Otter Tail (Seventh District)
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Contact
Otter Tail County Courthouse
Otter Tail Court Administration
3rd Floor
121 W. Junius Avenue
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Phone: (218) 560-7045
Juror Reporting Instructions: (218) 560-7050
Directions
Parking
Jurors are allowed to park in the 1 or 2 hour parking spots near the courthouse or in the church parking lot on the west side of the courthouse. The only place jurors cannot park are in the lots or parking spots that are designated Law Enforcement Parking Only.
Security Screening
Please do NOT bring any item that could be used as a weapon to any courthouse. Those items will not be allowed in areas beyond screening checkpoints, and illegal weapons will be confiscated. There may be a line at a security checkpoint, so please allow yourself enough time to get to the courthouse.
Reporting Instructions
First Day: Report to the 3rd floor of the Otter Tail County Courthouse promptly at 8:45 a.m., or as instructed on the jury line message. Jurors will check in on the Court’s jury kiosk – jurors should bring their Jury Summons with barcode with them to enhance the efficiency of the check-in process. Once checked in, jurors will be directed to the jury assembly room for jury orientation. They will be escorted to the appropriate courtroom when the jury trial is ready to proceed.
Second and Subsequent Days: Follow instructions given by the judge at the end of the previous day as to where to report on the second and subsequent days. Jurors will check in on the Court’s jury kiosk – jurors should bring their Jury Summons with barcode with them to enhance the efficiency of the check-in process.
Personal Items and Your Phone
- Beverages and all electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, beepers, smart watches, etc.) are not allowed in the courtroom while serving on jury duty. These devices should be left at home or in your car. (Coffee and bottled water are provided by the Court)
- Please keep in mind that there are security measures similar to airport screening. Do not bring sharp objects such as scissors, corkscrews or knitting needles as they may be confiscated.
General Information
Jury deliberation may go into the evening hours, so jurors should make arrangements to accommodate this possibility. Jurors will receive further information about jury service at orientation when reporting on the first day. There will be opportunity to ask questions at that time.
There are times when cases are settled prior to the trial date; therefore, it is important that jurors call the jury line number after 5:00 p.m. the night before the trial, or the morning of the trial before leaving for the courthouse. There will be a message that tells jurors the status of the trial, as well as provides instructions with regard to the need to report for jury duty as summoned.
Jurors will need to know the courtroom they are assigned to before calling the jury line for trial status. This information can be found in the letter from Court Administration. This voice message service will not take messages.