Jurors - Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do when I receive a jury summons?

It is very important that you read all the information in the jury summons package. If you need assistance, please contact the summoning court.

You must appear at the court location on the date and time stated on your summons unless you have been granted a deferral or excusal prior to the summons attendance date.

Failure to respond to your summons may result in an $800 infringement.

What should I do before I attend?

Inform your employer of your summons attendance date. Advise your employer that you may be required for up to 5 days for trial selection. It is important that you are available, and you can attend. Should you not be required on one of those days you will be directed to return to work. 

Login to the Jury WA Portal using your unique summons number and your date of birth. You then will be able to:

• Update your contact information
• Enter your bank and employment details to receive jury payments.
• Record any food allergies (meals are provided if you are deliberating on a trial during a meal period).

I need to update my address with WA Electoral Commission?

In line with the Juries Act 1957, your last known enrolled address with the WAEC is provided to Jury Services for the random summoning of people for jury service.

If a person is summoned for jury service and does not attend, they may be issued an infringement for $800. If an infringement is not dealt with, or is unpaid, it will automatically be referred to the Fines Enforcement Registry for enforcement. This may include a suspension of a driver’s license or other sanctions.
If is important to update your address details directly with the WAEC so that you don’t miss a summons. Visit the WAEC website to update or confirm your enrolment details. 

Updating your details with other government departments does not update the WAEC.

Why was I summoned when I haven’t committed a crime?

Being summoned does not mean you have committed a crime it means you have been randomly chosen to participate as a juror on a trial in the Supreme or District Court. A summons to jury service is not a choice, you are by law required to attend unless you have been granted a deferral or to be excused from jury service.    
Anyone aged between 18 and 75 years and listed on the electoral roll within each jury district is eligible to receive a jury summons. Once you reach the age of 75 years old you are no longer eligible for jury duty.

What can I expect when I first attend?

When you arrive, you will be required to move through security screening and have your identity confirmed. This is done by checking the jury summons you were sent against your photo identification. Once your identity is confirmed your attendance is then recorded and you will move to an assembly area.
The jury supervisor will deliver a jury induction to provide you with important information and show a video about the role of a juror and court proceedings.  

You will be given further instructions if you are required to attend on other days during the week for trial selection.

How many days will I be required?

The duration of your jury service is determined by the length and number of trials listed each week. You will be informed of your attendance requirements when you are released each day. 

You are not required to attend for more than 5 consecutive days for trial selection. If you are empanelled as a juror, you must attend daily for the duration of the trial or as directed by the Judge, until the trial concludes, or you are discharged.

If you have provided your contact details, you will be notified of any changes to your attendance requirements. Login to the Jury WA Portal using your unique summons number and your date of birth to provide your mobile number and email address.

How is a jury chosen?

A panel of potential jurors are escorted to a courtroom by a jury officer. Details about the trial will be read out which include the charges against the accused person. 

The judge will ask for the cards to empanel a jury. The cards each have a different number allocated to the potential jurors in the courtroom. The cards are randomly drawn from a box to select the jury.
If your number is called, you should move to the jury box to take a seat. At any point a lawyer may challenge your selection by calling out “Challenge”. If you are challenged, you should simply return to a seat in the back of the court. Lawyers are not required to provide any reasons for the challenge. Another juror will be called to take your place.

Additional jurors are often selected if a trial is going to run for a lengthy period. The judge will advise you of the anticipated length of the trial.

If you have any concerns about serving as a juror, or if you know someone or something about the trial, you must raise this with the judge before you enter the jury box.

What happens if I am not selected on a jury?

If you are not empanelled, then you must follow the directions of the jury officer who will give you further instructions. You may be required to attend another day for other trials, or you may be discharged.

You are expected to return to work when you are released. Contact your employer for instructions.

Will I get a break during the day?

There is generally a morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea break however, these are scheduled by the Judge. If you need a comfort break during the trial, you just need to catch the Jury Officer’s attention, who will advise the Judge of the need for a quick break.

