Jury Services
WARNING: TELEPHONE FRAUD INVOLVING JURY DUTY
The Newton County Clerk of Courts, their staff, or Newton County Sheriff’s Deputies will not call Jurors that have failed to report for Jury Duty service and ask for personal information such as social security number, birth date, bank account number, or credit card information. It has been reported that scammers trying to commit identity theft have been contacting potential victims and telling them they failed to report for jury duty. They ask for confidential information for “verification” purposes
and if the information is refused they tell the potential victim a warrant will be issued for their arrest. Scammers are also telling citizens they owe a fine of $1500 to $2000 and to buy Green Dot cards, give them the card number off the card and bring the card to the Clerk’s office. THIS IS A SCAM. Do not buy Green Cards or Give Money, Bank Account or Personal Information over the phone. There have been reports of this scam in Newton County. Please report phone scams to your local police or sheriff’s department.
Jury Service
Jury trials are a hallmark of the American Legal System. Each day around the state, trial courts require hundreds of ordinary citizens to report to the courthouse for jury duty. Both a right and responsibility, service as a juror places the individual citizen in a central role in the justice system.
Jury Composition – Each year, The Council of Superior Court Clerks of Georgia generates the Statewide Master Jury List in accordance with the current Supreme Court Jury Composition Rule. The Council acquires inclusionary source data from the Secretary of State and Department of Driver Services. We acquire exclusionary source data from the following: Department of Public Health; Department of Corrections; Department of Community Supervision; State Board of Pardons & Paroles; Secretary of State; and Superior Court Clerks. The council generates the county master jury lists using this data and issues certificates upon receipt of payment. After the council completes the composition of the master list, the data is downloaded just as it is received from them into the Clerk of Court’s jury program. No changes are made to the master list after download and everyone on the list is eligible for either trial or grand jury duty.
Due to the growth in Newton County, the number of names of eligible jurors on the master list increased to 89,417 for 2021. When you put in the criteria for the jury to be selected, the program does a random pick of the names. For example, since this year’s list has 89,417 eligible jurors, for the first jury selected from it, it would mathematically choose a random number between 1 and 89,417 and use that number to choose that juror for service, the next time it would mathematically choose a random number between 1 and 89,416 and use that number to choose the next juror. The program does not allow anyone to be able to pick any one person to serve for jury duty at any time. Our software and its processes have withstood challenges from defense attorneys with no issues found since it was written. We are complaint with all jury laws and Supreme Court rules. The Newton County Clerk’s Office Vendor is Micropact/Tyler.
–2011: The Jury Composition Reform Act of 2011 is enacted.
–2012: The Jury Composition Rule is adopted by the Supreme Court of Georgia. (Together, these established a new process).
Qualification of Jurors
Georgia law says you are qualified to be a juror if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen
- Are at least 18 years old
- Are a resident of Newton County
- Have had your civil rights restored if you were convicted of a felony
Exemption/Deferral
No one is exempt and/or deferred from jury service because of his or her job, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, or economic status.
Upon completion of the proper affidavit, certain exemptions and deferments are allowed. All affidavits must be notarized and can be viewed by using Adobe Acrobat, which is available for free. The categories for exemption and/or deferral from jury service are listed below.
- Permanently mentally or physically disabled person shall be permanently excused upon presentation of a doctor’s affidavit.
- Persons seventy (70) years of age or older shall be permanently excused upon request and presentation of an appropriate affidavit.
- Persons who are the primary caregiver of a child six (6) years of age or younger and have no reasonably available alternative child care or persons who are the primary teacher in a home study program and have no reasonably available alternative for child or children in the home study program shall be excused or deferred upon presentation of an appropriate affidavit.
- Any person who is a primary unpaid caregiver of a person over the age of six (6), who is responsible for the care of a person with physical or cognitive limitations and there is no reasonably available alternative to provide for care shall be excused or deferred upon presentation of an appropriate affidavit and statement from a physician as to the limitations.
- Any service member on ordered military duty, or the spouse of any such service member on active military duty, may be excused or deferred upon request and presentation of an appropriate affidavit.
Reporting Information
Location
Jurors are to report to the Jury Assembly room, 2nd Floor of the Judge Horace J. Johnson, Jr. Judicial Center (formerly the Newton County Judicial Center) 1132 Usher Street, Covington, Georgia.
Hours of Service
Jurors are to appear at 8:30 a.m. on their report date. Jury service may last beyond 5:00 p.m. on any given day. Before you report for jury service, please make necessary arrangements to allow you to remain at Court until released.
Attire
Casual business attire is required. Shorts, tank tops, bare midriffs, shirts with controversial depictions or wording, or similar dress are not allowed in the courtrooms. The temperature in the courtroom is unpredictable, please dress accordingly. Shoes must be worn at all times; beach sandals or flip-flops are prohibited.
ADA Accommodation
Jurors who are hearing and/or visually impaired are not prohibited from serving on a jury. For ease of accommodation, please notify Jury Management prior to your service if you need assistance. The Jury Assembly Room and most courtrooms are equipped to accommodate the hearing impaired.
