Wisconsin Jury Information

HOW LONG DO I SERVE?  You will be on the jury panel for a one-month period.  The attached letter tells you the month of your service.  If for some reason you cannot serve during the assigned month, you may request to be assigned to a different month.  Contact the jury clerk as noted in the below paragraph.  You are eligible to serve no more than five days during your one-month service period unless a case is in progress on your 5th day.  In such case, your service will be extended until that case is completed. You may receive multiple summons throughout the month.

HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED? Whenever you are required to report for jury duty, you will receive a separate summons in the mail.  The summons will tell you what day or days you are to report and the branch of the Court in which you will serve.

WHAT IF I HAVE A LONG STANDING COMMITMENT? It is not our intention to prohibit anyone from taking a vacation or engaging in any other type of Activity which has long been planned.  This may apply to medical appointments or commitments which have been set for weeks or months.  If, for good reason, you cannot appear on a given date, you must notify the Clerk of Courts in writing.  Under appropriate circumstances, you can be excused.  When contacting the Court, please provide your juror number which is indicated on your jury summons.

WILL I BE NOTIFIED IF A CASE SETTLES?  Because many cases are resolved shortly before the trial date, it may not always be necessary for you to report as your summons indicated.  To receive jury status as soon as the jury clerk is informed, you may also receive text or email notification.  Contact the clerk to sign up if you have not already indicated on your questionnaire response.  To avoid unnecessary travel for jurors, the Clerk of Court has established a toll free telephone line to advise you concerning your need to report for jury duty.  The toll free telephone number is 1-800-362-4802.  The entire number must be dialed even if you are calling from the Baraboo exchange.  For each day that a juror has been summoned, a message will be placed on the telephone by 4:30 p.m. of the preceding day advising whether or not you must report.  If you were summoned for more than one day, you should call in the preceding evening to be advised of the status of the case.

WHERE WILL I SERVE?  Virtually all trials are held in the County Courthouse in Baraboo.  If this were to change, you would be advised in advance of the trial date.  There is a shortage of parking in the area of the Courthouse in Baraboo.  On-Street parking in the downtown area has a two-hour limit.  Violation of this will result in a ticket.  The Courts cannot assist you in the event you receive a parking citation.  There are parking lots available in the downtown area and on-street parking is available outside of the downtown area.  The Clerk of Courts office can assist you with a map of the downtown parking areas if needed. 

WHOM DO I CONTACT WHEN I ARRIVE?  During jury trials, there will be at least one bailiff available to assist and direct you.  The bailiff will check you in upon arrival and instruct you as to the proceedings.  There is a handicapped entrance on the south side of the Courthouse (3rd St).  There is handicapped parking on the 3rd Street ramp entrance and also behind the West Square Building.  There is an underground tunnel between the West Square Building and the Courthouse which is accessible by elevator.  The courtrooms are equipped with audio systems for jurors with hearing disabilities.

HOW SHALL I CONDUCT MYSELF?  As a juror, you are an Officer of the Court.  As an Officer of the Court, you have certain responsibilities.  First, you must avoid contact with parties, the attorneys and the witnesses who appear in the trial.  In effect, you are asked not to speak to these persons during the course of the proceedings.  It may seem strange to you to not speak to a party or attorney whom you have known for years, but this is required.  It is of the utmost importance that a trial be fair and, equally important, that the trial appear fair.  Conversations with parties or attorneys may create an impression of unfairness and, thus, these contacts must be avoided.

WHO’S WHO IN THE COURTROOM?  Some of you have never been in a courtroom before.  There are several persons who are an integral part of the judicial proceedings, those persons are:  The Judge.  The Judge is the presiding officer.  He or she is responsible for the conduct of the trial.  The Judge rules on issues of law and objections and instructs the jury on the law.  The Court Reporter.  The Court Reporter makes a complete stenographic record of the proceedings in open Court.  The Court Reporter generally sits near the witness stand.  The Clerk of Court.  The Clerk of Court is responsible for keeping the minutes of the proceedings while Court is in session, swearing in the witnesses and keeping track of exhibits.  The Clerk sits next to the Judge.  The Bailiff.  The Bailiff is the person with whom you, as jurors, will have the most contact.  He or she is the means of communication between the Court and jurors.  They are also responsible to see to your comfort during your period of service.  If a drink of water is needed, a telephone call must be placed, or another request is necessary, direct those requests to the Bailiff.  Any matters that should be brought to the attention of the Court should be first directed to the Bailiff.  Jurors may not contact the Court or the parties or attorneys during the course of the proceeding.

