Juror questionnaires can now be found online.

In the past, they were mailed to potential jurors.

Steve Davis, communications director for the Iowa Judicial Branch, said potential jurors used to receive the questionnaire in the mail and then had to mail it back to the courthouse before jury selection began.

Now, all they receive is a simple postcard with a website address on it.

“They do the questionnaire online and, at the same location, they can find information about jury service in Iowa,” Davis said.

The purpose of switching to online questionnaires is to simplify the process, according to Davis.

“People do so much of their work on their phones,” he said. “This will come and they’ll get the postcard and literally fill out the questionnaire when walking back from their mailbox to their house.”

The judicial branch also hopes that it will increase juror response.

“More people will participate because it’ll be more convenient,” Davis said. “When the prospective jurors fill out the questionnaire, they can put in their cell phone number, email address and receive a notification three days prior to jury service, and again prior to the start of jury service.”

For those who are unable to go online, Davis said there is a phone number on the postcard that people can call. That phone number will allow potential jurors to request a hard copy of the questionnaire.

The questionnaires are important to the jury selection process for a variety of reasons.

“It’s information that the attorneys can use when they’re going through jury selection,” Davis said.

That information includes whether or not potential jurors have heard of a case or if they have any biases that could prevent one of the parties from receiving a fair trial.

The questionnaire also helps the judicial branch update any contact information.

“Some people have moved and so are no longer eligible for jury service,” Davis said. “You can reply and say you are no longer at that address.”

The forms also can allow people to defer jury service. As an example, Davis said someone may be from Webster County, but attending college in Johnson County.

“It gives you the opportunity to defer up to one year so that you’re going to be back in Webster County in the summer,” he said.

Additionally, the website that has the questionnaire on it also features a hub with information about local jury service. It includes a parking map for each county and what the proper check-in procedures are for each county.

That information can be found at iowacourts.gov. On the left-hand drop-down menu, there is a button that says “Find Jury Information.” Once there, a button can be found that says “Complete Questionnaire Online.”