Sumter County Jury Duty
 

Just returned from a day in the Jury pool and wanted to share a few facts about my experience.

1) No cell phones or electronic devices. They ask you to put them all back into your cars - including smart watches. Two gentlemen had their phones but were dropped off. In those cases they were given one of 12 lockers just inside security to place their devices. The lockers did not lock, but the building is secure.

2) Parking: There is a large parking lot -- plenty of parking.

3) Drinks. You cannot bring in any open drinks including a yeti with coffee. Sealed drinks (never opened) are allowed. There is bottled water for the jurors in the jury pool room -- as well as hot coffee.

4) Magazines and word puzzle books: These are also available in the jury pool room.

Other interesting tidbits:
- Jurors are selected by a random algorithm from anyone with a drivers license or a state identification card.
- Jury's in this courthouse start with 24 people from the pool and 6 are kept for the actual trial after interviews and questioning
- 70 years old or older can leave if they choose. i.e. Not required to stay after the initial roll call.
- There is no clock in the jury pool room. Suggest a standard watch if you have one.
- The staff -- and the Clerk herself -- may the experience as enjoyable as they could. My hat is off to them for doing a great job.

i HATE SERVICING JURY DUTY!
But i have to say the two gals running it made it fun and bearable and i didn't get picked thank God!

I would question your first tidbit. If you are not a registered voter, I doubt that you will ever be called.

I was called up a year or so ago, and was selected. Luckily, it was a quick trial. I agree with the staff and accommodations.

I let my voter registration lapse for a couple of decades and was called for jury duty three times during those 20 years. In Florida, the pool comes from a variety of sources -including- voter registration lists, but not exclusively. The selection is randomized so there's a chance that a juror won't be a registered voter, but will have a valid drivers license.

The first time I got a notice to appear I called the 800 number on the notice as instructed, the night before, and my name was on the list. So I didn't have to appear. The second time, I showed up, they explained everything to us, and then they left, and an hour later they sent us all home; the two parties came to a plea deal.

The third time, they asked if any of us were legally disabled. I'm not. But at the time, I was hard of hearing and had hearing aids that kept clogging up with wax and I was constantly taking them out to clean them so I just stopped wearing them completely. I told the guy in the waiting room that my hearing might be a problem, but was not a "legal disability." He said he'd pass word to the judge. He never did.

Six hours later we finally filed into the courtroom for the judge to tell us about the case and for us to meet the lawyers and defendant. The defendant had a thick heavy accent, I could barely understand a word he said. The judge said I'm entitled to an interpreter or a TTDY device, I told her I don't know sign language and don't know how to use a TTDY device, besides I'm not deaf, I just have trouble understanding foreign accents mumbled into a microphone when I'm too far away to read their lips.

So she sent me home. Biggest waste of a day I've ever had and what's worse, because it was only one day, I didn't get paid and my boss wasn't required to pay me.

Good information. Can't believe no phone in the jury pool room

I would love to serve on a jury. Retired and would find it interesting. Only problem is that I believe in Capital punishment even for illegal parking.

Letting your voter registration lapse doesn't count. If you had never registered to vote, I doubt if you would have ever been called.

I was called because I was a licensed driver. I know several people who hadn't ever registered to vote, and were called to serve on a jury. It's not a rare thing.

Maybe, but there is really no way to know how jurors are selected. It depends on the state, county, and the type of court. This is what the U.S. District Court of Middle Florida says:

Where did you get my name for jury service?
Answer:
Under the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida's Plan for the Qualification and Selection of Grand and Petit Jurors(link is external), voter-registration lists are the primary sources for identifying prospective jurors. Every odd-numbered year, prospective jurors are selected randomly from county voter-registration lists, and their names are put into the divisional Master Jury Wheel. Prospective jurors are then sent a juror-qualification questionnaire, which they must complete and return to the court to verify that they are qualified for jury service. Those who qualify for service might be summoned to report for service.

Wow, never heard of not allowing phones in waiting area. Can't imagine their logic for that, other FL counties allow them given you are just sitting in a big lobby area.

Getting called is a huge waste of my time. As retired military, they always keep me there a s a pawn, then dismiss me latter in the day. Would love to be on a jury, but do not appreciate the games they play.

Over the years, I have been called 3 times but was never selected. While it was never convenient, I was glad to be there. Given the importance of a jury trial in this country, I consider it an honor to be part of the process.

On a side note, my Dad was called for jury duty. He put on his suit complete with a bow tie. After they asked his name and address, he was promptly dismissed. When he asked a family friend who was a lawyer about why he was dismissed so quickly, the friend replied that he would have dismissed him as well. Too much of an outlier!

If you never have registered to vote in Florida they wouldn't select you.

I agree

Is age 70 the “cut” for jury duty? My former State used 75 as the age they no longer wanted you for jury duty. Just asking.