Jury duty

Trial by jury is a cornerstone of our criminal justice system. Through participation in the jury system, people in a community play a direct role in the administration of justice and help to maintain all of our own rights and freedoms.

Receiving a Juror Summons

Prospective jurors are:

• Canadian citizens
• at least 18 years of age
• randomly chosen from the Alberta Registries database

If you’re chosen for jury selection, a Juror Summons – which is a court order – will be delivered to you. It directs you to attend court on the day and time that’s on the front.

If you receive a summons for someone else:

• mail it back – 'return to sender' through Canada Post – if they don’t live at your address
• fill it out – as their ‘agent’ – if they live at your address

How to apply

Step 1. Submit your Juror Summons

If you’re eligible for jury duty you will need to submit your Juror Summons:

1. Fill out the Juror Certification section of your summons.
2. Mail or drop off the Office Copy to the Jury Management Office on the summons within 5 days of receiving it.
3. Keep the Prospective Juror copy.
4. Call the Jury Management Office before coming to court.

If you’re excluded from serving as a juror:

1. Fill out the Application To Be Excused section of your summons.
2. Mail or drop off the Office Copy to the Jury Management Office on the summons.
3. Keep the Prospective Juror copy.
4. If you haven’t been notified that you’re excused – before the court date on your juror summons – call the Jury Management Office.

Note: Submitting an ‘Application To Be Excused’ doesn’t mean you’re automatically excused from jury duty.

Step 2. Attend the jury selection

For the selection, you should:

• arrive a few minutes before the time on your Juror Summons
• bring your summons and photo ID
• dress like you’re going to a job interview

During the selection, you:

• may explain to the judge, if necessary, why you want to be excused from jury duty
• will be told the date and length of the trial
• may be questioned by both the defence and Crown lawyer
• will be asked to sit in the jury box – if you’re accepted by the court
• may be asked to ‘stand aside’; this means that you won’t be needed for this particular jury duty

Note: The court may summon potential jurors more than once.

Fees and expenses

If you’re selected to serve on a jury, you’ll be:

• paid $50 per day for jury duty
• reimbursed for reasonable travel expenses
• reimbursed for accommodation expenses – if overnight stays are required and approved by the Jury Management Office

The Jury Management Office will mail a cheque to the address you give them.

Parking

Most courthouses have parkades nearby. Parking fees are your responsibility.