The keystone of the justice system in the United States is the right to a trial by jury. This right is guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Georgia Constitution. The right to a jury trial has a long history. It was part of the civil liberties granted by King John of England on June 15, 1215, and was recorded in the document known as Magna Carta. Trial by one’s peers was designed to prevent too much power being in the hands of the king.
Juries continue to be important to the justice system. Jurors determine the facts of the evidence in the case presented to them. Jury duty is an opportunity to serve the community. We in the court system will try to make your experience as pleasant as possible. In exchange, we hope that you will be fair, impartial and dedicated in completing your jury duty.
In order to serve as a juror for Bibb County, you must reside in the county. If you no longer live in Bibb County, please so state on the affidavit included in your summons, have it notarized and return it promptly to the Clerk’s Office.
In order to serve as a juror for Bibb County, you must be a citizen of the United States. If you are not a citizen, please so state on the affidavit included in your summons, have it notarized and return it promptly to the Clerk’s Office.
If you are 70 years of age or older and do not wish to serve, please so state on the affidavit included in your summons, have it notarized and return it promptly to the Clerk’s Office.
If you are claiming a medical and /or physical problem, a medical excuse must be provided to the Clerk’s Office. For minor or temporary problems, you may ask to be deferred to a later date. In either case, you must state the request on your affidavit, have it notarized and return it promptly to the clerk’s Office.
If you are a full-time student, and your school is in session during the week you are called for, please so state on the affidavit included in your summons, have it notarized and return it promptly to the Clerk’s Office.
If you normally stay home during the day with a child six years of age or less, please so state on the affidavit included in your summons, have it notarized and return it promptly to the Clerk’s Office.
If you home school your children, please so state on the affidavit included in your summons, have it notarized and return it promptly to the Clerk’s Office.
If you are currently on active duty military, please so state on the affidavit included in your summons, have it notarized and return it promptly to the Clerk’s Office.
Further information regarding Jury Service can be found in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, beginning with Section 15-12-1.
Please read all the following instructions before reporting
Thank you for your public service.
If you have questions, please view our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section before contacting the Superior Court Clerk’s office at (478) 621-6527.
You are selected from a list of registered voters and licensed drivers. Jurors are selected on a random basis. You cannot serve on a jury in Bibb County if you are not a resident of Bibb County, have been convicted of a felony, or have a matter currently pending in the Bibb County Courts.
Most trials last two or three days; however some trials may take longer. The trial day usually ends between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. but on rare occasions could go later. If so, you may request to call your family to notify them. You are seldom asked to serve on more than one trial in a week, unless we have a particularly busy week. Normally, your service is only for one week (Monday through Friday) at the most. If you have any urgent appointments, family matters, vacation plans, or other concerns, are sure to complete and return the affidavit which is included in your jury summons. No excusals or deferrals will be granted by telephone. In the rare event that your trial is expected to last longer than one week, you will be notified so that you can let the Court know about appointments during the time period in question.
In Bibb County, you are paid $25 for each day of service. You will be given a preload debit card. If required by your employer, you will also be given a certificate showing the days you served. We have the special certificate required by the Post Office.
You may park on Mulberry Street, or in any of the nearby parking structures. If you receive an overtime parking ticket for parking on the street, we can have the ticket taken care of on Monday. After Monday, you will need to park in any of the nearby parking structures or in the limited number of public parking spaces behind Mulberry United Church. (Mulberry Methodist spaces require exact change ($3.00) to be placed in a numbered slot corresponding to your parking space.) We do not validate parking, but your jury check is for the purpose of paying for parking, transportation and meals. OCGA 15-12-7.
You may park on Mulberry Street, or in any of the nearby parking structures. If you receive an overtime parking ticket for parking on the street, we can have the ticket taken care of on Monday. After Monday, you will need to park in any of the nearby parking structures or in the limited number of public parking spaces behind Mulberry United Church. (Mulberry Methodist spaces require exact change ($3.00) to be placed in a numbered slot corresponding to your parking space.) We do not validate parking, but your jury check is for the purpose of paying for parking, transportation and meals. OCGA 15-12-7.
Please so state on the affidavit included in your summons, have it notarized and return it promptly to the Clerk’s Office. If you include a doctor’s certificate, please make sure the doctor mentions the date of your jury service on the excuse.
You will receive an orientation in the Jury Assembly Room on the Fourth Floor of the Bibb County Courthouse. You may relax in this room at any time when you are not actively involved in the jury selection process. You may bring your lunch with you; however, you will be excused from the Jury Assembly Room at lunch time and may leave the building to obtain lunch at one of the many restaurants located in the downtown area. Bathroom facilities and various food machines are available outside Jury Assembly Room for your use. The Bibb County Courthouse is a non-smoking building. You may smoke outside the building next to the steps on Second Street, and around the corner on Mulberry Street, where benches have been provided. There is a small collection of magazines available in the Jury Assembly Room, but it is suggested that you bring the reading material of your choice for your use during “down time.” Note: Certain Judges have asked that you NOT bring newspapers to read while serving as a juror.
When jury selection begins, the litigants are told your name, your occupation, your marital status, your spouse’s occupation, and the area where you live. At jury selection, additional questions are asked to determine if you can be fair to both sides if you are selected to serve on the jury.
A Grand Juror sits for a six-month term as a part of the Grand Jury, which is made up of 23 people. A member of the Grand Jury determines whether there is probable cause to charge someone with a crime. A Grand Jury also can conduct its own investigations. A traverse (trial) juror sits, listens to evidence in a courtroom and determines the facts in a particular case. A traverse juror usually serves for a week or less.
If you have any questions regarding your Jury Duty, please send an email to jury@maconbibb.us. or leave a message to us
601 Mulberry Street, Suite 216
Macon, GA 31201
P: (478) 621-6527
F: (478) 621-6033