Jury Duty FAQs

After the jury votes, the presiding juror will fill out a verdict form. The presiding juror will then contact the judge or the clerk to let them know that a verdict has been reached. Then the clerk will have the jury return to the courtroom where the verdict will be given to the judge, who will announce the jury’s verdict in open court. The parties may request that the judge poll the jurors. The judge will then dismiss the jurors.

Arrive for jury duty on time, at least a few minutes early.

Get a good night’s rest so that you can concentrate on the proceedings.

The Oregon State Bar publishes a Jury Duty Handbook which can be viewed at osbar.org/public/jurorhandbook.htm

The City of St. Helens and the staff of the St. Helens Municipal Court want to thank you for participating as a juror. Your participation is essential to the preservation of the justice system in St. Helens, Columbia County, and the State of Oregon.

All cell phones must be turned off in the courtroom, and pagers must be muted. If you are one of the six jurors selected to stay and hear the whole trial, your phones will be collected by the clerk and will be kept safe during trial. They will be returned to you during the lunch break and after the trial is finished.

The Court has the power to order that you appear in court and explain why you were unable to report for jury service.  Citizens who don’t appear for jury service may be punished for Contempt of Court.

St. Helens Municipal Court hears a variety of misdemeanor cases. A case comes to trial when the City charges a person, called the defendant, with violating a law, such as driving under the influence of alcohol, theft, or disorderly conduct. In criminal cases, after hearing evidence, the jury is asked to return a verdict of either guilty or not guilty.

The first job of the jury is to choose a presiding juror who will see that every juror has an opportunity to be heard.  The presiding juror will also conduct the balloting when the jury votes on a verdict.

It is important that you wait to formulate your opinion about the verdict until the deliberations begin in the jury room.  To avoid arguments in the jury room, listen to everyone’s opinion, make your own decision, and vote as your intellect and conscience dictate.

Street parking is available across from the courtroom and on the plaza.  Click here to view a map.  The six jurors that are chosen to be on the jury will be given all-day parking passes.

The judge and court clerk have access to all of the Court documents through their computers. This enables them to quickly retrieve information and to communicate with each other electronically.

When a trial is about to begin, the judge will seat the potential jurors based on a list that was randomly prepared by the clerk. The judge will introduce the jurors to the parties and their attorneys. The judge may then outline the issues of the case and may ask the potential jurors some general questions. Next, the parties or their attorneys may also question the potential jurors. This jury selection process is called “voir dire” which is French for “to tell the truth.” Attorneys can challenge potential jurors “for cause” by giving the judge a good reason to have a juror excused. Each attorney may also use a limited number of “peremptory” challenges without giving a reason. If you are excused from serving, you should not take it personally because it is not a reflection on your competency or character. The chosen jurors will be sworn in when voir dire is completed, at which time the judge will instruct the jury about rules to be followed during the trial.

Please call the jury line at (503) 397-1129, the night before the trial to confirm if it is still scheduled. If the case is settled before the trial date, the message will be updated to reflect that the trial has been canceled and you do not need to appear.