Basics of Jury Service

Reporting Instructions

Report to Room 106 of the Milwaukee County Courthouse, 901 N. 9th Street. Regular jurors report by 9 a.m. on your first day. Reserve jurors call the recorded message at (414) 985-6000 or see reporting instructions. Check in upon arrival and when returning from court. Jurors who do not check in will be marked absent and will not be paid. When you are released for the day from the Jury Assembly area or from a court, you will be instructed either by the Jury Management staff or the judge when and where to report the next day.

Availability

If you absolutely cannot serve the dates scheduled, you can request a postponement. If you serve the first day, you are expected to complete your service. If any of the following apply at this time, contact our office:

• You are no longer a Milwaukee County resident
• You are on probation or parole for a felony
• You are not a U.S. citizen
   

Parking

There is NO free parking for jurors at the courthouse. There is limited, pay parking available near the courthouse. The Vel R. Phillips Juvenile Justice Center (Children's Court) has a large surface lot with ample parking.

Illness or Emergency

Jurors in the pool: If you are unable to report for jury duty because of illness or emergency, call the Jury Management office shortly after 8 a.m. at (414) 278-4469. If you are unable to complete your service, you will be rescheduled, with no credit or pay for the first day.

Jurors assigned to a panel in court: You must contact the Jury Management office at (414) 278-4469 shortly after 8 a.m. You will be transferred to the courtroom in which you are serving as you report directly to the judge. Keep in mind that once you are sworn on a panel, the case cannot proceed without all jurors present.

Juror Pay

You will be paid a juror fee of $8 for each morning (8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) and $8 for each afternoon (12:30 p.m. - end of day) that you are present for jury service, plus a travel allowance of $9 per day. Your check will be mailed to your home 15 - 21 days after the end of your jury duty. No deductions are made from your check for any purpose, and we do not furnish a W-2 form at the end of the year.

Half-day pay: $17 (released before 12:30 p.m., or reporting after 12:30 p.m.)

Full-day pay: $25

If you have had an address change since you were summoned, inform the receptionist immediately. Checks are issued approximately three weeks after your jury service is complete. Jury paychecks expire 60 days after they are printed. Cash them promptly as the County Treasurer's office charges $15 to re-issue a check that has expired.

Breaks

Periodic 10-minute breaks will be announced. Jurors are not permitted to leave the jury assembly area except on announced breaks. Return promptly, as panels are sent to court sporadically throughout the day.

Smoking is not allowed in the Courthouse. Wait for an announced break to leave the building to smoke (or for any other reason). We recommend using the 10th Street or Wells Street exits because it is faster to get back into the building through those doors. Be sure to smoke at least 30 feet from any entrance to the building.

Juror Badge

Your juror sticker is to be worn at all times in the Courthouse, Criminal Justice Facility or Safety Building. We will provide a new sticker each day of your service. This will ensure that people do not discuss court cases or proceedings in your presence.

Lunch Break

You are released for lunch by the Jury Management staff or by the judge to whom you are assigned for trial. There are a number of options for lunch:

• The Courthouse Cafe is located on the Ground (G) Floor. The Cafe offers hot meals, deli sandwiches, salads, desserts, coffee and both bottled and fountain sodas.
• Your juror badge will permit you a free admission to the Milwaukee Public Museum over the lunch period. There is another cafe inside the museum.
• See restaurants nearby. 

Amenities

The following are located in the Jury Assembly area for your use:

• Vending machines (soda, snacks, coffee)
• Outgoing mailbox
• Fax machine
• Microwaves
• Restrooms
• Wi-Fi
• Several desktop computers
• Refrigerators
   

Employer Form Letter

The Jury Management staff will provide a form letter for your employer showing the days served and the amount of money paid for serving as a juror. These form letters will be distributed at the end of your jury service. We do not mail letters directly to your employer.

Additional Information

For inclement weather information, call (414) 985-6200. Courts seldom close due to weather.

It is very important to not discuss any case with your fellow jurors or even members of your family.

Cell phones, pagers and computers are not to be used in the courtrooms or deliberation rooms without the prior consent of the Judge. You are welcome, however, to use them in the Jury Assembly area.

Jurors coming to the courthouse will go through metal detectors when entering the building. Leave sharp objects at home (including pocket knives, scissors, fingernail clippers, metal nail files, wallet chains, knitting needles, crochet hooks and pepper spray).

You may not visit any courtrooms or conduct court business while you are here serving as a juror, as you may get the wrong impression of cases being heard. Trials may seem alike, but each case must be judged individually. Any other time, all courtrooms are open to the public.

Names are obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles database. This includes drivers licenses and state identification cards issued by the DMV. Voter lists are not used at this time.

Be on time. Once you are selected on a panel, the court cannot continue unless all jurors are present.

Let the Jury Management and court staff know if you have any special needs.