McPherson County

WELCOME TO JURY SERVICE IN MCPHERSON COUNTY

You have been selected at random to serve as a juror in McPherson County. Jury service plays an essential role in our system of justice - the right to a trial by jury made up of persons representing a fair cross-section of the community. Along with our voting privilege, jury service is one of the most important duties of citizenship, and one we hope you will accept with pride. It requires no special skills or legal knowledge, but only that you be honest, impartial, and willing to keep an open mind.

We recognize that jury service sometimes requires sacrifices and may mean rearranging schedules, canceling appointments, or missing work. Yet serving as a juror is an important civic and community duty, as well as a privilege and responsibility. Those who serve as jurors have an opportunity to see the courts in action and to actively participate in a fundamental democratic process.

You were selected for jury service from a master jury list composed of the McPherson County Voter Registration and the South Dakota driver’s license lists. You have been assigned to a six-month term of court, but at this time we have no way of knowing how many jury trials will occur during that term. You will receive a letter about one week prior to your term of service notifying you of the specific jury panel to which you have been assigned. The letter will also give you further instructions on using the "phone-in" system and web site. If you have already been assigned to a specific panel, you may check for reporting dates and times by going to Juror Reporting Instructions. If you have questions about jury service, you can contact the Clerk of Courts by calling 605-439-3361. We will assist you in any way we can.

The first step in your jury service is to sign and complete your jury summons and to complete and return your jury questionnaire to the Clerk of Courts. You may either complete the hard copy questionnaire that you received with your summons or you may complete the questionnaire on line by going to Juror Questionnaire. Completion of the questionnaire does not mean that you will ultimately serve. The questionnaire just indicates that you have received the summons, and it provides the parties some information about you.

If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact either me, the judge who is presiding in your particular case, or the Clerk of Courts. We look forward to your service.

Thank you,

Jack R. Von Wald
Circuit Court Judge