Frequently Asked Questions

It is up to the individual discretion of each judge. In general, it is not permitted. The judges feel it is important that jurors focus their attention on witnesses and information rather than on taking notes.

You do not need to bring anything with you. You may want to bring a jacket, book, or something else to do during the brief period of waiting.

Deferment is not always a possibility, but we try to accommodate your busy schedules as much as we can. To request a deferment, you should complete the appropriate section of the juror questionnaire. You will receive a letter from the court with either your new service dates or a denial of your…

You can request hardship for any reason on your Juror Questionnaire. All excusal requests are subject to review by the Chief Judge. You will receive an email as well as a letter in the mail with a response to your request within four weeks.  If you have any questions, please contact the Jury…

Yes, but the court requires a letter from your physician stating you should be excused.  For more information on what is needed and where to send it, please contact the Jury Coordinator at Jury@dgcoks.gov or 785-832-5213.

Judicial ethics prohibit judges from speaking directly with parties about their cases. 

Jurors must be randomly selected and summoned to be able to serve on a jury. You cannot volunteer for service. In Douglas County, jurors are randomly selected from a list of people with Douglas County addresses provided by the Kansas DMV.

Kansas law provides job protection for jurors. According to Kansas law, employers may not fire or threaten to fire an employee because of jury service. The court can provide documentation of jury service upon request.

If you are charged with a misdemeanor traffic offense, you must appear in court. Seat belt violations do not require a court appearance, even though they are often marked as misdemeanors on the tickets. If you were charged with no proof of insurance, but you had insurance at the time of the stop,…

You may wish to consult an attorney on any action you file or that is filed against you. In small claims court, an attorney cannot represent you, unless an individual, who is an attorney, is suing you. For more information, call the Access to Justice Advice Line at 1-800-675-5860.

Yes. The "court costs" in traffic cases are actually docket fees that must be paid whether or not you appear in court. Docket fees are used to defray the expenses of processing a court case from beginning to end.

Yes. It is impossible to predict the number of trials that will take place each week. Some of the jury trials that are scheduled are settled, dismissed, or otherwise resolved without requiring a jury. For this reason, we have implemented the juror call-in system. Jurors need to call 785-832-5108…

Cases will usually be heard by juries of six or twelve jurors. A larger group, called a panel, will be sent to the courtroom where the jurors will be questioned by the lawyers in a process called Voir Dire (jury selection). During Voir Dire, attorneys will take turns asking the jury panel questions…

You can call the Access to Justice Advice Line at 1-800-675-5860. You also may want to consider Limited Scope Representation. 

You should fill out the Notice to Defendant (Earnings or Non-earnings) that accompanies the Order of Garnishment sent to your employer and/or bank and file it in the District Court division your case is assigned to. If you did not receive the Notice to Defendant from your employer or your bank, you…