The
Jury Management Department is responsible for the selection and accommodation of the
Jurors used by the Fifteenth Judicial Court in Lafayette Parish. Rather than empanel a
separate jury for each trial that might come to trial in any given week, a jury pool is
empanelled for all of the cases scheduled to be tried by jury in a given week. This
procedure actually reduces the number of people summoned for jury duty and the costs
associated with a jury trial.
For example, if four jury trials are scheduled in one week, rather than subpoena sixty or
seventy people for each separate trial, the Jury Commission, through a random computer
selection process, might subpoena one hundred people to serve in the Jury Pool for that
week. As each case is brought before the Court, potential jurors are again chosen from the
Jury Pool at random for Voir Dire for a particular case. The jurors not
selected for that particular trial are sent back to the jury pool where they may or may
not be chosen again for another voir dire. The costs associated for empanelling a Jury
Pool are prorated among the cases scheduled to go to trial for that week, thus reducing
the cost to each scheduled trial.
The Jury
Pool Assembly Room is located on the 1st Floor of the Lafayette Parish Courthouse. The
room contains a number of facilities for use in your leisure time: television, card
tables, reading materials and the like. Smoking is prohibited in the courthouse. Cell
phones, lighters, cigarettes, e-cigs, tobacco products, smart watches, cameras,
recording devices, weapons, self defense items, and all electronic devices are NOT
allowed in the courthouse. You will not be allowed to enter the building with these
items.
There
are five qualifications that a potential juror must meet in order to serve on a jury.
In order to serve you must:
- Be a
citizen of the United States and of Louisiana who has resided in Lafayette parish for at
least one year immediately preceding your jury service.
- Be at
least eighteen years of age.
- Be able
to read, write, speak the English language and, possess sufficient knowledge of the
language.
- Not be
under interdiction or incapable of serving as a juror because of a mental or physical
infirmity. (A written medical excuse from your doctor is required)
- Not
be under indictment for a felony nor have been convicted of a felony and not been
pardoned.
If you do not meet these
qualifications, please call the Jury Office at (337) 291-6355 immediately. The office is
open from 8:30AM to 4:30PM, Monday - Friday, except legal holidays. Along with the
qualifications, there are three exemptions which may be claimed. You may
claim an exemption if:
- You have
performed Jury Service in the Fifteenth Judicial Court within the last two years of your
reporting date.
- Serving
would result in an undue hardship or extreme
inconvenience.
- Seventy years of age and older.
If
you wish to claim one of these exemptions, you must send a letter the Jury Office at P
O Drawer 3603, Lafayette, LA 70502 explaining your circumstances. Include your address and
a daytime telephone number. Please note, no exemptions or postponements can be granted
after the Wednesday preceding your first day of service. The court will make a decision on
your claim of exemption and will notify you.
A juror receives a daily payment of $25.00 for service and $3.20 for mileage. Payment is mailed to you via first class mail after service.
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