Jury service is an obligation as well as an honor. In accordance with law, prospective jurors are selected at random. Service is usually no more than a week, and it may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to serve our community in the administration of justice. Those who have previously served on jury trials almost unanimously tell me that it’s been a great experience. I usually emphasize to prospective jurors that a jury summons should be considered as an invitation to participate in our system of justice. It should be noted that the “system” is brilliantly constructed; it’s the people involved in the system that make it work effectively, or not. I also advise prospective jurors to consider the importance of service as follows: (1) If you or a family member happened to be a victim of a crime or the accused/ defendant in a criminal case, you would want fair-minded prospective jurors willing and able to serve; or (2) If you or a family member had a civil claim as a plaintiff or you or a family member or your business was sued in a civil action, you would want fair-minded prospective jurors willing and able to serve. If you consider jury service from these perspectives, you can begin to understand the importance from an individual and community standpoint.

All persons summonsed for jury service must be available to serve. You have an exemption from jury service (1) if you are age 70 or above; or (2) if you have actually served on a jury within the immediate past two years. This exemption is personal to you, and if you want to exercise it you must notify the jury coordinator or me.

I can reschedule (not excuse) you for another week (1) if you have a medical illness or condition preventing your service which is documented by a letter from a medical doctor; or (2) if you have a hardship which will significantly interfere with your ability to serve. In either of these two cases, I can only reschedule you to another week – not excuse you from jury service.

The qualifications to serve on a jury are set forth by law, and in order to qualify to serve as a juror, a person must:

(1) Be a citizen of the United States and of this state who has resided within the parish in which he is to serve as a juror for at least one year immediately preceding his jury service.

(2) Be at least eighteen years of age.

(3) Be able to read, write, and speak the English language and be possessed of sufficient knowledge of the English language.
(4) Not be under interdiction or incapable of serving as a juror because of a mental or physical infirmity, provided that no person shall be deemed incompetent solely because of the loss of hearing in any degree.

(5) Not be under indictment for a felony nor have been convicted of a felony for which he has not been pardoned.

If you do not meet one or more of the above qualifications, please advise the jury coordinator or me. Unless told otherwise by the jury coordinator or me, you must report as directed.

On the first day that you are scheduled to report, you will report to the Caddo Parish courthouse. The courthouse is located in downtown Shreveport at 501 Texas Street. The courthouse takes up a city block and is bordered by Texas Street on the north, Milam Street on the south and McNeil on the west and Marshall on the east. You are responsible for any costs associated with parking the first day. Please dress appropriately (no tank tops, shorts or inappropriate attire). Allow yourself time to locate a parking place and time to get into the courthouse. You may enter on either the Texas Street side or the Milam Street side and you, as all citizens, will go through security. You will gather in the jury assembly room on the ground floor, either G18 or G20. Roll will be called and you will see a jury orientation film. After viewing the film you will be escorted by the jury coordinator or a Caddo deputy/bailiff to the courtroom, where you will receive instructions from me.


After a brief welcome and some preliminary instructions, I will call the first 12-15 prospective jurors for voir dire. Voir dire is a procedure set forth in our Louisiana Constitution, statutes and jurisprudence. The purpose is to allow the lawyers the opportunity to determine who might best serve in the case. It is a question and answer format; it’s important to note that there are no right or wrong answers. Of course, the right answer is a true answer. Try not to be nervous; just tell us how you feel. The statements of the lawyers will focus on some of the legal concepts that may apply to the case. There may be questions about some of the concepts and whether you can accept and apply the law and these concepts to the case at hand. There may be limited questioning about you, the purpose of which is not to invade your sense of privacy but, rather, to provide the lawyers with some basic information, again so that they may decide who can best serve on the case.

If you are not selected to serve on the case, you will be excused and advised to report for another case, probably on another day. Remember, your jury summons is for the week. If you are selected to serve, you will be advised on the time for opening statements and you will likely be excused until that point (it may be necessary for another panel to be interviewed and you will not have to sit through that examination).

I will provide you an estimated duration of trial. Some cases take 1-2 days while other cases may take a week. I pledge to be efficient with your time as I recognize that each individual juror’s time is precious.





Some other points:

A. Parking – Once you are selected, you will be given a card which allows you to park free of charge at a designated location. Once selected, I will advise you of that site.

B. Per Diem – You are entitled to state law per diem of $25.00 per day. We can pay no less and no more than the amount allowed by law!

C. Court Hours – Generally, and unless instructed otherwise, we will begin at 9:00 a.m. and stop about 5:30 p.m. with a lunch break of about 75-90 minutes and breaks as necessary throughout the day.

D. Attire – Please choose comfortable but appropriate attire.

E. Decorum – Jurors cannot talk to the lawyers (other than on the record, during jury selection), parties to the lawsuit or witnesses. We want to make certain that any such contact takes place on the record and in court.

If you have any questions you may contact our jury coordinator, Stacy Winston, at (318) 429-7694 or swinston@firstjdcla.org. If you are unable to reach Ms. Winston you may contact my assistant, Leigh Anne, at (318) 226-6818.

Again, jury service is a civic obligation, but it is also an honor to serve. Thank you for your consideration.


Scott J. Crichton