Cortland County Courts

Commissioner of Jurors

Court House, Suite 301
46 Greenbush St
Cortland, NY 13045

Phone: 607-218-3365
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 646-963-6452

Commissioner of Jurors
Emily Stith, Chief Clerk I & Commissioner of Jurors

Mail: Commissioner of Jurors
Cortland County Court House, Suite 301
46 Greenbush St.
Cortland, NY 13045

 

Information

Court Building

All visitors must pass through a magnetometer
upon entering the courthouse.

 

Message from the Commissioner

On behalf of the courts in Cortland County, I welcome you as a prospective juror.

The law provides that a representative body of eligible citizens shall perform as jurors to determine cases brought before the courts. Your participation in the jury process helps to insure the individual rights of each citizen.

I recognize that jury service can be burdensome, as it may interrupt your personal and business lives.  Please be assured that we will work within the limits of the law to make your service as a juror a rewarding and memorable experience.

 

Thank you for your cooperation in this important duty as a resident of Cortland County and New York State and a citizen of the United States.

Commissioner of Jurors


When You Report

  • All persons entering the Court House are required to pass through a magnetometer.
  • Use of cell phones, food and beverages, other than water, are not allowed in courtrooms.
  • Selected jurors may bring a lunch. A refrigerator and microwave are available in the jury deliberation room.

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Telephone Standby 

All trial jurors (excluding Grand Jurors) are required to call the Commissioner of Jurors office at 607-218-3365 - OR 607-218-3314 for City Court jurors - after 5:30 p.m. on the day before your service is to begin for final reporting instructions as to date, time and place. If reporting on a Monday, you may call any time after 5:30 p.m. on the preceding Friday or over the weekend, until 8:00 a.m. on Monday. A prerecorded message will give you further instructions. Please listen to the entire message. A failure to call will subject you to the same sanctions as if you had not reported for jury service.

If you are not instructed to report, you are expected to continue to report to work or school, as is your normal routine. The State of New York will only pay you (if entitled) for days in actual attendance. Also, a record of attendance will only reflect actual attendance.


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Absence/Emergency 

If you are unable to report at any time during your jury term due to illness or emergency, please telephone the Commissioner of Jurors at 607-218-3365 or City Court 607-218-3300.


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Excuses

Care Giver: Children: Ages and an explanation as to why you cannot make arrangements for care, and if employed, documentation verifying your hours of employment.

Medical: An original signed statement from an appropriately licensed health care provider that indicates a condition which renders you incapable of performing jury service, and how long it is expected to exist.

Financial: An application for excusal may be granted if you can prove that jury service will cause a financial hardship which will significantly compromise your ability to support yourself, or your dependents. Please note: This excuse is only for jurors experiencing a severe financial hardship. There are no excusals solely for loss of income. You may be required to submit further documentation.

Hearing Impaired Jurors: An American Sign Language Interpreter or an assistive listening devise can be provided. Call the Jury Office upon receipt of the Juror Summons. Call 607-218-3365 or Relay calls at 1-800-1220.

Disabled Jurors: If you have a disability and are in need of special accommodations, please contact the Jury Office at 607-218-3365 upon receipt of the Juror Summons.


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Postponements

All applications for postponements must be made one week prior to your date of service. You can apply for your first postponement by phone or by mail. Any further postponement requests or permanent excuse requests require the submission of written documentation as to why you can not serve.  Contact the Commissioner of Jurors at 607-218-3365 for further explanation.

By Phone: Choose a date between 1 and 6 months from the date of your summons. Your request can be made by calling the automated system at 1-800-449-2819 or the Office of the Commissioner of Jurors at 607-218-3365. If the date you requested is not available, you will be given the next available court date.

By Mail: Indicate a date you can serve between 1 and 6 months from the date of your summons, include a telephone number where you can be reached between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., and mail to the following address:

Commissioner of Jurors
Cortland County Court House, Suite 301
46 Greenbush Street
Cortland, NY 13045

Your request for your first postponement is granted unless you hear differently from our office!

 

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