What about food?

All jury rooms have a fridge and microwave if you want to bring in your own food. You are encouraged to bring in your own food if you have specific dietary requirements. If your jury is not deliberating you will have time over the lunch period to also purchase lunch. There is not enough time at morning tea for you to be released to purchase food. 

Lunch and or dinner is provided if you are a juror that has gone into deliberations and those deliberations are going to continue into the lunch or dinner period. Again, you are encouraged to bring in your own food if you have specific dietary requirements.

Can I use electronic devices while I wait?

While you are in the jury assembly room and waiting to go to court you will be able to use your electronic devices. When you are taken to court you will be asked to switch off all electronic devices and not leave them on silent.

I have a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) and will need to keep my phone on, what happens in this case?

When you attend the court, there is an in-court balloting for juror selection. If during the in-court ballot process your juror number is called, please raise your CGM with the trial Judge. If the Judge has no issues with the phone remaining on but on silent, the Judge will make an order to allow the phone to remain on. If the Judge believes it may be too much of a distraction, they may set you aside and not empanel you.

Can I bring my carer or support person with me?

If you have a carer or support person, they will not be able to attend jury service with you. Contact the issuing court to explain your situation and to discuss what steps should next be taken.

Can I pray during the day?

Please let your jury officers know that you wish to pray during the day. The jury officer will discuss with you accessing a private room and timings. If you are part of a deliberating jury, you will need to make a request to the Judge so that provisions can be made to accommodate you.  

Does my employer have to release me for jury service?

Your employer must release you to attend for jury service and continue to pay your wages.
We encourage you to talk to your employer about your summons to jury service. In consultation with your employer, you may wish to consider the option to defer your initial summons. However, this decision remains with you and your employer cannot make this decision for you.

There are serious penalties for any employer that acts in a prejudicial manner towards an employee as a result of being summoned and attending jury service.

Your employer can refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for Employers for detailed information.

What if I am a Night Shift Worker?

You should not work a night shift on the same day you are required to attend for jury service, this includes working past midnight the night before.

However, your employer should still pay your full entitlements including allowances as if you had worked the night shift. 

We recommend you keep your employer informed of your attendance requirements.

What if I am self-employed?

You have the flexibility to defer your jury service for up to 6 months to provide you more time to prepare for your attendance.

You will be able to submit a claim for lost personal income with documented tax verifiable evidence for the days you attend. Refer to Payments and Claims for detailed information. Please note that in line with the Jury Regulations 2008 claims are limited to $1000 a day unless undue hardship can be proven. This could mean there is a detrimental consequence to a financial commitment you have for yourself or your business. Should you have concerns, you are encouraged to contact the summoning court to discuss further. 

What about parents and carers?

If there is no one else that can take your place, you will need to defer your jury service for up to 6 months in the first instance. If you are still in the same situation when next summoned, you can submit an application for excusal. 

The Department of Justice will pay or reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket costs for care on days you (the primary carer) attend jury service and do not usually require care. The childcare, family care, outside school care or respite care provider must be a licensed facility. Refer to Payments and Claims for detailed information.

I don’t have alternative care options; can I bring my baby with me?

You are not able to bring children with you to jury service. Please read the information sheet attached to your summons or contact the issuing your court to discuss your options.  

I have small children, will you pay for childcare, while I attend Service?

Jury Services will pay or reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket costs for the days that are not usually accessed for childcare. To be eligible to claim childcare, daycare, family care, outside school care or respite care, the facility provider must be a licenced service provider.

The primary carer is responsible for making bookings, placing, and collecting children, and knowing the business hours of the provider. The carer should enquire about the cancellation policy of the provider as they can only be reimbursed for days they have served as a juror.

It is recommended the carer makes arrangements for an alternative person to collect the children if the carer is part of a jury that is deliberating, as they may be unable to leave in time. You must provide care statements for the periods prior to and during jury service, to demonstrate your out-of-pocket expense, to support a reimbursement claim.

I am currently breastfeeding; will I be able to express milk whilst I’m at Jury Service?

