General Juror Info

To be eligible to serve on jury duty, you must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States and a resident of Stark County. You must also be able to communicate in the English language.

The names are selected at random from the Voters' Registration list that is on file with the Stark County Board of Elections. If you have spelled your name differently or if the information on file at the Board of Elections is not up to date, you may receive additional summons.

Please be sure to keep and read your Jury Summons very carefully. All of the specific information pertaining to your jury service is printed on this form. All jurors must complete their Jury Service Questionnaire within five days upon receipt regardless if you are asking to be excused. If you still have questions after reading your summons thoroughly, or if you have lost your summons, please contact the Jury Commissioners at (330) 451-7725.

When you report for service please be sure to bring your Official Jury Summons portion of your paperwork for check-in.

The Jury Commissioners are available Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. When calling, please have your Login ID available. The number to call is (330) 451-7725 for local calls or 1 (800) 999-8375 for long distance calls.

The fax number for the Jury Commission is (330) 451-7132. Please include your name and Login ID on all correspondence.

The mailing address for the Jury Commission is:

Stark County Jury Commission

115 Central Plaza, N., Suite 106

Canton, Ohio 44702

If you have been selected to serve as a PETIT JUROR you are "on-call" for one week.

You will begin calling the Friday before your term of service starts AFTER 5:00 p.m. The recorded message will instruct you as to what jurors (if any) are needed for the next day. The jurors that will be needed will be listed by your Juror Number.  This can be found on your Official Jury Summons tab under the Reporting Information. Please note Juror Numbers will be listed without the leading zeros. Please listen carefully to the instructions given on the recording. The message may contain multiple sequences of juror numbers with multiple reporting times. You only need to appear if your number is mentioned in the sequence of juror numbers scheduled to appear. If your number is not mentioned please call the next evening after 5:00 p.m. for further reporting instructions. All Petit Jurors except those who have previously been excused are required to call and follow the instructions on the recorded message.

The following are reasons you may request to be excused:

• You are no longer a resident of Stark County. You will need to include your current address along with a copy of your license, current utility bill, or voter registration. You will also need to contact the Stark County Board of Elections at (330) 451-8683 regarding your change of residence.
• Deceased. If you are the next of kin, please return the questionnaire noting as such on the paperwork. Also, please be sure to contact the Stark County Board of Elections at (330) 451-8683 to have the records updated.
• Military. If you are on active duty please submit documentation with your order status.
• Age 75 and older. You may decline to serve if you wish. Please check the box indicating you wish to be excused on your Juror Service Questionnaire. When you are send in your hardcopy questionnaire, please be sure to include your date of birth and signature on the Jury Service Questionnaire.
• Cloistered member of a religious organization where your residence is a place of religious seclusion (such as a monastery or convent) or an active member of a recognized Amish sect.
• Mentally or physically unable to serve. You will need to submit documentation from your physician verifying your condition renders you unable to serve on jury service.

If you are seeking an excuse or deferment for a reason not listed above, you MUST include a detailed letter of explanation with your questionnaire. All requests must be received two days prior to your First Call-In Date. Please note: Grand Jurors cannot postpone their jury service.

When you have returned the hard copy of your questionnaire, you will be contacted by a Jury Commissioner to choose an alternate date of service. When your jury service is rescheduled, the Jury Commissioners will give you the dates to choose from and you will tell them the specific week you wish to serve. 

Since this is a date that you chose, it is your responsibility to keep the date open on your calendar. If you think your Jury Service could create potential problems in the future, you need to be sure to discuss your concerns with a Jury Commissioner PRIOR to delaying your jury service.**

We strongly suggest that each juror contact the Jury Commissioners prior to their First Call-In to check on their request to be excused.

• If your request has been DENIED you will be contacted by the Jury Commissioners via telephone, email, or mail.
• If your request has been GRANTED you will not be contacted by the Jury Commissioners.

