Welcome To Jury Service In Douglas County

You have been selected at random to serve as a juror in Douglas County. Jury service may require sacrifices on your part but jury service is an important civic and community duty. Jury service plays an essential role in our system of justice - the right to a trial by a jury made up of persons representing a fair cross-section of  Douglas County citizens . Along with our voting privilege, jury service is one of the most important privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, and one we hope you will carry out with pride. Jury service is a duty, a privilege, and a right guaranteed by the South Dakota and United States Constitutions. 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 Douglas County Voter Registration and the South Dakota Drivers License lists. You have been assigned to a one-year term of service, but at this time we have no way of knowing how many trials will occur during that term. You will receive a letter  approximately 10 days  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 obtain a pamphlet on jury duty from the Clerk of Courts by calling 724-2585. We will also 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 you received with your Summons or you may complete the questionnaire online 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 any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact either me, the circuit administrator, the judge who is presiding in your county, or the Clerk of Courts. We look forward to your service.

Thank you,

Steven Jensen
Presiding Circuit Judge
First Judicial Circuit