Your name was selected at random for jury service from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles database of licensed drivers and holders of Florida Identification Cards of Hernando County residents.

No, to qualify as a juror, a person must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of the State of Florida and have an address in Hernando County.

Yes, if you are 18 years of age or older, a citizen of the United States and a legal resident of the State of Florida with an address in Hernando County and you have a desire to serve as a juror, you may come into the Clerk's Office and execute an Affidavit to apply for jury duty. Your name will be added to the database of qualified prospective jurors.

No, the Governor and Governor's cabinet, Elected Officials, the Sheriff, the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Judges are disqualified as jurors.

Persons who are under prosecution for any crime or who have been convicted in Florida or any other state, territory or country or in any federal court of bribery, forgery, perjury, larceny, or any other offense that is a felony in the State of Florida are not qualified to serve as jurors unless their civil rights have been restored.

Additionally, any person with an interest in an issue to be tried cannot sit as a juror in the case where the issue will be tried.

You may request to be excused from jury duty if you are full-time federal, state or local law enforcement or investigative personnel; an expectant mother or a parent who is not employed full time and who has custody of a child under six (6) years of age; or a person responsible for the care of a person incapable of caring for his/her self. Other persons who can demonstrate hardship, extreme inconvenience or public necessity may also request to be excused by the court.

A person who is summoned and has reported to Circuit or County Court as a prospective juror is exempt from jury service for a minimum period of one year.

Jury service is essential to the functioning of our judicial system and to the operation of our entire system of government. Jury service is the duty of all qualified individuals because we all enjoy the privileges of citizenship and the protection of our liberty and property afforded by the judicial system.

Jurors perform the crucial task of deciding the case upon the evidence which the lawyers present and by applying to that evidence the law upon which the judge instructs them.

If you have been summoned for jury service, your Juror summons will reflect your reporting location.

In Florida, jurors serve for one day or the length of one trial unless otherwise directed by a Judge.

Jurors are paid in accordance with Florida law. If you are regularly employed and receive regular wages while serving as a juror, you are not entitled to be paid for the first three days of your service. If you are not regularly employed or you don't receive regular wages during your service, you will be compensated at the rate of $15.00 per day for the first three days of service. Every juror who serves more than three days is entitled to be paid $30.00 per day for the fourth day of service and each day thereafter.

For your comfort, you may wish to observe the following guidelines when reporting for jury service:

Dress:Appropriate business attire is required. Shorts, abbreviated tops, beach or evening attire are not acceptable.

Temperature: Court facilities are air conditioned and often become chilly. For your comfort, you may wish to bring a sweater or jacket with you.

If you would like to speak to someone about jury service, call (352) 540-6399