Xerox Helps Manatee County With Jury Duty, Courts

BRADENTON, FL – Jury duty is an important part of the country’s judicial system, but it often becomes a burden to many who participate in the process.

Residents of Manatee County can now expect a smoother and easier experience when they receive a jury summons. In January, the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s Office implemented AgileJury software, which allows jurors an option to complete much of the check-in process online and ahead of time, speeding up the process for their appointed jury duty.

Produced by Xerox, AgileJury allows jurors to complete and submit juror questionnaires, enter biographical information, request service postponements and deferrals, upload supporting documentation and more – all online.

“We needed to upgrade our outdated jury services system, and we were looking to take advantage of online juror processing as well as possibly adding kiosks,” said Carole Pettijohn, the director of technology services for the Manatee County Clerk’s office. “We chose Xerox for its ability to handle multiple installations, support infrastructure, and quickly address any changes in jury requirements that might arise from legislative changes.”

AgileJury makes jury days more efficient, as jurors only need to confirm their name and address when arriving at the court check-in counter. Also, accuracy is improved because jurors enter and verify their own data online. On the flip side, AgileJury helps out behind the scenes as well.

“AgileJury simplifies the jury admission process, from creating summonses to recording qualification to paying jurors,” said Louis Schiavone Jr., the managing director for Xerox Local Government Solutions. “The system is straightforward and easy to navigate, and it allows clerks to focus on more crucial tasks like getting paperwork to judges faster.”

By being the first county in the state to implement this system, Manatee County officials said other clerk’s offices around Florida can springboard off of their groundwork.

“I’m excited to offer these enhanced services to our community,” Colonneso said. “This will streamline the jury summons process for citizens and make for a more cost-effective and efficient process for staff.”

Instructions on how to access and use the AgileJury application are included in jury summonses. The web app can be found at ejuror.manateeclerk.com.

Image via Shutterstock

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