Jury Service

a jury of men and women sitting down in front of a woman with a blue shirt standing before them.

Serving as a juror allows you to become more knowledgeable about your city, court and the law. Residents who serve as jurors usually feel a sense of pride and respect for our justice system. The judges and staff of the Lakewood Municipal Court thank you for your service as a juror. Your service as a juror is respected and appreciated.

Jury trials are routinely set on Friday; however, they can be set on any weekday. Rarely will a jury trial last more than one day.

Appearances

Call 303-987-7427, after 3 p.m., on the afternoon before your appearance date to determine whether your juror number is listed within the range of numbers.

If your number is listed, you must report to the Lakewood Municipal Court at 8 a.m., the next day. Failure to report for jury service will result in a Contempt of Court citation.

Occasionally, the status of jury trials changes after the scheduled call-in time. If you would like to verify that your juror status has not changed before appearing, please call after 5 p.m., on the afternoon before your appearance date.

Jurors are paid: $3 to appear for jury service; $6 to serve on a jury trial.

Potential jurors are subpoenaed for one trial. Once the jury trial is completed or if the trial is canceled the jury service ends.

Each Juror will be given a Juror Notebook(PDF, 106KB) outlining the trial procedures and expectations.

Excusals

Illness or being under a doctor's care is a valid reason to be excused from jury duty. A doctor's note must be provided to the court.

If you are no longer a resident of the city of Lakewood, you must mail in or fax a copy of a current bill showing your name and new address. Your juror number must accompany this document.

Employment and child care are not considered valid reasons to be excused from jury service. A personal appearance before a municipal judge may be required. The court does not provide child care.

Excusal requests must be received at least two days before your service date. If you have additional questions, please contact the court immediately at 303-987-7407.

Reschedules

You may reschedule one time up to six months from your original jury service date.

In the event you are not available for service on the date for which you have been summoned, or you have a conflict, please notify the court immediately upon receiving your jury summons at 303-987-7407.

Rescheduling requests must be received two days before your service date.

Legal Qualifications

You are 18 years of age or older.

You reside at least 50% of the time in Lakewood, whether or not you are registered to vote.

You are a citizen of the United States.

You can read, speak and understand the English language.

You have not been selected and served as an impaneled juror in any court within the preceding 12 months, nor have you been scheduled for juror service within the next 12 months by another court. (Any person claiming this disqualification shall submit proof from the appropriate authority, verifying prior or pending service.)

You do not have sole responsibility for the daily care of a permanently disabled person living in the same household, where your juror service would cause substantial risk of injury to the health of the disabled person. Before you may be disqualified, you must submit a statement from a doctor to the jury commissioner immediately after receiving your summons.

You do not have a physical or mental disability that would affect your ability to serve as a juror. If you do, you must submit a statement from your doctor to the jury commissioner immediately after receiving your summons.

By law, there are no economic, age-related or occupational exclusions from jury service.