Juror Orientation
All jurors scheduled for service will receive a brief orientation conducted by the Jury Management Staff. After the orientation is completed, jurors are administered an oath and will remain in the Jury Assembly Room until called to report to a courtroom. Throughout the day, jurors may be selected randomly to report to a courtroom for either a civil or criminal case.
Length of Service
Jury service in Newton County operates on the one day/one trial system. If selected to serve on a jury, the juror will serve for the duration of the trial. If a person is not assigned to a case, their jury service will be complete at the end of the day. If sent to a courtroom or selected to sit on a trial, jurors will serve until released by the judge.
Juror Compensation
Jurors are paid daily expenses. Jurors are paid $25.00 per day for service. The Newton County Clerk’s Office issues payment cards to jurors on the first day of jury service. Each day a juror serves compensation is added to their card until completion of their jury service. Utilizing payment cards virus computerized checks, is a savings to tax payers.
No employer may discharge or demote any employee because the employee has been called for jury service or is serving as a juror. Jurors should notify their employer immediately of their jury service. Jury Management will provide jurors with proof of service upon request.
Failure to Appear
Jurors who fail to appear as directed and to attend until duly discharged are subject to a fine as well as potentially subject to the contempt powers of the Court. The Court may sentence a person to confinement in the Newton County Jail under its contempt powers.
Grand Jury Service
The Grand Jury plays an important role in the administration of justice in the community. It has the responsibility to inspect and investigate various aspects of county government as well as review criminal cases presented by the District Attorney.
Qualification of Grand Jurors
Georgia law says you are qualified to be a juror if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen
- Are at least 18 years old
- Have been a resident of Newton County for at least six (6) months
- Have had your civil rights restored if you were convicted of a felony or malfeasance while holding public office.
Exemption/Deferral
No one, except elected officials, is exempt and/or deferred from grand jury service because of his or her job, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, or economic status.
Upon completion of the proper affidavit, certain exemptions and deferments are allowed. All affidavits must be notarized and can be viewed by using Adobe Acrobat, which is available for free. The categories for exemption and/or deferral from grand jury service are listed below.
- Permanently mentally or physically disabled person shall be permanently excused upon presentation of a doctor’s affidavit.
- Persons seventy (70) years of age or older shall be permanently excused upon request and presentation of an appropriate affidavit.
- Persons who are the primary caregiver of a child six (6) years of age or younger and have no reasonably available alternative child care or persons who are the primary teacher in a home study program and have no reasonably available alternative for child or children in the home study program shall be excused or deferred upon presentation of an appropriate affidavit.
- Any person who is a primary unpaid caregiver of a person over the age of six (6), who is responsible for the care of a person with physical or cognitive limitations and there is no reasonably available alternative to provide for care shall be excused or deferred upon presentation of an appropriate affidavit and statement from a physician as to the limitations.
- Any service member on ordered military duty, or the spouse of any such service member on active military duty, may be excused or deferred upon request and presentation of an appropriate affidavit.
Reporting Information
Location
Grand jurors are to report to the jury assembly room, 2nd Floor of the Judge Horace J. Johnson, Jr. Judicial Center (formerly the Newton County Judicial Center) 1132 Usher Street, Covington, Georgia.
Hours of Service
Grand jurors are to appear at 8:30 a.m. on their report date. Grand jury service may last beyond 5:00 p.m. on any given day. Before you report for grand jury service, please make necessary arrangements to allow you to remain at Court until released.
Attire
Casual business attire is required. Shorts, tank tops, bare midriffs, shirts with controversial depictions of wording, or similar dress are not allowed in the courtrooms. The temperature of the Grand Jury Room is unpredictable; please dress accordingly. Shoes must be worn at all times; beach sandals or flip-flops are prohibited.
ADA Accommodation
Grand jurors who are hearing and/or visually impaired are not prohibited from serving as a grand juror. For ease of accommodation, please notify Jury Management prior to your service if you need assistance.
Grand Jury Orientation
A brief orientation will be conducted regarding grand jury service. An oath will be administered to individuals who are selected to serve on the grand jury.
Length of Service
Each grand jury serves for a term of six (6) months, usually reporting once per month.
Grand Juror Compensation
Grand jurors are paid $25.00 for each day of service. The Newton County Clerk’s Office issues payment cards to jurors on the first day of jury service. Each day a juror serves compensation is added to their card until completion of their jury service. Utilizing payment cards virus computerized checks, is a savings to tax payers.
Employer Information
No employer may discharge or demote any employee because the employee has been called for grand jury service, or is serving as a grand juror. Grand jurors should notify their employer immediately of their grand jury service. Jury Management will provide grand jurors with proof of service upon request.
Failure to Appear
Grand jurors who fail to appear as directed and to attend until duly discharged are subject to a fine as well as potentially subject to the contempt powers of the Court. The Court may sentence a person to confinement in the Newton County Jail under its contempt powers.