You have been selected to serve as a juror for the courts of record in Westchester County. It is our distinct pleasure to welcome you to service, and we hope you will find the experience greatly satisfying and richly rewarding.
Effective January 1, 1996, there are no automatic or occupational exemptions from jury service. The law does allow you one postponement. The request must be made at least 5 court days prior to the term date on your summons. Only one postponement will be granted and must include an alternate date of service within (6) months or the Court will assign a date. The request for this one postponement may be made by telephone, 995-4722, or mail and will be granted automatically. ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSES WILL BE CONSIDERED ON DATE SCHEDULED TO REPORT FOR SERVICE.
- Emergency: A second postponement may only be considered for a family or medical emergency.
- Matters of Conscience: An application to be excused based on matters of conscience should be handled during jury selection and determined by the judge.
- Request from Employer: We do not accept any request from an employer.
- Work Related Excuse: A work related excuse is not a valid reason for another postponement.
- Severe Financial Hardship: Pursuant to the Chief Administrative Rules, severe or undue hardship is based upon service as a juror for 5 or more consecutive days. Please make arrangements to report as directed, at which time you may make your application to the presiding judge.
- Student: As there are no exemptions, students must select an alternate date to serve during school recess.
If you have a disability and are in need of an accommodation,
please call (914) 995-3200, or for a relay call,
1-800-662-1220 upon receipt of
your notice.
General Information:
Grand Jurors serve for a term of four weeks (usually two days a week). The
functions of a grand jury is to hear evidence concerning alleged offenses. The grand
jury does not have to determine issues of guilt or innocence. The grand jury must
determine if there is enough evidence to indict a person.
Judgment does not have to be unanimous for an indictment. However, there must be at least
twelve votes in favor of an indictment. The grand jury consists of twenty-three jurors.
In New York State no grand jury can conduct business unless sixteen of the grand jurors are present.
Grand jurors have relative anonymity in grand jury proceedings, and there are no spectators
during grand jury proceedings.
After a grand jury has been impaneled the court will appoint one of the grand
jurors as foreman and another as acting foreman in the event the foreman is absent. The grand jury will be sworn in by the courts.
During the proceedings the
following persons may be present:
- Witnesses
- The District Attorney
- A clerk or other public servant
- A stenographer
- An interpreter
- An officer holding a witness in custody
- An attorney representing a witness
Postponement:
Please report as directed on your summons to the Ceremonial Court Room of the Daronco Court House, 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. at 10:00 a.m. Fill out the back of the summons in its entirety and bring it and your parking pass with you. If you have served on either Federal or City Court within the past four years, please bring proof of service.
Attire:
Proper dress attire is required (no shorts, tank tops or halters, etc.)
Inclement Weather:
In case of inclement weather, listen to your local radio stations WFAS, WHUD or WVOX for any cancellation or court delays.