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1. Who is qualified to serve on Jury Duty?

In Loudoun County, jurors must be at least 18 years of age and meet all of the following qualifications: 

• Be a United States Citizen
• Be a Loudoun County resident
• Never have been convicted of a felony, unless the juror’s civil rights have been restored
• Be able to communicate in the English language
• Not be currently adjudicated mentally incompetent or insane

2. Can jurors change their jury service report date?

Please read the section on the back of the summons titled "Postponement of Jury Service". You may request a deferral through the Jury Portal.  First Login, select My Service and then Deferment and follow the instructions. Be sure to write your name and juror identification number on the form. You must complete your request within 5 business days of receipt of your summons.

Your request must clearly specify the reason you request a deferment, your available dates, your juror identification number, and your name as it appears on the summons. If possible, you will receive your new date of service and any other information that is pertinent to your jury service by phone. The Jury Portal will be your source for updates and verification.

The Jury Management Department will do its best to accommodate your request.

3. How long does jury service in Loudoun County last?

Service is required as a prospective juror for a minimum of one day or one trial. On their first day of service jurors should expect to remain at the courthouse the entire day, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If the prospective juror is not impaneled on their service date, then their jury service will be one day and their service will be complete. If the prospective juror is impaneled as a juror on their day of service, then the juror will serve for the length of the one trial.

4. Who is entitled to a Jury Trial?

Generally, any person charged with a criminal offense and many parties to a civil case have a right to a jury trial. All parties are equal before the law and each is entitled to the same fair treatment.

5. Where is the Loudoun County Circuit Court located?

The Loudoun County Circuit Court is located at:
18 E Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20176

You will be escorted to the appropriate courtroom when you report for jury service. 

6. Where do I park when I come for jury service?

The juror parking area is in the Pennington Parking Garage, located at 112 Church St, NE, in Leesburg.

Shuttle service is available to and from the Pennington Garage and Loudoun County Courthouse approximately every 10 minutes. View the Walking and Shuttle Map  (PDF) for walking directions and shuttle path information.

Find additional information about what to expect when Planning your trip to the Courthouse.

7. Must employers pay their employees who are on jury service?

No. Employers are not required to pay employees while they are on jury service. In addition, employers cannot penalize any employee because they serve as a juror.

Section 18.2-465.1 of the Code of Virginia states: "Any person who is summoned to serve on jury duty or any person, except a defendant in a criminal case, who is summoned or subpoenaed to appear in a court of law when a case is to be heard shall neither be discharged from employment or have any adverse personnel action taken against him, nor shall he be required to use sick leave or vacation time, as a result of his absence from employment due to such jury duty or court appearance, upon giving reasonable notice to his employer of such court appearance or summons. Any employer violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor."

8. Where is the jury assembly room located?

The jurors assemble in the Jury assembly room located on the fourth floor, room 2130, at 18 East Market Street, Leesburg, VA in the Courts Complex.  This address is only intended for directional purposes.

• All pedestrians entering and exiting the garage must follow a pedestrian path that extends from the SE corner of the garage, Level 2, to North Street, NE. No pedestrian access will be available through the Pennington Lot Public Parking.
• After you exit your car, please proceed on foot from the Pennington Garage.
• Walk towards the Level 2 exit that will take you to a sidewalk with a sign, “to Courthouse".
• Make a right on North Street (going west).
• Make a left on Church Street (going south).
• Make a right on Market Street (going Route 7 West).
• Enter right at the Court Complex through the second arched gate.
• Proceed to the only court entrance. It is directly across the street from the downtown historic Post Office.

If you have an issue with walking long distances, please contact our office at 703-777-0650 within 5 days of receiving your summons so accommodations can be made.

9. How are prospective jurors selected for jury service?

Each year, prospective jurors are selected randomly from the master jury list of Loudoun County, which is created by merging name lists provided by the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Loudoun County Voter Registration Department. 

Summons

Randomly selected prospective jurors receive a jury summons in the mail approximately four weeks prior to their jury service date. Upon receipt of the summons, the juror should read carefully the front and back of the summons. 

Be sure to read both sides of the summons, even if you think you are not eligible to serve as a juror or would like to a deferment or excusal. If after reading all of the information and instructions on the summons, you still have questions. Call the Jury Management Department.

10. How are jurors selected for a particular trial?

Each day, jurors report to the Jury Assembly Room and their attendance is taken. When a judge is ready to begin the jury trial, the jurors needed for the case are selected from those persons in attendance for that day. The jurors’ names are called and the panel of jurors is escorted to the courtroom.

Once the jury panel reaches the designated courtroom, the jurors are questioned under the supervision of the Judge. During this questioning, some jurors may be excused from the case. Once all of the questioning has been completed, each attorney in the case is allowed to remove a certain number of jurors from the panel. The jury trial will consist of the jurors remaining on the panel. Jurors not selected will return to the Jury Assembly room until released.

Once all of the jury panels have been selected for the day, the remaining jurors, if any, in the assembly room will be excused and their service will be complete.

11. Who can be excused from jury service?

Requests to be excused from jury service are granted only by a Judge.

You may request an excusal through the Jury Portal. First login, select My Service then Exclusion and follow the instructions. Your request must be made within 5 business days of receipt of your summons. All correspondence must contain the juror’s identification number. 

Requirements

• Your request must clearly and specifically describe the hardship that jury service may cause you. 
• Failure to submit a request within the 5 day time limit may automatically qualify you for service.
• Prospective jurors, who are not paid by their employer when on jury duty, will not be excused. You may, however, request a deferment to a later time.
• Status as a student is not a valid reason to be excused. However, you may request to be deferred to a time during school breaks.

12. Are jurors paid for their service?

All reporting jurors are paid $50 per diem regardless of whether they are impaneled on a jury. This stipend is for any expenses that may be incurred while serving on jury service. Juror’s checks are mailed approximately eight weeks after jury service is completed.

13. What may jurors wear to jury service?

The walking distance is a couple of blocks, so jurors are specifically encouraged to wear comfortable shoes. Jurors should dress comfortably, but appropriately for a courthouse. The temperature in the courtrooms can be unpredictable, you are encouraged to layer your clothing. In addition, jurors will have to walk to the courtrooms from the Jury Assembly Room. Court proceedings are conducted with dignity and respect. Your dress should be suitable for the occasion. Unsuitable clothing items are not permitted. 

Unsuitable Clothing Items

• Shorts
• Mini skirts
• Tank tops
• Halters
• Flip-flops

If you report to jury service wearing inappropriate attire, you will be required to return home to change to more suitable attire or you will be given a new report date and will have to return on that date.