Jury Duty Information

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Welcome to Jury Service for Elmore County, Idaho.
Your participation is important and appreciated.

“I consider trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution.” – President Thomas Jefferson

When appearing for jury service you will report to the Elmore County Courthouse located at:

150 South 4th East, Mountain Home, Idaho 83647.

Jurors for Elmore County serve a one-month term unless extended due to a case they are involved in or ordered by a Judge to serve more than one month. Most jurors, on average, are directed to appear between one to two times during their jury duty session.
CHILDREN ARE NOT ALLOWED.  ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE NOT ALLOWED, DO NOT BRING THEM INTO THE COURTHOUSE.  (If there is an emergency reason a juror needs to bring in their cell phone, the juror MUST make arrangements with the marshall upon arrival to jury service.)

CONTACT THE JURY CLERK BEFORE YOUR JURY DUTY SESSION BEGINS if you have any questions or concerns that may have to do with school, work, travel, medical/dental appointments that may occur during your jury duty session.  The Court has guidelines for these and other concerns. 

EMAIL JURY CLERK

JURY CLERK OFFICE: 208-587-2133, ext. 511, Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm.

Automated Phone: (844)509-1211

JURY DEPT. FAX: (208) 587-2134, Attn: Jury Dept.

JURY SUMMONS for November 2024 Jurors and later dates

Fill out your Juror Summons or check your status on-line at the website here.  You can also check our status on the automated telephone line at (844)509-1211.

CLICK TO PRINT BLANK FORM   (COMPLETE ENTIRE FORM)

Where to find your Candidate ID number, also referred to as your Juror Number.

Your Candidate ID number, or Juror Number is located directly under the barcode.

For information on requests for removal from or postponement of your Jury Service click HERE.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I JUST RECEIVED MY SUMMONS, WHAT NOW?

You must complete and return the qualification form within ten (10) days. If you are not immediately available to complete the qualification form, someone else may do so on your behalf as long as they indicate who filled it out and why the summoned juror was not available. Even if you are sure that you will be excused, you must return the form. Generally all situations are covered on the qualification form, which will provide direction on how to obtain an excusal.

I RECEIVED A SUMMONS FOR SOMEONE WHO NO LONGER LIVES HERE.

Do not open the envelope, write “Return to Sender” on the original windowed envelope that you received, and place it back in your outgoing mail.

HOW DID I GET CHOSEN FOR JURY DUTY?

A juror is chosen from a random list of registered voters and licensed drivers. A Juror Summons and Jury Qualification form are then sent to the juror who must complete the ENTIRE JURY QUALIFICATION FORM and return it to the Court within 10 days. The questions asked are to determine if the juror is legally qualified to serve on a jury. The answers to the questions help the Judge and attorneys determine the jurors’ fairness and ability to sit as a juror on any particular case.

 WHAT IF JURY DUTY WOULD BE A HARDSHIP?

While the Court recognizes that jury duty may incur hardship on jurors, the Court is not legally authorized to excuse a juror for any hardship.  This must be discussed with the presiding Judge in open court during your first day of a jury trial. The importance of jury duty cannot be stressed enough, and it is imperative that a juror serves when called.

Furthermore, the hardship incurred by jury service may not be as harmful as you might think. The term of service in Elmore county is for “One month”, however you will not be spending every weekday in the courtroom for a whole month. This just means that you may get called in for any trials that are scheduled during your month. On average, there are anywhere from 3 to 5 jury trial dates scheduled a month, and most of the time they do get cancelled.

I AM ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY, DO I HAVE TO SERVE?

YES.  You do have to serve.  The JAG has issued an Order regarding your jury service as active duty service personnel.  HOWEVER, you may be exempt if you fall under 10 USC 982, See: DOD Directive 5525.08. If you believe you are covered by these Federal exemptions, you must complete and return the qualification form and provide written notice of exemption from your immediate commander.

I AM NOT A U.S. CITIZEN, DO I HAVE TO SERVE?

NO. If you are not a US citizen you are disqualified from serving on a jury; in other words, you couldn’t serve even if you wanted to. In order to be excused, you must complete and return the jury qualification form and provide a photocopy of your Green Card, Visa, or Passport.

I AM DISABLED, DO I HAVE TO SERVE?

