Juror Information Page

BE AWARE OF JURY DUTY SCAM PHONE CALLS

The Lafayette County Circuit Clerk’s Office will never contact you and request money over the phone because you missed jury duty. Likewise, no one from our office will ever direct you to pay a contempt of court fine over the phone.

Please be careful and NEVER give out any personal or banking information over the phone.

Scammers are very talented and can spoof any number to make the call appear they are calling from an official government office. If you ever receive a call such as this hang up and you can always contact our office at 662-234-4951 and press 1 to speak to a deputy clerk. We are always here to help.

JURY DUTY INFORMATION

If you are called to jury duty for the Lafayette County Circuit Court, you will receive a jury summons from this office in the mail. Be prepared to begin your service on the first day that you report and make any necessary arrangements to serve for the entire week of your service, or until you are released by the Court.

Jury duty is an important responsibility that allows citizens to actively participate in the justice system. When called to serve, individuals play a key role in ensuring that legal cases are decided fairly and impartially. By showing up and taking the role seriously, jurors help protect the rights of both the accused and the accuser, reinforcing trust in the legal process.

HOW PROSPECTIVE JURORS ARE SELECTED

Potential jurors are randomly selected using our voting software SEMS, which draws names from the list of registered voters in Lafayette County. While all registered voters are eligible to be called for jury duty, selection is random — some individuals may never be called, while others may be selected multiple times.

REPORTING FOR SERVICE – JURY DUTY HOTLINE

The last paragraph of your juror summons instructs you to call the juror hotline number: 662-259-3035 after 6:00 p.m. the Friday evening before your court appearance. The recording will give you vital information about your reporting status. Calling the number as instructed could save you time and frustration, especially if the case you were summoned for has been cancelled or delayed. We will also post on our social media platforms:

Facebook: Jeff Busby Lafayette County Circuit Clerk
Instagram: lafayettecountycircuitcourt
X (formerly Twitter): LafCoCircuit

JUROR QUALIFICATIONS

To serve as a juror, a person must meet certain qualifications:

Jurors must be qualified voters or resident owners of real property of the county in which the trial is held;
Jurors must be 21 years of age and able to read and write;
A juror cannot be a convicted felon, habitual drunkard or common gambler;
Additionally, no one who has been convicted of the illegal sale of alcoholic beverages in the previous five years can be a juror.

JURY DUTY AFFIDAVITS

The date you’ve been called to serve on the jury may be inconvenient for you or your family. If you have a conflict, you must complete an affidavit detailing why you need to be excused. All affidavits have to be signed off by one of our Judges, no exceptions. Affidavits are located in the lobby of the Lafayette County Circuit Clerk’s Office.

If you aren’t able to come to the courthouse to complete your affidavit, you may do so online by clicking here: Jury Duty Affidavit Form. Once the Judge has signed the affidavit, one of our deputy clerks will contact you at the number provided on the affidavit, of the judge’s decision.

Generally, one is entitled to be excused from jury duty if he or she faces a hardship, has scheduling conflicts, doctor’s appointments, if their presence is required at home, if there is an emergency, personal illness or has served on a jury in this court in the last two years.

However, it’s important to recognize that having a large and diverse pool of potential jurors is essential to ensuring a fair and impartial trial. A broad jury pool helps the court select individuals who can best serve justice by bringing a variety of perspectives and experiences to the deliberation process. While exemptions are sometimes necessary, widespread participation supports the integrity and effectiveness of the judicial system.

IF YOU ARE 65 OR OLDER – YOU HAVE OPTIONS:

You can serve on the jury you were summoned;
- You will just complete the paperwork and follow the instructions on your summons
You can request exemption just from the jury you were summoned OR
- You can contact our office by calling: 662-234-4951, press 1 to speak to a deputy clerk
You can be permanently exempt from jury duty in Lafayette County

If you wish to be permanently exempt from jury service, please click: Age Exemption Form. If you would rather, you can stop by our office to complete the paperwork in person. If you have any questions, please give us a call at: 662-234-4951, press 1 to speak to a deputy clerk.

JUROR INFORMATION SHEET

A juror information sheet was included with your juror summons. If you have misplaced it, please click here Juror Information Sheet. We must have a completed juror information sheet on each potential juror.

JURY DUTY COMPENSATION

Jurors are compensated $40.00 per day for each day of service, as required by the Court. The Clerk keeps a record of each day you serve. Additionally, you will receive $0.70 per mile for your travel to and from the Lafayette County Circuit Courthouse. Checks are issued from the Lafayette County Chancery Office after the Board of Supervisors meets, which occurs on the first and third Mondays of each month.

THE APPROPRIATE CONDUCT FOR A JUROR

Jurors should dress appropriately (hint: bring a sweater as it stays cooler in the courtroom at all times). Always arrive on time. Your tardiness delays the entire proceeding.

Jurors must act with integrity, attentiveness and impartiality. They must listen carefully to all evidence presented, avoid forming opinions until all sides have been heard and follow the judge’s instructions closely. Jurors must not talk with either party (plaintiff or defendant), witnesses or counsel involved in the courtroom proceedings.

If an emergency should arise, notify the Clerk, bailiff or any other court officer.