If you are selected as a prospective juror you will receive a summons letter, juror questionnaire and an excuse form. You will note that there are personal questions on the questionnaire. There are two main reasons that these questions are asked. First, a person that has a right to a jury trial is entitled to jurors who approach the case with an open mind and without bias or prejudice. There might be something in the experience of the juror that may prevent the juror from being fair. The second reason is that by answering the questions in advance there is less chance that personal information will be asked of the prospective juror in open court in front of the other jurors.

Please send your reply as soon as possible. Your prompt response allows us to equitably assign firm jury dates for you and your fellow jurors in a timely manner.

It is important to know that being summoned for jury duty does not automatically mean that you will be seated as a juror. The attorneys and the judge ask prospective jurors additional questions to determine which jurors will be selected for any given case. In a case in a Municipal Court only eight jurors and one alternate juror is selected to hear a case.

If you are summoned for jury duty, you will receive a letter in the mail along with a juror questionnaire and a request for exemption, deferral or excuse form. You must fill out and return both forms regardless of whether you are requesting to be excused.

Most cases at Willoughby Municipal Court are completed in one day. However, there are occasions when justice will require that a case last more than one day. Very seldom does a case last more than two days in the Municipal Court. You should plan your schedule accordingly.

Jury duty service pays jurors the sum of $25.00 per day.

If you would like your jury duty date to be postponed or excused please fill out the request for exemption, deferral or excuse form that was mailed to you along with your jury questionnaire. 

Please return these forms within ten (10) days of receipt. If you are excused/deferred from jury duty, you will either be contacted by phone or via email. If you do not hear from the Court you must appear as scheduled. 

If you are no longer a resident of Eastlake, Kirtland, Kirtland Hills, Lakeline, Timberlake, Waite Hill, Wickliffe, Willoughby, Willoughby Hills, or Willowick, you must provide the court documentation such as a recent billing statement that reflects your new address. You may drop this documentation off at the court at 4000 Erie St. Willoughby, OH 44094 or you may email it to wmc-juryduty@willoughbycourt.com

If you do not receive a call or email back regarding your request, you are not excused and you must appear for jury duty as scheduled.

All parties must enter the Courthouse from the front entrance, which is located on Erie Street. You will find a sidewalk to the front of the building in the parking lot near the handicapped parking area, which borders Erie Street. All entrants to the building must pass through a security station. Pursuant to Ohio law, you will not be permitted to enter the building with weapons of any kind unless you are a law enforcement officer. Once you have cleared the security station, you will be prompted to sign in before being escorted to the Jury Waiting area.