To honor the residents of Maricopa County who uphold their civic duty to serve as part of the jury process, the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County will celebrate Jury Appreciation Week, beginning Monday, May 5.
Presiding Judge Joseph Welty will kick off the festivities at 8:30 a.m. with a special greeting to jurors in downtown Phoenix. Throughout the week, jurors will be offered refreshments and those serving on longer trials will receive a free lunch.
“Jury duty grants us the power to ensure that our legal system remains accessible, fair, and impartial - seeded in the very ideals our Constitution upholds,” said Joseph Welty, Presiding Judge of the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County. “Jurors come from all walks of life, representing various backgrounds, and experiences. Their individual and unique perspectives help balance the scales of justice, creating a fair and equitable process. I’d like to thank all those who have participated in the jury process for their service.”
“The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere gratitude to those of you who have served as part of the jury process,” said Raymond Billotte, Judicial Branch Administrator. “Through your commitment, you have ensured that the right to trial by a jury is guaranteed for all in our communities. We would also like to thank employers of private businesses, small businesses, school districts, companies, government agencies, and more who encourage and support their employees when they are called to jury service. We depend on your support for those who perform their civic duty.”
Each year, based off valuable juror feedback, the Court continually makes improvements to the jury service process by focusing on juror-center experience. Most recently, one of the most significant contributions to the juror experience has been the implementation of Remote Case Specific Questionnaires, which allow the Court to prescreen jurors before they are scheduled to report for service. The questionnaires are designed to be less disruptive to jurors’ lives and improve the efficiency of jury selection as potential jurors may be released from jury service without having to step foot in a courthouse.
In 2024, the first year of using remote case specific jury questionnaires, 22,000 people participated in the jury selection process for nearly 300 jury trials. Of the 7,000 jurors who completed the case specific questionnaires at home, 54% of those jurors were excused and not required to appear for in-person jury selection. The remaining jurors, who were asked to appear in person, spent far less time at the courthouse and were released from jury service much quicker. This process saved the court over $100,000 in juror mileage reimbursements. Remote jury selection allows potential jurors to participate in parts of the selection process online, which saves time and reduces associated costs like childcare and transportation. Another element that has improved juror engagement is the increase in juror wages. In 2022, the Court, through the Arizona Jury Fund, started reimbursing empaneled jurors up to $300 a day for lost wages. The new pay structure resulted in a reduction of potential jurors seeking financial hardships.
All Maricopa County residents are obligated by state law to serve as a juror, unless excused. When a person receives a summons in the mail, they are asked to visit the Maricopa County eJuror System at https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/jury, which allows jurors to qualify for jury service, ask for excuse/disqualification and postponements, and get additional information about jury service.
Anyone who can’t serve on the day they are scheduled to report for jury service is encouraged to communicate with the Court. In some instances, the Jury Office may offer a postponement or a release. For individuals who ignore their jury summons or respond but fail to show, they may be required to appear before a judge and potentially fined.
Jury service is a vital component of the American justice system. The United States Constitution and the Arizona constitution guarantee the right of trial by jury. Therefore, all Maricopa County residents who are 18 years and older, a U.S. citizen and never been convicted of a felony or have had their civil rights restored are obligated to serve on a jury. Citizens over 75 years of age may be excused from jury service by written request. Also, anyone who appeared for jury service is exempt from serving for 18 months.
In FY24, the Judicial Branch of Maricopa County, including Municipal Courts and Limited Jurisdiction Courts, summoned over 430,000 jurors. The Superior Court alone summoned approximately 300,000 jurors.