Jury Duty

Miami-Dade County jury duty begins with a summons directing a prospective juror to complete an online questionnaire, review reporting instructions, and remain available during the assigned service week. This article explains how to register, identify the correct courthouse, request a postponement or excusal, prepare for the reporting date, arrange transportation, understand juror compensation, obtain proof of service, and avoid common errors or jury-duty scams.

Who Manages Jury Service

The Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts and Comptroller administers the county’s juror registration and reporting process. Prospective jurors use the Clerk’s online system to respond to a summons, provide required information, review their reporting status, request an allowed postponement, submit an excusal or disqualification request, and obtain an attendance certificate after serving.

A Miami-Dade County jury summons is different from a federal court summons. County jury service is handled through the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts and Comptroller, while federal jury service is administered separately by the federal court. A person who cannot locate a county summons in the county juror system should verify the court named on the document before contacting an office or submitting information.

Clearview Juror Portal

The Clearview Justice Portal for jurors is the primary online system for Miami-Dade County jury duty. The portal is used to register for service, complete the juror questionnaire, request a postponement, ask for an excusal or disqualification, verify reporting status, and retrieve proof of service.

To log in, enter the Juror ID shown on the summons and the juror’s date of birth. The portal also allows access using a Florida driver license or Florida identification card number. Identification numbers should be entered without dashes. The date of birth must be entered in month, day, and four-digit year format.

Before logging in, have the following information available:

The jury summons, including the Juror ID and assigned start date
The prospective juror’s date of birth
A Florida driver license or identification card number when needed
Current contact information for receiving reporting notices
Supporting documents for an excusal or disqualification request
Employment and compensation information requested in the questionnaire

Information should be entered for the person named on the summons. A summons sent to another member of the household cannot be completed using someone else’s personal information. Review each response before submitting because incorrect answers may affect reporting instructions, compensation, or the processing of an excusal request.

Responding to the Summons

A person who receives a jury summons must log into the portal and complete the questionnaire by the date printed on the summons. Registration is not limited to confirming receipt. The questionnaire collects information used to determine qualification, reporting status, compensation eligibility, and whether the juror is requesting a change to the assigned service.

The county’s jury summons notification page explains that jurors are on standby during the week shown on the summons. A prospective juror may be directed to report on any day during that week rather than automatically appearing on the first day.

Friday Reporting Instructions

Reporting instructions are normally provided by email on the Friday before the assigned start date. Jurors should review the contact information entered during registration and check for the reporting notice. The portal should also be reviewed for the current reporting status and any instructions associated with the summons.

Do not assume that completing the questionnaire cancels the need to report. Registration places the juror into the service process. The juror remains responsible for following the reporting instructions unless the portal confirms an approved postponement, excusal, or disqualification.

Bring the Original Summons

The summons must be brought to the courthouse when the juror is directed to report. It contains the juror badge needed for the reporting process. Store the summons in a secure location after completing the online questionnaire and place it with other items needed for the reporting date.

Lost or Misplaced Summons

A missing paper summons does not necessarily prevent access to the juror account. A prospective juror may attempt to log into the Clearview Juror Portal using a Florida driver license or identification card number and date of birth.

If the login is unsuccessful, first confirm that the summons was addressed to the person attempting to register. More than one person in a household may receive official mail, and entering the information of someone who was not summoned will not retrieve the correct record.

The person should also confirm whether the document came from Miami-Dade County or a federal court. Federal jury summonses are not managed through the Miami-Dade County juror portal. The federal court jury office listed in the official county instructions can assist when the document appears to be for federal service.

Postponing the Service Date

The court’s policy allows one courtesy request to postpone jury service when the assigned date is inconvenient. The juror must first register through the Clearview Juror Portal. After the registration is completed, the system displays the postponement option and the available alternate dates.

The online postponement option is available only until seven days before the start date shown on the summons. Requests made less than seven days before the start date are granted only in extenuating circumstances. Waiting until the final week may therefore remove the standard online option and does not guarantee that a late request will be approved.

The official jury postponement and excusal instructions should be reviewed before submitting a request. Once a new date is selected, the juror must log back into the portal on the Friday evening before the postponed date to verify reporting status. A text or email notice may also be sent when the juror selected that communication method during registration.

Reasons Better Handled by Postponement

Transportation problems, travel plans, and hardships that are not included among the recognized excusal categories are not grounds for an excusal under the published instructions. A juror facing one of these scheduling issues may instead request a postponement while the online option remains available.

A postponement changes the service date; it does not eliminate the obligation. The juror should record the new date, retain the summons, and verify reporting instructions before the rescheduled service week.

Disqualification Requirements

Certain people must request disqualification because they do not meet the qualifications for county jury service. The request must be made through the Clearview Juror Portal or submitted in writing with the required documentation.