You will want to check with your medical provider. If they do not believe you would be able to serve, then you must provide a note from your Doctor or Physician. The note does not need to specify your medical condition, it just needs to explicitly state whether or not you would be capable of serving on a jury. The qualification form must also be completed and returned before the excusal will be granted.

Note: The note must be signed by a LICENSED Physician or Doctor; notes from Nurse Practitioners or Physician’s Assistants will not be accepted. Idaho Law specifically states that the note must come from a Doctor/Physician.

I AM NOT A RESIDENT OF ELMORE COUNTY; DO I STILL HAVE TO SERVE?

As long as a prospective juror is maintaining a driver’s license or voter registration in Elmore county, they must make arrangements to fulfill their obligation as a juror. You will be excused once the qualification form is completed and returned, and upon providing an updated driver’s license, voter registration, military orders, or by updating your address with ITD. Keep in mind that if you’ve moved out of state, it is likely that your new state requires you to obtain a new license within a certain amount of time of becoming a resident.

I AM A FELON; DO I STILL HAVE TO SERVE?

This depends on whether or not you are currently still on felony probation or parole. If you have been discharged from probation/parole/prison, you are not disqualified from being a jury. If you ARE currently on felony probation, parole, or incarcerated, you are disqualified. You must also complete and return the qualification form.

WHAT IF I HAVE PRIOR COMMITMENTS?

CONTACT THE JURY CLERK AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE YOUR OFFICIAL JUROR SUMMONS.  If the commitments cannot be rescheduled, you will have two options. 1) You may ask for a postponement, in writing, to the next session (only one postponement is allowed) or 2) you need to provide itineraries for travel and you will be excused for that period of time only.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT DELAY IN INFORMING THE COURT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS. All requests should be made long before you actually have to start checking the jury instructions at the beginning of your term of service. If you get placed on an upcoming trial, your excusal is no longer the determination of the jury clerk. You must attend court the morning of trial and inform the presiding judge and attorneys on that case.

WHAT IF I HAVE AN EMERGENCY?

If you have an emergency situation, call the jury clerk as soon as possible to discuss your options.

WHAT IF I DON’T RETURN MY QUALIFICATION FORM?

You will be mailed a reminder letter after 10 days, asking you to complete and return your Jury Qualification Form.  If you still do not return the completed Jury Qualification Form within 10 days, a warning letter will be served upon you by the Sheriff advising you to appear before the Jury Clerk within 10 days, to complete the Form.  If you still do not return the Jury Qualification Form, an Order to Show Cause will be served upon you requiring you to appear in open court before the Administrative Judge to determine whether or not you should be held in contempt of court for noncompliance.  If you fail to show good cause for noncompliance, you will be found guilty of criminal contempt and may be fined not more than $500.00 or imprisoned in the county jail not more than five (5) days, or both.  Idaho Code 2-217.

WHAT IF I FORGET TO CHECK THE JURY INSTRUCTIONS?

While it is important that you remember to check in when instructed, forgetting to check sometimes happens. If so, you may access the message through the above instruction link at any time. The Jury Information Line will always have the recorded message after 6:00 p.m. weekdays and any time during the week-end or you may call the jury clerk during normal business hours.

WHAT IF I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT?

You must complete the entire qualification form, return it within 10 days and personally contact the Jury Clerk.  As long as a prospective juror is maintaining a driver’s license or voter registration in Elmore county, they must make arrangements to fulfill their obligation as a juror. A postponement will be granted to a month where you would be available. Alternatively, if you are attending college year round and have no plans of returning, you may contact your local DMV and notify them of your change of address. If you choose to do this, you must then contact the Jury Clerk so they can verify your change of address, at which point you will be excused.

WHAT IF I AM A TRUCKER / TEMPORARY OUT-OF-COUNTY WORKER?

You must complete the entire qualification form, return it within 10 days and personally contact the Jury Clerk.  As long as a prospective juror is maintaining a driver’s license or voter registration in Elmore county, they must make arrangements to fulfill their obligation as a juror. Special accommodations will only be provided if the need is specifically communicated to the Jury Clerk.

CAN I BE ASKED TO SERVE AS A JUROR MORE THAN ONCE DURING MY MONTH OF SERVICE?

Yes, you are on jury duty for the entire month.  Please continue to check in until you are told that your term of service is complete.