Please let your jury officers know that you wish to express milk during the day. The jury officer will discuss with you accessing a private room. There are fridges in jury rooms where the milk can be stored until end of the day.

Will I get paid for jury service?

Your employer is required to continue to pay your wages while you attend jury service. This includes all employment types such as full time, part time and casual where there was an expectation of work. However, if you have signed an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement when you were employed, please check if there is a clause in relation to Jury Service as you may be on a reduced wage while completing Jury Service.
After you have been paid, your employer will be able to make a claim for your wages within 3 months of the completion of Jury Service. 

If you are not employed or are retired, a small statutory attendance fee is payable for days you attend.
Login to the Jury WA Portal using your unique summons number and your date of birth enter your bank and employment details to receive jury payments.

I want to drive, where can I park, and will I be reimbursed?

Jury Services will make payment of a travel allowance for a person travelling from home to the court and return for the days served as a juror. A travel allowance is the public transport fare for a person attending a Perth court or for a person attending a regional court they are paid per kilometre. 

Any costs associated with parking, where to park and infringements costs are the responsibility of the juror and will not be reimbursed. Rideshare options such as Uber and alike are also not considered public transport, and these fares will also not be reimbursed.

Can I ride my bike or scooter to the Court to attend Jury Service?

Bikes and scooters are not permitted in courthouses. It is your responsibility to be able to find somewhere suitable and secure to leave your bike or scooter outside.

Do I need to show my travel receipts to be reimbursed my travel?

You do not need to keep your travel receipts. Provided you have entered your correct and current bank details in the Jury WA portal, your travel payment will be paid to you the week following your attendance and weekly thereafter. Depending if you live in Perth or a regional location will depend on how the system calculates the payment.  

I have just done jury duty, why didn’t I get any travel money?

There could be two reasons why this happens. 

If you live within inner city Perth and fall within the Free Transit Zone, no payment will generate. Check the Transperth website to see if you live within this Zone.

You have not added your correct or current bank details into the Jury WA Portal.  
 

How can I verify I attended for jury service?

You can download an Attendance Record by logging into the Jury WA Portal using your unique summons number and your date of birth. An electronic copy will be automatically issued at the completion of a trial by email or posted if you have not provided your email address. Alternatively, the court can provide you a copy upon request.

Is there any support after the trial? 

Jurors often leave court feeling a sense of achievement. However, it is also common to feel detached or confused after facing the intensity of the courtroom and being confined to a jury room. These feelings usually pass in a few days.

However, should you need support, the Department provides jurors access to the Juror Support Program through PeopleSense.  

When you have completed your jury duty, you will be given Juror Release Information which provides further details.

Can I find out about the sentencing on the trial I served on?

When you have completed your jury duty, you will be given Juror Release Information which outlines how to make a sentence enquiry through the District or Supreme Court.   
 

I don’t have enough about the law, does this mean I should not do jury duty?

Jurors are a cross section of our community and come from all walks of life and legal knowledge is not a requirement. As a juror your role is to hear evidence, apply the law as directed by the judge, and decide if a person is guilty or not guilty.

I heard trials go for months, is this true?

The average trial length in the District Court of Western Australia is between 3 to 5 days, there are exceptions where trials listed can be longer, but jurors will be made aware of the length of trial by the trial Judge in their address to the jurors.

Can I volunteer to do jury service or nominate someone else to do my jury service for me?

You cannot volunteer for jury service, nor can you nominate someone to complete jury service on your behalf. 

The summoned person is the only person who can appear and complete jury service unless they have been approved for a deferral or excusal. 

Each year, the Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) provides the Sheriff of Western Australia with a new book of names, randomly chosen for possible selection for jury duty.

Will I be able to go home at the end of the day?

Jurors serving on a trial go home each night.

However, there could be a very rare occurrence where a Judge does decide the jury must be kept together during the deliberation process until a verdict is reached. This is known as sequestering and means the jury is housed together in a hotel to prevent any external influence.