The published disqualification categories include:

Persons under 18 years of age
Persons who are not United States citizens
Persons who are no longer residents of Miami-Dade County
Persons presently under prosecution for a crime
Convicted felons whose civil rights have not been restored
Deceased persons who received a summons

Supporting Documents

Proof is required for several disqualification requests. A person requesting disqualification because of non-citizenship must provide proof of non-citizenship. A former Miami-Dade County resident who now lives in another state should submit a copy of the new state’s driver license. A Florida resident who moved outside Miami-Dade County should submit a copy of a Florida driver license showing the new address.

A person under prosecution must submit proof of the current ongoing criminal case. A convicted felon whose civil rights have not been restored must provide appropriate records, such as proof of conviction, a probation order, or a charging document.

Documentation should relate directly to the current summons and the reason selected in the portal. Submitting an unsupported request may delay review or leave the juror responsible for the original reporting instructions.

Optional Excusal Categories

Some people remain legally able to serve but may ask to be excused. Approval is based on the applicable category and any required documentation. An excusal request applies to the current summons and should not be treated as a permanent exemption from all future jury service.

People who may request excusal include:

Persons with a physical incapacity, mental incapacity, mental illness, intellectual disability, or senility

Persons who physically reported for jury service within one year of the current summons date

Caregivers responsible for a person who cannot care for himself or herself because of a qualifying physical or mental condition

Expectant mothers

Active, full-time law enforcement officers

Persons 70 years of age or older

Parents who are not employed full-time and have a child age five or younger

Women who gave birth within six months before the reporting date

Medical and Prior-Service Proof

A request based on physical incapacity, mental incapacity, mental illness, intellectual disability, or senility requires an original, current, signed doctor’s certificate. An expectant mother requesting excusal must also submit a doctor’s certificate.

A person requesting excusal because of recent jury service must submit a copy of the certificate of attendance from the court where the person physically reported. The prior service must have occurred within one year of the date on the current summons.

Submission Deadline

The online option for requesting an excusal or disqualification is available through the Clearview Juror Portal only until seven days before the start date shown on the summons. Telephone requests for excusal or disqualification are not accepted. Jurors should register, select the appropriate request, and upload or submit the necessary documentation before the deadline.

A request should not be treated as approved merely because it was submitted. The juror remains responsible for reviewing the portal and following the current reporting instructions until the system reflects the result of the request.

Failure to Report

A juror who does not report as directed may be held in contempt of court and may be fined up to $100. Missing service because of an unanswered questionnaire, an unconfirmed request, or an assumption about reporting status can create avoidable problems.

Prospective jurors should complete registration by the summons deadline, verify their status before the service week, and keep copies of documentation submitted for a postponement, excusal, or disqualification. A person with a last-minute issue should contact the appropriate Jury Pool office rather than simply failing to appear.

Disability Accommodations

A person with a disability who needs an accommodation to participate as a juror may request assistance through the court’s ADA coordinator. The request should be made at least seven days before the scheduled court appearance. When fewer than seven days remain at the time the notification is received, the juror should make contact immediately.

People who are hearing or voice impaired may call 711. Accommodation requests should be made early enough for the court to review the need and arrange available assistance. The ADA coordinator’s office address and telephone number appear in the final office list below.

Courthouse Clothing and Meals

The Clerk’s jury duty guidelines call for appropriate business attire. Shorts and uniforms are not permitted. Because courtroom and jury assembly room temperatures can vary, jurors are advised to bring a jacket or sweater.

A cafeteria or snack bar is located on the first floor inside both courthouses and inside the jury pool assembly room. Jurors who bring lunch may use a refrigerator and microwave in the jury office at either courthouse. Glass containers are not permitted, so food and beverages should be packed in acceptable containers.

Jurors should also allow time for courthouse security procedures. Items brought into the building may be subject to screening. Arriving with the summons organized and personal belongings limited can help reduce delays at the entrance.

Length of Jury Service

Florida uses a one day or one trial jury management system. On the reporting day, a juror must remain available for possible selection. A person who is not selected for a trial or an ongoing selection process by the end of the first day will not be required to return the following day.

A juror selected for a trial or placed in an ongoing selection process must continue serving until the trial or selection process ends, or until the judge states that the juror is no longer needed. The one-day portion of the system therefore does not limit an actual trial to one day.

Questions involving language comprehension are addressed in the courtroom. A juror should follow the directions given during check-in and raise the issue through the court process when instructed.

Reporting Locations and Parking

The summons identifies the courthouse where the juror must report. Civil jurors may be directed to the Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center, while criminal jurors may be directed to the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building. A juror should not choose a location based only on convenience because the correct jury pool and court assignment are tied to the summons.

The Clerk’s juror parking information provides the approved parking and public transportation details for each reporting location.

Justice Center Parking

Jurors reporting to the Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center may use Garage Number 5, also identified as the Hickman garage, at 270 NW 2nd Street in Miami. Its published hourly parking hours are Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Hourly parking is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and county holidays.

The West Lot Garage at 220 NW 3rd Street in Miami is another listed location. Its published hours are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. It is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and county holidays.

