Do You Have A Jury Summons? Pay Attention To Make Sure You Go To The Correct Courthouse

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 6387

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Dec 09 2012 9:35 PM

HOUSTON COUNTY:    Under the request of Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange in and through his staff, Strange has exercised his authority and sent a directive to the Houston County Circuit Clerk for a “Special Grand Jury” to be empaneled.

This Monday morning at 8:30 AM, those persons summoned by Houston County Circuit Court Clerk Carla Woodall will arrive at the Houston Count Courthouse and enter the first floor Jury Assembly Room. The persons will be met by Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Butch Binford and Circuit Court Clerk Carla Woodall to begin the process of selecting the “Special Grand Jury” as requested by Attorney General Luther Strange.

A Second “Regular Grand Jury” will be selected to hear routine cases under the direction of Twentieth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Doug Valeska.

SPECIAL NOTE TO ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN SUMMONED FOR JURY DUTY

Examine your summons to appear. There are persons which have been issued summons to appear which has “State of Alabama” printed on the summons. There are persons which have been issued summons to appear for “Federal Jury Duty”. Check your summons to make sure where you are suppose to be.

If your summons reads “State of Alabama”, possibly having Circuit Clerk Carla Woodall’s name, you shall report to the Houston County Courthouse at the corner of Main and Oates Street.

If your summons reads “United States Federal Court”, you are to report to the Dothan Courthouse for the United States Federal Court, which is a white two story building at the corner of North Foster Street and East Troy Street.

These are two different court systems and issues.

United States Federal Court Judge Myron Thompson will be in Dothan at the United States Federal Courthouse selecting a jury for a criminal trial to be held in Montgomery Alabama for a man from Ozark. Once the jury is selected the trial will be held at a future date in Montgomery. Again, if you are summoned for Federal Jury Duty you report to the white two story building at the corner of North Foster and Troy Street.

The State of Alabama summons is at the Houston County Courthouse at the corner of Main and Oates Street. If in doubt make sure you ask the officers as you enter the respective courthouse buildings.

ALABAMA RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AS IT RELATES TO ALABAMA GRAND JURIES

Due to some questions we have and have been asked about State of Alabama Grand Juries, we have researched some of those questions.

The research has consisted of:

(1)  A interview with Criminal Defense Eric Davis. Davis was a prosecutor with the Twentieth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Office and has conducted Grand Juries. Davis is a member of the Parkman and White Law Firm, a nationally recognized criminal defense law firm. ( Jim Parkman and William White are senior partners.

(2)  A interview with the District Attorney for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Doug Valeska. A man who has prosecuted hundreds and hundreds of cases and probably conducted more Grand Juries than the entire staff of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. We know Doug Valeska has far more experience in the legal profession and Grand Juries than Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange has.

(3)  Reviewed Rule 12 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure.

We have provided the link to the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure. Make sure you read each rule if you follow the link in an effort to better understand Grand Juries.

Click for link to Rule 12 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Make sure you look at each rule listed below to understand the entire process.

 

RULE 12. SELECTION OF VENIRE; THE GRAND JURY AND PETIT JURY PANELS

Rule 12.1.	Drawing, summoning, and qualifying the venire.
Rule 12.2.	Empaneling the grand jury and petit juries.
Rule 12.3.	Oath, instructions, duties, and powers of the grand jury.
Rule 12.4.	Grounds for disqualification of a grand juror.
Rule 12.5.	Foreman of the grand jury.
Rule 12.6.	Persons authorized to be present during sessions of grand jury.
Rule 12.7.	Appearance of persons under investigation.
Rule 12.8.	Indictment.
Rule 12.9.	Challenge to grand jury proceedings or to an indictment.

 

The picture below is the Houston County Courthouse. If your summons is for the Houston County Courthouse, this is the building you must make your appearance.

If you have a summons with United States Federal Courthouse, you go to the white building at the corner of North Foster Street and East Troy Street. If in doubt, ask the officers as you enter the courthouse.

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