If you have been selected to serve as a GRAND JUROR you will report once a week for three months if you are seated. ALL Grand Jurors will report on their Juror Beginning date, unless you have previously been excused; however, you still need to call the recording on your first call-in date to receive parking and other reporting instructions.

Jurors who are scheduled to report for jury service will be given a Certificate of Jury Service with the dates they appeared. If your employer requires a time arriving and time leaving it will be up to the juror to see a Jury Commissioner or a Bailiff to have those times listed.

Please note: If you have been excused from jury service and report you will NOT be given a Certificate of Jury Service as it is your responsibility to check on your status prior to your First Call-In Date.

Please listen carefully to the recorded message when you call in for your assigned location.You will need to bring your parking ticket with you to be validated. Your parking tickets will only be validated one time. If you leave the parking deck for any reason you will be responsible for any parking charges incurred.

The Stark County Court of Common Pleas will be using the following parking deck:

• Millennium Parking Garage: This parking deck is located on the corner of Walnut Avenue NE and 2nd Street NE. To enter the garage from Walnut Avenue NE turn right onto 2nd Street NE and then right again from 2nd Street NE onto Piedmont Avenue NE. (Piedmont Avenue is located between Market Avenue and Walnut Avenue).

If your parking ticket does not state Millennium Parking Garage across the top of it, you will be responsible for any parking charges incurred.

The Court provides parking for the disabled, a wheelchair ramp, an elevator, assisted listening devices and interpreters. If you need an interpreter or any other special considerations, please contact the Jury Commissioners at (330) 451-7725.

The Court uses a security-screening device at the entrance. All persons entering the Court are subject to search.

Effective January 1, 2010, outside food and beverages may not be brought into the Stark County Courthouse. All weapons are prohibited. Please do not bring the following items with you: knives, files, screwdrivers, handiwork needles, scissors, or metal fingernail files.

Please allow an additional 5-10 minutes to pass through security screening.

Casual Business attire is suggested. The Court requests that jurors not wear shorts, sweatpants or tank tops

The Stark County Courthouse is located at 101 Tuscarawas Street West. It is situated on the northwest corner of the intersection of Market Avenue and Tuscarawas Street, with the front entrance facing Tuscarawas Street.

Due to the nature of the court process, there may be periods of waiting before jurors are seated in a Courtroom. We suggest that you bring something to read. Cellular phones and laptop computers are also permitted in the Jury Assembly Room. The Court does provide Wi-Fi Internet access. While you are in the Courtroom cellular phones and laptops must be turned off. Also please do not bring small children with you to jury duty. In the Jury Assembly Room, there is a list and map of restaurants within walking distance from the Courthouse.

If you do not wish to serve you need to check the box that states you are over 75 years of age. Please be sure to indicate your date of birth and the signature on your yellow Juror Service Questionnaire. If you would like to serve please leave the box unchecked.

In Stark County we have three municipal Courts; Alliance, Canton and Massillon. Each court has cities and townships within their jurisdiction. The Stark County Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over the entire county.

You should contact the Jury Commissioners at (330) 451-7725 promptly at 8:30 a.m. Your service will then be rescheduled for an alternate time.

When your jury service is rescheduled the Jury Commissioners will give you dates to choose from and you will tell them the specific week you wish to serve. Since this is a date that you chose it is your responsibility to keep the date open on your calendar. If you think your Jury Service could create potential problems in the future you need to be sure to discuss your concerns with a Jury Commissioner PRIOR to delaying your jury service.

Yes, your Jury Summons is an official court order. Failure to respond could cause the Court to issue a Contempt Citation for you. If the Judge finds you in contempt of court they can impose a fine and/or other punishment as provided by Ohio law.

If you are unable to find your paperwork please contact the Jury Commissioners at (330) 451-7725 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The Stark County Jury Commissioners will never ask you for personal information such as your social security number, bank account and or credit card numbers. If you receive a call from someone stating you have missed your jury service and you are asked to provide this information please do not give it to them as they may be trying to obtain your information in an attempt to steal your identity.