Jury Duty
CALL THE JURY HOTLINE!
You will need to call 850-926-0345 after 5:00 p.m., the DAY BEFORE you are scheduled to report to receive a recorded message as to whether or not your service is still required. If you are scheduled to report on a Monday please call the above number on the weekend to hear the message.
Jury service is an important part of our judicial system and a necessary civic duty, required by law. The goal of the Clerk’s jury staff is to summons qualified jurors made up of a fair cross section of the community including working individuals, retirees, members of different sexes and social backgrounds, to constitute a legal jury for the civil and criminal courts of Wakulla County.
Potential jurors are drawn at random from three sources in accordance with F.S. 40.01 and 40.011:
- Wakulla residents that hold a valid State of Florida’s driver’s license
- Wakulla residents 18 years old or older that hold identification cards issued by the Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles
- Wakulla residents 18 years old or older who have voluntarily submitted affidavits offering their name for possible use in jury selection
The basic requirements for being eligible for Jury Duty are as follows:
- U.S. citizenship
- Legal residency within the county that issues the summons
- Minimum age of at least 18 years
Before any trial begins, the court begins with a process called "vior dire" which is Latin for "to speak to the truth". It is a legal process in which the judge determines through a series of instructions and questions whether or not each prospective juror can be fair and impartial. From the list of prospective jurors and jury is empaneled for the trial. The number of jurors depends on the type of case being tried.
Why is jury duty important?
As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, we are reminded that the American experiment was built on action. In fact, the denial of a trial by jury was one of the core grievances that sparked our revolution. In the Declaration of Independence, the colonies directly accused King George III of "depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury." This principle became a cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution and ensuring this right became one of the core responsibilities of Clerks of Court. Today, it remains one of our most important protections, ensuring that legal decisions are made by members of the community applying the law fairly and impartially. Every time you serve on a jury, you exercise real power and carry forward a250-year-old founding tradition grounded in liberty.
America's promise of equal justice has endured for nearly 250 years, but that promise relies heavily on a system that can support it. Florida’s Clerks of Court serve as the backbone of jury administration, working hard to keep the process accessible, organized, and transparent. Clerk offices are responsible for managing the essential day-to-day functions that make jury service possible, including: Summoning qualified jurors, Coordinating the jury selection processes, Providing juror information and assistance, Managing juror compensation and attendance records, Supporting courtroom operations during jury trials, and Ensuring juries are selected fairly and efficiently.
Justice By Jury Video
If you believe you have a circumstance, medical or otherwise, for which you might need to postpone jury service or be excused from jury service, you may contact the Clerk’s Office at 850-926-0359 for instructions on how to make this request.
Chapter 40 of the Florida Statutes state that “a person 70 years of age or older shall be excused from jury service upon request” and “a person who is 70 years of age or older may also be permanently excused from jury service upon written request. To make such a request, please complete this Jury Excusal or Postponement Request form and mail it to 3056 Crawfordville Hwy, Crawfordville, Fl. 32327 Attention Jury.