Welcome to Jury Service in Hutchinson County

You have been selected at random to serve as a juror in Hutchinson 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 the community. 

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 comprised of the  Hutchinson County Voter Registration and the South Dakota Drivers License lists.  You have been assigned to a one year term of court, but at this time, we have no idea how many trials will occur during that term.  You will receive a letter 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 the system that this county uses to notify jurors of upcoming trials and on using the 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. 

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, contact the Clerk of Courts in your county. Hutchinson Clerk of Courts 387-4215.  We look forward to your service.

Thank you,

The Honorable Cheryle Gering

Presiding Circuit Judge

First Judicial Circuit