barred from jury service per se, however, juror qualifications include that jurors be of fair character and of approved integrity.Jury Commission
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Jury Commission
Jurors should appear dressed in a manner that is respectful of the Court. Uniforms, shorts, and improper clothing are not acceptable.
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Jury Commission
No. Childcare is unavailable.
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Jury Commission
Requests should be made to the Jury Commission no later than seven days prior to your scheduled week of jury service. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Court may provide an assistive listening device, interpreter or real-time captioning for the deaf. Written requests may be submitted to jury@lakecountyil.gov.
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Jury Commission
Upon request, Jury Commission staff will provide a certificate of service at the end of jury service.
Additionally, jurors may find a certificate of service on the Jury Web Solutions Portal at www.19thcircuitcourt.state.il.us/juror.
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Jury Commission
Jurors are issued a debit card upon check-in. Jurors will be notified electronically when funds are available on their debit cards. Further information regarding juror debit cards can be found in the brochure distributed with the debit card and online at www.courtfunds.com.
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Phone the Jury Commission 847-377-4600 to report an unforeseeable emergency. Our staff will connect you to the appropriate courtroom.Jury Commission
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Requests to be excused from jury service or for a different date to be assigned will be considered on an individual basis by the Jury Commissioners. Under Illinois law, jurors must meet certain qualifications. These qualifications include: - Being a Lake County, Illinois resident - 18 years of age or more - Able to understand the English language - A citizen of the United States Written verification of medical excuses, proof of non-citizenship, and non-residency will be required. If you are a party in a case pending in Lake County, you will be required to provide the case number. If you provide false reasons to avoid jury service, you may be found in contempt of court, a crime punishable by fine or imprisonment.Jury Commission
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View the regulations in place for jury systems on theJury Commission
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Jury Commission
If your juror debit card has been lost or stolen, please contact Court Funds at 877-287-2448 or visit their website: www.courtfunds.com.
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Jury Commission
The BACK of the Jury Summons includes important information regarding Reporting Instructions and Parking Information.
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Jury Commission
The Lake County Jury Commission does not contact individuals by phone regarding missed jury service. If you have received a phone call of any kind of penalty regarding jury service, please report it to your local law enforcement agency.