Welcome to Jury Service in Edmunds County

You have been selected at random to serve as a juror in Edmunds 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 Edmunds County Voter Registration and the South Dakota driver’s license lists. You will be notified by mail approximately 2-3 weeks prior to a trial. Follow the instructions in the letter.  

 Please remember to call in monthly, or sign up for text/email alerts, as you are responsible to make sure to appear for any scheduled trials for the rest of the year.  You may the code-a-phone (605-426-6671 after hours).   Please notify us of any vacations, etc when you will be unable to serve.

Thank You,

Edmunds County Clerk of Courts

605-426-6671

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are the most frequent questions people ask about their jury service. Any other questions should be addressed to the Clerk of Courts office in the county of your residence. 

JUROR QUALIFICATIONS: South Dakota statutes provide that no citizen shall be excluded from service as a juror in the courts of this state on account of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status.  All citizens of the State of South Dakota are eligible to serve as jurors if they are 1. County residents, 2.  At least 18 years of age, 3.  Sound Mind, and 4.  Able to read, write, and understand the English Language. 

PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS: Jurors may not be automatically excluded because of a visual or hearing impairment. There are no automatic exclusions for other disabilities, having small children at home, caring for an ill spouse, having a job that requires you to travel, etc.; however, these are factors the Judge will consider in deciding whether jury duty would constitute enough of a hardship for you that you would be excused from jury duty.

JUROR QUESTIONNAIRE: When you receive a juror summons via U.S. mail, you will be instructed to fill out a paper juror questionnaire or complete the juror questionnaire online.  If you complete the juror questionnaire online, make sure you receive a registration confirmation after submission.  If you do not receive a registration confirmation with a registration code and option to print proof of registration for your records, you did not complete correctly, and you will need to complete the juror questionnaire again. 

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS: If you need any special accommodations such as impaired hearing accommodations or wheelchair access, please note them on the bottom right corner of the juror qualification form.  If completing the juror qualification form online, please note it on the additional information tab under special accommodations. 

HOW WAS I SELECTED: In the State of South Dakota, jurors are selected randomly from a list which combines names from the list of registered voters and the list of South Dakota licensed drivers over the age of eighteen (18) who are residents of the county.

JUROR FEES: The State Legislature has authorized the Court to pay you $10.00 for each day you report to the courthouse for jury service, or $50.00 each day you are selected to hear a case, plus $0.67 per mile, round trip mileage from your residence to the courthouse.

FAIL TO APPEAR: Any person summoned to appear as a juror who fails to appear is guilty of contempt of court and may be fined or imprisoned in the county jail.

JURY TERM: Jury service terms vary by county, but usually a juror serves a term of six to twelve months.  Your term will be printed on the juror summons you receive in the mail.  When you are required to appear, court will normally be in session from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  It is possible court will run past 5:00 p.m.  It is extremely rare to be sequestered and not released to go home during a trial.  Typically, you will not serve jury duty on nights or weekends.  However, if you are selected as a juror in a case, it is possible for deliberations to go into evening hours.

LOCATION: The location you will report to is also located on the juror summons.  You will report to the county courthouse.  You will receive a letter about one week prior to your term of service with instructions and notification of the specific jury panel to which you have been assigned.

DRESS CODE: Dress is casual.  Jeans are acceptable.  Leave hats and sunglasses at home. 

ATTENDANCE: The judges of the 5th circuit expect jurors to report when they are requested. Please notify your employer(s) immediately of your designated Jury Term so that any possible scheduling difficulties can be worked out. You will NOT be released from jury duty for work purposes. If you have previously contacted the Clerk of Courts and have been excused for a specific date, we do not expect you to report. If illness or emergency prevents your attendance, please call the Clerk of Courts office as near to 8:00 a.m. as possible.   

PARKING: Parking is free of charge and available in the lot located directly at the courthouse, and in any of the parking spaces around the courthouse.

SECURITY: The Fifth Circuit staff and sheriff’s offices remind you that it is illegal to bring knives or weapons into the courthouse. To avoid delay, leave all pocketknives, multi-tool pliers, chemical pepper spray, and other weapons or unneeded items in your car.