WHAT IF I BECOME SICK?  Illness is a reality of life.  If you are ill on the day you are scheduled to report, or if an immediate member of your family is ill, you may request an excuse from the Court.  You must, however, contact the Clerk of Court or the Judge’s office and ask to be excused.  If you become ill while impaneled as a juror, simply raise your hand or attract the attention of the Bailiff and the Court will promptly take a recess.

HOW MANY JURORS ARE SUMMONED?  The number of jurors summoned may vary from case to case.  Factors such as the trial length, type of case, and the number of parties may affect the number of jurors called.  Please do not become concerned if you are called and another juror whom you know is not summoned, or vice versa, as this does occur frequently.

HOW LONG DO CASES LAST?  The length of a trial varies from case to case.  Generally, we will try to give you an estimate of the time required.  However the speed with which a case is presented is difficult to predict.  Frequently, cases extend beyond the original time estimate and in many instances are completed in less time than anticipated.

HOW IS THE FINAL JURY SELECTED?  When a case is scheduled for jury trial, a jury panel is summoned.  The panel called always exceeds the number of jurors necessary to hear the case.  From this panel, a group of prospective jurors is randomly selected.  After selection, certain questions are asked of the jurors by the Court and attorneys for the parties.  After this series of questions, called “voir dire”, each party is entitled to an equal number of “peremptory strikes”.  This is the process by which the jury panel is reduced to the number of jurors necessary for the particular case.  The “strikes” may be exercised for any  reason or for no reason.  They are exercised by the attorneys or an unrepresented party.  Jurors are not entitled to know why they are stricken and the parties need not state reasons.  Jurors should not be offended or hurt by being stricken.  This in no way implies that one is not qualified to sit as a juror.  In many instances, a juror is stricken simply because the panel size must be reduced.  In a civil case, each party is usually entitled to three strikes.  In a criminal case, each side is usually entitled to four peremptory strikes.  Certain cases may involve a greater number of strikes.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM SUMMONED AND DON'T SHOW UP? The jury system is fundamental to American law and our way of life.  Being a juror is both an honor and a responsibility.  The responsibility of being a juror is often inconvenient.  Sometimes a person may feel “they can get along without me, so I won’t go in today”.  Please remember that the parties have been involved in protracted and expensive preparation of their case.  A sufficient number of jurors must be available to proceed to trial.  Also, your fellow jurors have taken time from their schedules to attend to the matter at hand.  Presumably, many felt as you did but attended just the same.  Finally, Section 756.30 of the Wisconsin Statutes provides that a fine may be imposed upon a juror who is absent without sufficient excuse.  The Court also has the authority to direct the Sheriff to locate you and bring you to court.  This information is provided not as a threat, but as a means of explanation as to what can occur in certain circumstances.

WHAT IF A BAD STORM OCCURS? Wisconsin weather is, at best, unpredictable. On occasion a case will have to be temporarily postponed due to inclement weather conditions.  If you have concern for the weather and whether or not a case will proceed, you should call the toll free number listed above.  If a case has been postponed or there are other instructions concerning that case, they will be on the telephone message.  If there is no message, the case would proceed according to the instructions given by the Judge in open court at the close of business on the preceding day.

WHAT IS THE COMPENSATION FOR  A JUROR?  Payment for jury duty is $40.00 per day.  The fee is based upon a calendar day of attendance, whether it is one hour or ten hours.  Mileage is also paid at the statutory rate per mile for travel expense to and from the  Courthouse.  Once a jury is impaneled, and assuming the matter continues, over the noon hour, a noon meal will be provided for the jurors.  When meals are furnished prior to a verdict being returned,  the jurors will be required to remain in a group.

NO SMOKING PERMITTED- The Sauk County Courthouse is a smoke-free building thus smoking is prohibited.  This prohibition also applies to the jury room.

CELL PHONES- Cell phones are in common usage today.  However, they are not permitted in the jury room.  If you are selected as a juror, you will not be permitted to take your cell phone into the jury room.  The bailiff can secure your phone while you are in the jury room or courtroom.  If you do have to make a telephone call, advise the bailiff and he or she may permit  the use of your cell phone or provide you access to a telephone.

DON’T BE NERVOUS- This information is provided to help you become familiar with your duties as a juror.  It is also an attempt to familiarize you with the surroundings and individuals with whom you will be in contact.  It is hoped that this information will alleviate any anxiety that you might have.  Remember that there are no “professional jurors” and your fellow jurors most likely share the same concerns and apprehensions that you do.  Every effort will be made to minimize your concerns so that your full attention may be directed to the matter requiring your attention and deliberation.

THANK YOU!  Finally, we wish to thank you.  Jury service is frequently an overlooked contribution to the functioning of our legal system.  Rest assured, however, that as Judges, we fully appreciate your commitment in time and effort in facing complex and difficult problems.  We sincerely thank you for your efforts.