Cumberland County Jury Service
Lost Summons
If you have lost your summons, please email [email protected].
Length of Service
Jury service operates on a daily reporting plan which means that a new group of jurors are summoned each day of the week. If selected to serve on a jury, a juror will serve for the duration of that trial. Most trials last several days. If a trial is expected to take longer than several days, the presiding judge will discuss the anticipated length of the trial with potential jurors.
If a juror is not selected for a trial and the presiding judge excuses them, then their jury service will be completed for two (2) years. Any juror who serves on a trial or anyone who reports for jury service and is not selected and is excused by the presiding judge will be ineligible for jury service for two (2) years.
When and Where to Report
Each juror receives a jury summons. On the front page of the summons is information on the time and place to report for jury service. Jurors in Cumberland County will report at 8:30 AM to the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Cumberland County Courthouse located at 117 Dick Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301. All jurors will report to the jury assembly room, room 339 in the courthouse.
Call the jury information line the night before your jury service. The number for the jury information line is 910-475-3005. Please call this number after 6:00 PM the night before your jury service.
A recorded message will inform jurors if their appearance will be required. This message will play the entire night until normal opening hours the following morning. Sometimes the court can release some or all jurors when the need for them is less than anticipated.
Parking
Parking is very limited at the courthouse, there is free parking in the front and rear parking lot of the courthouse. There is metered parking downtown on the street and there is a city operated parking deck located at 208 Franklin Street approximately 0.4 miles from the courthouse.
Request for Jury Service Excuse or Deferral
General Information
Deferral/Excusal: To request an excuse or a one-time postponement from jury service, please submit the information via Electronic Form located below OR by Mail. Your request must be received no later than ten (10) days prior to your service date. A decision regarding your request will be returned via mail or email. Requests sent by MAIL must include the completed Application for Excuse, Deferral, Exemption, and Disqualification from Jury Service form and supporting documentation (instructions are included on the summons document). Please note you may also appear in person with your request on any Wednesday before your service date in room 102 on the first floor of the courthouse, located at 117 Dick Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM. Mail requests can be submitted to:
Jury Coordinator
PO Box 363
Fayetteville, NC 28303
The ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION FORM (see below) may be completed in lieu of the mail option. The electronic request must be submitted a minimum of ten (10) days prior to your appearance date. (Requirements and instructions are listed below.)
Reasons for Excusal, Postponement or Deferment
Jury service is the solemn obligation of all qualified citizens. Excuses from the discharge of this responsibility may be granted only for reasons of compelling personal hardship. Persons qualified to serve must:
- Reside in Cumberland County
- Be at least 18 years of age or older
- Understand the English language
- Have not served as a juror during the preceding two (2) years or as a grand juror in the past six (6) years
- Be physically and mentally competent
Exemptions, Excuses and Postponements may be granted for the following reasons:
- People 72 years of age or older
- NOT a Cumberland County, North Carolina Resident
- Person is deceased
- Students enrolled full time in a learning institution
- Health/Medical reasons
- Convicted of a felony and voting rights have NOT been restored
- Not a United States Citizen
- On assignment with the military
Excuses will be granted ONLY for reasons of compelling personal hardship. Requests for excuses and postponements for jury duty must be made by electronically using the requested online form, or by mail. Your request CANNOT be handled by telephone. All requests must be submitted a minimum of ten (10) days prior to your jury service date.
Until you have received a response, you are still required to appear at the county courthouse for jury duty on the specified summons date if your juror number is called. If you DO NOT receive a response to an excusal request, you are still required to appear for jury service if your juror number is called.