Jury Questionnaire FAQs

GENERAL section of Questionnaire

• Do I have to report for jury duty if I received a Questionnaire?
• Addressed to deceased family member
• Addressed to child away at college
• Name on Questionnaire doesn't live at this address
• Lost or damaged Questionnaires

QUALIFICATIONS section on Questionnaire

• Military on Active Duty
• Already served jury duty
• DUI (Driving Under the Influence) convictions
• Civil rights restoration after treason/felony convictions

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS/QUESTIONS section on Questionnaire

If you own a home, building, and/or land or currently have a mortgage on your home, building, and/or land, please check yes to this question; if not, please check no.

What is a Jury Questionnaire and why did I receive one?

It is not a Summons for Jury Duty. You are not required to appear for Jury Duty at this time. The Jury Questionnaire is one of the first steps in the juror selection process. The Court uses the questionnaire responses to determine whether a citizen is qualified or exempt, based on the criteria set out in the Virginia Code.

Do I have to respond to the Questionnaire?

You are required by law to return the completed Jury Questionnaire to the Court and prompt return of the questionnaire is essential to avoid further correspondence from the Court. Failure to do so may result in your being summoned to Court.

Is the information supplied on the questionnaire really confidential?

The Court emphasizes that the information compiled from jury questionnaire responses is CONFIDENTIAL. It is used strictly for jury selection; and it is not disseminated to any other agencies or parties unless specifically authorized by federal or state law or by court order.

I received a Jury Questionnaire. Does this mean I have to report for jury duty?

No, not at this time. The Jury Questionnaire begins the screening process for prospective jurors. After the Court reviews your questionnaire response, you may be selected for jury duty during the upcoming calendar year. DO NOT call the Jury Administrator and asked to be excused from jury service at this time. You are only required to report to Court if you receive a Summons For Jury Duty.

I received a questionnaire last year and responded that I was either not qualified or I asked to be exempt from service. Why did I receive another questionnaire?

Prior years' questionnaire records are deleted to ensure impartiality and random selection.

I received two questionnaires. What should I do?

Fill out the questionnaire that has the name your prefer. Write "DUPLICATE" at the top. Return both questionnaires to the Court.

The questionnaire was sent to a family member who is deceased. What should I do?

Mark "deceased" on the questionnaire and return it to the Court. We try to avoid this situation. Please accept our apology.

I am unable to complete the questionnaire because of ill health or other physical or mental limitation. What should I do?

The questionnaire may be completed by an individual you authorize to act on your behalf. If you are disabled, please include official documentation of your disability with the return of your questionnaire.

The questionnaire is addressed to my son/daughter who is away at college. What should I do?

Forward the questionnaire to your son/daughter at college and have him/her mail the questionnaire to the Court. Or you may fill out the questionnaire for him, sign your name, indicate you are his parent, and return the questionnaire to the Court.

If selected for jury service, the Court will mail a Summons For Jury Duty approximately 30 days prior to the month of service.

If summoned for a month when he is at college, he can call the Jury Administrator, at that time, and request that his jury service be deferred. Your son/daughter would have to permanently move and declare residency in a state other than Virginia to be exempt from jury service in Virginia. This would require a change to his/her driver's license and/or voter registration.

The party whose name is on the questionnaire doesn't live at this address. What should I do?

If you know the party's forwarding address, mark through the address shown on the questionnaire, write the new address, and place the questionnaire in the U.S. mail. If you do not know the party's forwarding address, mark through the address printed on the questionnaire, write "Addressee does not live at this address - Forwarding address unknown," and place the questionnaire in the U.S. mail.

My questionnaire has been lost or damaged. How do I request a replacement?

You can complete online via the Juror Portal or click the Jury Questionnaire link below to print a copy and then Fax, Scan and email, or mail to:

Chesapeake Circuit Court
307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 400A
Chesapeake VA 23322

FAX: 757-382-3090

Email: juryoffice@cityofchesapeake.net

I am in the military, on active duty. Do I have to serve jury duty?

The first step is to determine whether you are qualified to serve. If you have been a resident of Virginia for 12 months and a resident of Chesapeake for 6 months and you meet all other eligibility requirements, you may be selected by the jury commissioners to serve jury duty. Please note that United States Army, Air Force, or Navy personnel or their spouses are not considered residents of Virginia by reason of being stationed here. You must have declared Virginia as your state of residency in the "SC" block on your military Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) for at least one year to be eligible to serve jury duty.

DO NOT call the Jury Administrator and asked to be excused from jury service at this time. If you are selected for jury service, the Court will mail you a Summons For Jury Duty approximately 30 days prior to your month of service. At that time, you would contact the Jury Administrator if you are deployed out of the area or you, otherwise, are not available to serve. She will defer your service to a month when you will be available.

If you asking to be excused from jury service, submit to the Jury Administrator a letter from your commanding officer that states the basis for the request: that such service would unreasonably interfere with the performance of the member's military duties; or would adversely affect the readiness of the unit, command, or activity to which the member is assigned.

I have already served jury duty. Can I be called to serve again?

Yes, unless you "reported" for jury service in a "state court" within the last three years or you do not meet one of the other qualifications. "Reported" means you appeared in the jury room on an assigned date as instructed by the Court. If you received a summons and your number was never selected to come in, then you did not "report".

"State court" refers to the Chesapeake Circuit Court. The Chesapeake Circuit Court is one several circuit courts in Virginia.

"State court" does not include the Federal Court (United States District Court). You may actually serve in both the Federal Court and the Chesapeake Circuit Court in the same year if summoned by both courts.

If you do not know the year you previously served in the Chesapeake Circuit Court, place a "?" in the blank for the year. The jury staff will check your prior service.

Is DUI (driving under the influence) considered a felony?

A first conviction for DUI is not considered a felony nor are other traffic-related offenses. If you answer "Yes" include a description of the felony conviction.

How do I know if my civil rights have been restored?

It depends upon the law of the state in which you were convicted. If you were convicted under Virginia law, rights would have to be restored by the Governor or by an Order of a Circuit Court.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS:

Call the Jury Office at 757-382-3061 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email juryoffice@cityofchesapeake.net.