Bonner County jury commissioner explains new electronic jury system, summons process and juror pay

Bonner County Jury Commissioner (Bonner County Jury Commissioner) told residents that the county moved last year to a statewide electronic jury management (EJM) system and described how summonses, confirmations and exemptions now work.

The briefing detailed why some residents have received duplicate summonses after the county’s system change, how jurors are selected from Idaho driver’s-license and voter-registration lists, what jurors must do after they receive a summons, and how juror pay and supports (counseling, comfort measures and anti‑scam guidance) are handled.

The EJM conversion and selection process

“Jurors are selected randomly based off their Idaho driver's license and their voter registration,” the Jury Commissioner said, explaining that the county moved from a one-month term-of-service model to assigning jurors to a single trial and, as of January, has used the new EJM software used by almost all Idaho counties. The commissioner said most Bonner County terms now average about eight days, compared with two-to-six-month terms still used in many other counties in the state.

The commissioner said about 65,000 to 80,000 names currently appear in Bonner County’s EJM database and that duplicate files—often created when people change addresses or maintain multiple addresses—have led to some residents receiving more than one summons. “If you do receive a second summons … give me the ID numbers so I can close 1 of those files out,” the commissioner said.

How summonses and responses work

All jurors pulled for a pool receive a mailed summons and must return the completed questionnaire within 10 days. “If you do not complete the summons within 10 days, a no response letter will be issued,” the commissioner said. No-response follow-ups are sent in stages; the commissioner said she first sends a colored reminder (blue or green) and then a stronger follow-up if there is still no response.

Jurors may complete the questionnaire online at jury.idaho.gov, by phone via the IVR at (844) 509-1211, by using a courthouse kiosk, or by returning a paper form. The commissioner advised jurors to keep the stub from the summons (or reprint it from the site) to speed check-in.

Pool timing, statuses and pull process

Pools are ordered five to seven days in advance, typically with jurors pulled about 60 days before a trial. Pool sizes range from roughly 100 to 500 people depending on courtroom needs. The system shows a juror’s status as confirmed (standby), paneled (report), pending (awaiting review), excused (temporary), or disqualified (permanent). The commissioner asked jurors to watch status changes on the service information tab and noted that the reported start date on the stub could shift because court schedules change.

Eligibility, deferments and exemptions

The commissioner said jurors between ages 18 and 70 may be selected. Nonresidents, permanent medical conditions, caregiver responsibilities, military service, missionary work, nursing mothers, college students, language barriers or lack of citizenship can qualify for excusal or deferment; durations vary depending on the reason. “Jurors are allowed 1 deferment and may select an alternate date to serve,” the commissioner said. Felons whose probation or parole has ended are eligible to serve, though judges and attorneys may object to seating individual jurors at trial.

Pay, mileage and processing timelines

The commissioner provided the county’s pay schedule: $5 for a half day, $10 per full day, increasing to $50 per day starting on day six of a juror’s service; mileage is paid at $0.70 round trip per mile from the residence to the courthouse. She warned that, because the office is a one-person operation, checks can take from about a week up to 30 days to process and mail.

Support for jurors and fraud warnings

The commissioner described supports available to jurors, including on-site counseling available through a nearby facility (Lily Brook) for jurors experiencing emotional distress after trials. She also said the county maintains a jury assistance fund that pays for improved seating and refreshments; Fine Arts Upholstery made bench cushions and the county is outfitting courtrooms to improve comfort. The commissioner warned residents about jury‑related scams and advised: do not give money or personal information and report attempted scams to the sheriff’s office non‑emergency line.

Community questions and follow-up work

Resident Diane Willey, who described having served on a trial, said she felt the process she experienced produced a fair outcome and encouraged others to serve. “I very much enjoyed jury service,” Willey said.

The commissioner said she is actively correcting duplicate records in the database (having removed about 1,000 records so far) and that the state updates the database each September; she also said the Idaho Supreme Court had assigned her to search for a better statewide jury management system and that another system change remains possible.

What residents should do next

Residents who believe they have been summoned in error or who served recently should notify the Bonner County Jury Commissioner with their candidate ID numbers so staff can close duplicate files. The commissioner said she will take reported issues and work to reconcile prior service records in the new system.