Jurors using Metrorail should exit at Government Center Station. The courthouse is across the street to the southeast. A juror parking at the Metrorail station should display the parking decal provided with the summons.

Gerstein Building Parking

Jurors reporting to the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building may use the Civic Center Jury Lot at 1250 NW 12th Street in Miami. Its published hours are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and county holidays.

Metrorail riders should exit at the UHealth/Jackson Station. The Justice Building is approximately two blocks south of the station. The published route directs jurors to walk south along 12th Avenue for two blocks, turn right on NW 12th Street, and continue one block. The building has front and rear entrances.

Travel plans should include enough time to locate juror parking, walk to the correct entrance, pass through security, and reach the jury assembly room before the reporting time.

Juror Compensation

The official juror payment rules explain how employment status and the length of service affect compensation. Jurors must answer the compensation section of the portal questionnaire accurately. A person who later discovers an incorrect response should contact the Jury Pool office.

First Three Days

For the first three days of jury duty, a juror whose employer does not continue regular wages, or who is unemployed or self-employed, is entitled to receive $15 per day from the State of Florida. The payment selection made during portal registration determines how the juror’s compensation information is recorded.

Miami-Dade County Code also requires certain employers to pay employees for jury service when all stated conditions apply. The employee must be regularly scheduled to work at least 35 hours per week, and the employer must have at least 10 full-time employees. The jury service must occur in Miami-Dade County, and the employer must have offices or conduct business in the county.

The employee must provide the employer with a copy of the summons and notice of jury service at least five working days before the absence. Payment under the county ordinance does not include commissions. When a juror receives both employer pay and state jury compensation, the employer may deduct the amount received from the state from the employee’s pay.

Service Beyond Three Days

When jury service lasts four days or longer, all jurors automatically receive $30 per day beginning with the fourth day, regardless of employment status. One check is mailed for each week of jury service. The Clerk states that each check is mailed approximately four weeks after the week served.

Proof of Jury Service

An attendance certificate identifies the dates on which a juror served. The certificate can be used when an employer or another authorized recipient requires proof of attendance.

After each day of service, the juror may log into the Clearview Juror Portal after 7 p.m. to obtain the attendance certificate. The juror should save or print the certificate while portal access and service details are readily available.

Jury Duty Scam Warnings

The Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts and Comptroller warns that its office will not harass or threaten people through any form of communication concerning jury duty. The Clerk does not make threats to impose financial penalties through unsolicited calls or messages. Communications from the jury office are limited to reporting instructions and other information for prospective jurors.

A caller demanding immediate payment, requesting money to cancel an arrest warrant, or threatening a juror for allegedly missing service should not be treated as an official payment process. Suspected attempts should be reported to the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts and Comptroller and the person’s local law enforcement agency.

Jurors should access their record through the official portal rather than following an unverified payment link or providing personal information to an unexpected caller. The Juror ID, identification number, date of birth, and supporting documents should be entered only through the official process or provided directly to the appropriate Clerk office.

Jury Duty Offices

Jury Pool (Civil)
Osvaldo N. Soto Justice Center
20 NW 1st Avenue, Suite 4.213
Miami, Florida 33128
786-828-JURY (5879)

Jury Pool (Criminal)
Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building
1351 NW 12th Street, Room 700
Miami, Florida 33125
786-828-JURY (5879)

ADA Coordinator
Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center
20 NW 1st Avenue, 4th Floor
Miami, Florida 33128
305-349-7202

Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts and Comptroller
20 NW 1st Avenue
Miami, Florida 33128
305-275-1155

Jury Duty FAQs

Can I respond to my summons without a computer?

Yes. The official Clearview Juror Portal can be accessed from a mobile device, so a desktop or laptop is not required. Prospective jurors may also use a computer at a local public library. Make sure the connection and device are secure before entering a Juror ID, date of birth, driver license number, or Florida identification card number. Complete every required section and confirm that the submission was accepted before closing the portal.

Can my employer fire me for attending jury service?

No. Florida law prohibits an employer from firing an employee because the employee is serving on a jury. However, protection from termination does not automatically mean every employer must continue paying regular wages. Miami-Dade County’s employer-pay requirements depend on factors such as the employee’s normal weekly schedule, the employer’s number of full-time workers, and whether the employer operates in the county. The employee must also provide the summons and notice of service at least five working days before the absence. Review the official juror payment rules for the applicable conditions.

Are emails sent to the Clerk private?

Not necessarily. The Clerk advises that email addresses are public records under Florida law and may be released in response to a public records request. Jurors who do not want their email address disclosed should avoid sending ordinary email to the office. When the portal provides an option to submit information or supporting documents, use that official process instead of emailing personal records.

Can Clerk staff give legal advice about an exemption?

No. The Clerk’s published disclaimer states that its office cannot provide legal counsel or assist people in completing forms. Jurors should review the eligibility categories and documentation requirements on the official postponement and excusal page. When a question involves legal rights rather than filing procedures, the Clerk recommends seeking advice from a qualified attorney.