Jury Service

You are qualified to serve on a jury if you...

Resident state tax filers, registered voters and the Department of Motor Vehicles' list of licensed drivers and identification cardholders residing within Nevada County are used as source lists for prospective jurors. Names are randomly selected from the countywide population by computer.

Rarely, these lists may contain your name in different variations. For example, John Doe Smith could appear as John D. Smith or John Smith. In these instances, you may appear in our system with multiple profiles and could receive a jury summons after you have already completed service for the year.

If this happens, please contact Jury Services at jury@nccourt.net and provide your full name and most recent service date. 

The Nevada City courthouse is located at 201 Church Street, Nevada City CA 95959

The Truckee courthouse is located at 10075 Levon Avenue, Truckee CA 96161

Nevada City Courthouse

To avoid receiving a parking citation, you must place the detachable Juror Parking Permit (affixed to your summons) on your dashboard where it is clearly visible. This permit allows you to park at a meter or 2- or 4-hour curb parking in the Nevada City area. This does not exempt you from parking in red, yellow or green zones.

Truckee Courthouse

There are no designated spaces for jurors at the Truckee Courthouse. Parking is on a first-come, first-available basis. Do not park in the hospital parking lot.

Please bring your summons. We also suggest bringing a refillable water bottle and something to read during waiting periods.

Upon entering the courthouse, you will be required to pass through a metal detector. Hand-carried items will be x-rayed for weapons. 

Nevada County jurors are provided with free wireless Internet access during jury duty. Instructions and passwords to the public network are posted throughout the building in Nevada City and the Clerk's office in Truckee.

Jury trials are generally in session from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Lunch breaks are usually taken from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., and brief recesses are held throughout the day.

Average jury trials last two (2) to five (5) days. In some instances, trials may last longer. The judge will advise you of the estimated trial duration.

We understand that sometimes prospective jurors are unable to fulfill their jury duty on the date and time for which they have been summoned. Each juror is allowed to change the date of their service once in a given year.

You can request a one-time postponement through the Jury Portal or call (530) 265-7878. You will need your juror badge number and zip code to access a service request. 

If you do not have the option to request a one-time postponement through the self-service platforms and have not utilized your one-time postponement for the year, please contact Jury Services at jury@nccourt.net with your full name and badge number. 

If you are over 70-years of age and health concerns no longer permit service, you are not required to provide a doctor's statement. Please log on to our jury portal and navigate to the "Request for Excusal" section. 

If you are under 70-years of age and have a physical, psychological or emotional condition that makes it impossible for you to serve, you must provide a written or typed letter from your healthcare provider on the provider's letterhead that includes the following:

• Your full name
• Your juror badge number
• Your juror summons service period
• If the request for excusal is permanent or temporary
  • If the request for excusal is temporary, the statement must include the length of the excuse
  • If the request for excusal is permanent, the statement must include the language "permanently remove from jury service", otherwise you will receive a new summons at a future date. 
• Your provider's signature

Please submit your request for medical excuse from jury service documentation using the Upload Documents tab on the Jury Portal within seven (7) days of receiving your summons or mail to: Jury Services, 201 Church Street, Suite 10, Nevada City, CA 95959

Payment to jurors begins on the second and subsequent days of service. You do not get paid on the first day of service.

Nevada County pays $15.00 per day plus 34¢ per mile to and from the courthouse from the address on your summons. 

Requests for excusal from jury service due to undue hardship, financial hardship or work hardship can only be granted or denied by a judge. If instructed to report to the courthouse for service, you must make your request in person on the first day you are required to report.

Peace Officers as defined by Penal Code § 830.1(a)-(c), Penal Code § 830.2(a)-(d) or Penal Code § 830.5(a) that are currently serving will be excused from service. Correctional Officers cannot be excused from jury service. Please log on to the Jury Portal to request an excusal. 

Local Rule 1.10 requires business or casual dress. Bare midriffs, bare feet, hats (except when worn for religious purposes) and any clothing or items that undermine the dignity and integrity of the judicial process are prohibited.  

Jurors are advised to dress in layers as the temperature of the jury assembly areas and courtrooms can be unpredictable. 

By law, your employer is required to give you time off to serve on a jury and is not required to pay you while on jury duty. California Labor Code § 230 prevents any employer from firing or harassing an employee who is summoned for jury service.

You should inform your employer well in advance of your service date to make reasonable accommodations. If necessary, you may postpone your jury service to a more convenient time through the Jury Portal. 

Please visit our American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations page to request an ADA accommodation. Fill out Form MC-410 and email your request to ada@nccourt.net.

Requests should be made as far in advance of the accommodation implementation date as possible, but no less than five (5) court dates prior to the requested implementation date. The court may, in its discretion, waive this requirement. 

Due to the nature of the court process itself, there are often periods of waiting before jurors can be seated in the courtroom. The judge and court staff work to reduce the time prospective jurors spend waiting for assignment. The court asks for your patience and suggests bringing a book to read. There are brief recesses throughout the day, and you will have at least one hour for lunch.

Please do not call Jury Services to confirm if the court has received your request for a one-time postponement, disqualification or excusal from service.

If you have submitted a service request and are waiting for a response, please log in to the Jury Portal to check your status. If have difficulties accessing the portal, please call (530) 362-5324. If you are under 70-years of age and have requested an excusal for health concerns, you must provide a letter from your health care provider.