If you lost your DeKalb County jury duty summons, you still have to appear, but you can recover your reporting details quickly. Call the DeKalb County Jury Management Office at 404-371-2022 and press 0 for a clerk. They can look you up by name and date of birth, confirm your reporting date, and give you the nine-digit participant number you need to access the eJuror portal at myjurorinfo.com.1myjurorinfo.com. DeKalb County Georgia eJuror Website
Getting Your Reporting Date Back
The eJuror portal is the fastest self-service option, but it asks for two things: your date of birth and your nine-digit participant number. That number was printed on the summons itself. If you didn’t photograph it or write it down, the portal is a dead end and you’ll need to talk to someone at the office.
Three ways to reach them:
- Phone: 404-371-2022, press 0 to reach a clerk.
- Email: info@dekalbjury.com.2DeKalb County Superior Court. Jury Service
- In person: DeKalb County Courthouse, 556 N. McDonough Street, Decatur, GA 30030, Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.2DeKalb County Superior Court. Jury Service
An in-person visit lets a clerk run a manual search and print replacement instructions on the spot. Whichever route you choose, make contact before your scheduled date. That creates a record that you tried to comply, which matters if the court ever questions whether you ignored the summons.
There are also two recorded lines for reporting instructions once you know your date: 404-371-2030 for general jury reporting and 404-687-3818 for grand jury reporting.2DeKalb County Superior Court. Jury Service Neither recording will give you a participant number.
Reporting to the Courthouse Without the Paper
Once you’ve confirmed your date, bring a government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport. Courthouse security has to verify your identity before you enter. When you get to the jury assembly room, tell the staff you don’t have your summons. They work from the master list and can check you in by name and date of birth.
Arrive early. If anything about your assignment needs sorting out, the clerks need time to do it before proceedings start. The main courthouse is at 556 N. McDonough Street in Decatur, but confirm the exact building and room with the Jury Management Office beforehand. Grand jurors sometimes report to a different location.3DeKalb County Superior Court. Jury Management
What Happens if You Just Don’t Show Up
Under Georgia law, anyone properly summoned who fails to appear can be punished for contempt of court.4Justia. Georgia Code 15-12-10 – Jurors Failure to Appear or Unauthorized Absence; Contempt The typical next step is a show-cause order directing you to appear before a judge and explain the absence. “I lost the summons” is not an automatic defense, though showing that you contacted the Jury Management Office and tried to resolve the problem works strongly in your favor.
Georgia Superior Courts can impose contempt penalties of up to $1,000 in fines, up to 20 days in jail, or both.5FindLaw. Georgia Code 15-6-8 – Powers of Superior Courts Judges often go lighter on a first missed date when the juror shows good faith, but the statutory ceiling is real, and a contempt finding becomes part of your court record. The whole scenario is avoidable with one phone call the moment you realize the summons is gone.
Check Whether You Qualify for an Exemption or Deferral
Before you spend time recovering a lost summons, see if you qualify to be excused. The DeKalb County Jury Management Office handles these requests and notarizes the required affidavits at no cost.6DeKalb County Superior Court. Exemptions and Deferrals
Anyone 70 or older can request a permanent exemption by submitting a written request and affidavit to the clerk. Once granted, your name comes off the jury list entirely.7Justia. Georgia Code 15-12-1.1 – Exemptions From Jury Duty
Other categories that may qualify for exemption or deferral in DeKalb County:
- Primary caregiver of a child age six or under, if you are not employed outside the home and a spouse does not count as reasonably available alternative childcare. Notarized affidavit required.
- Primary unpaid caregiver of a person with physical or cognitive limitations. Notarized affidavit plus a physician’s statement required.
- Full-time students, excused for one year with current verification of enrollment covering the service date.
- Homeschool teachers, with a notarized affidavit and a Home Study Program Declaration of Intent from the Georgia Department of Education.
- Active-duty military or a military spouse, with an appropriate affidavit for a deferral.
If none of these fit but the assigned date creates a real hardship, call 404-371-2022 and ask about deferring to a later date. And if you know you’re not eligible to serve in the first place — for example, you no longer live in DeKalb County — contact the office to have your name removed rather than skipping the date.