Juror Information

 

Dear Juror:

IN THE INSTANCE THAT A TRIAL HAS BEEN SETTLED OR HAS BEEN MOVED TO A FUTURE DATE, OUR OFFICE MAY CONTACT YOU VIA THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS YOU HAVE LISTED ON YOUR JUROR QUALIFICATION FORM THAT YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED.

OUR OFFICE WILL NEVER ASK FOR A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR DATE OF BIRTH TO CONFIRM YOUR IDENTITY.  IF YOU RECEIVE A TELEPHONE CALL REQUESTING THIS INFORMATION FOR JURY DUTY PURPOSES, DO NOT RELEASE THIS INFORMATION AS IT MAY BE AN IDENTITY THEFT SCAM.   

Last updated at: 2-27-2024


PANEL C-2024:

YOU DO NEED TO REPORT FOR JURY SERVICE ON:

  • MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2024;
  • MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2024; AND
  • MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2024,

ALL AT 9:00 A.M.


FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RECEIVED A JUROR QUALIFICATION FORM IN THE MAIL AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL THE CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT OFFICE AT: 402-563-4906 


Thank you for your continued courtesies and cooperation during this jury term. Please contact Marlene Vetick, Platte County, Columbus, Nebraska, District Court Clerk, at (402) 563-4906 for any questions.


COUNTY COURT/JURY PANEL:

Please contact Lindsay Meister, Platte County, Columbus, Nebraska, County Court Clerk/Magistrate, at (402) 563-4905, for any questions regarding your appearance requirements.


NO CELL PHONES OR ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE ALLOWED TO BE USED DURING YOUR JURY SERVICE EXCEPT WITH PERMISSION FROM THE COURT.

You will be passing through a security metal detector prior to your admission into the Courthouse. For your convenience, please do not bring any metal objects (such as pocket knives, nail files, etc.) with you or please leave them in your automobile.

Any changes regarding your attendance will be posted on this website or at the following telephone numbers:
Please call the Juror Line at: 402-563-4954 for updates or the office 402-563-4906 with any questions.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience.

Please appear by 9:00 A.M. unless you have been excused by the District Judge previously.

Please register in the Clerk of District Court Office upon your arrival on each date above listed.

 

Welcome to Jury Duty in the Platte County District Court. We will do all that we can to make you comfortable and answer any questions you might have as you fulfill this very important duty of your citizenship.  

How was I chosen as a juror?

Jurors are chosen at random from current lists of persons age 18 or older, living in Platte County, Nebraska and are either registered voters or licensed drivers or have been issued a State identification card. Some people are chosen several times during their lifetime, others are never chosen.

If you are a registered voter or licensed driver or state identification card holder, you have the same chance of being chosen as someone else who meets those criteria.

If you are prospective juror, you will have received a summons requiring you to appear for jury duty during the next jury term of the Platte County District Court. Although the summons notifies you to appear on a variety of different dates, it is unlikely that you will actually be required to appear on all the dates indicated. This is because cases scheduled for trial will, on occasion, settle prior to the trial date. Likewise, it is possible that cases scheduled for trial will, by necessity, sometimes be continued. Whenever cases scheduled for trial might be settled or continued, this office will provide you with notice at the earliest possible opportunity that you will not be required to appear on a certain date or dates.

You are one of a larger panel, or venire, that have been summoned for jury duty during this term of court. From this larger panel, a jury of 12 persons will ultimately be selected to serve as jurors in given case. On occasion, one or two additional alternated jurors may also be selected.

When you report for jury duty, please check in at the Clerk of District Court's office. The jury selection process will them commence. As a general rule, the jury selection process will last through the morning. However, this might vary depending on the nature of the case being tried. After jury selection has been completed, those members of the panel who are not selected as jurors or alternates will be excused, and will be notified and reminded when to return for jury duty for the next scheduled trial.

Generally, trials in the district court average approximately 2 or 3 days to complete. Again, this is only a general rule of thumb, and the trial of any given case, depending on the circumstances unique to that case, may require more or less time to complete. During the jury selection process the judge will usually indicate an estimate as to the length of time expected to complete the trial.

A Prospective juror is required by law to appear for jury duty on all dates summoned. However, the judge may excuse a juror only upon a showing of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, or public necessity. Strict proof of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, or public necessity will be required by the judge prior to considering a possible juror excuse. Jurors are rarely excused because of work obligations. In this regard, our law provides that any person summoned for jury duty shall not be subject to discharge from employment, loss of pay, loss of sick leave, loss of vacation time, or any other form of penalty, as a result of his or her absence from employment due to such jury duty, upon necessary to request an excuse from jury duty for any given trial, you must obtain from this office and fill out a written application for postponement of jury service. The judge will then review your request, and you will be advised of his decision.

You will be paid $35.00 per day for jury service, plus mileage outside the city limits.

Our office will try to make your jury service informative and pleasant. If you have questions, please feel free to call me at our office number 402-563-4906