BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Circuit Court is changing how it notifies people of jury duty. Instead of the old paper with a return envelope, prospective jurors will receive a postcard with instructions on how to respond online. "We believe that these postcards will be more efficient for many jurors to respond," says Trial Court Administrator Angie Curtis. Postcards direct prospective jurors to an internet portal called Juror eResponse, "They can use the information on the postcards to go to our website, to respond to the jury summons, to complete their jury orientation requirements and things like that. So we hope this will be more efficient for people who have that access. However, we also recognize that not everybody has that access or does not necessarily prefer that." Curtis tells KBND News anyone without internet access or who is uncomfortable with responding online can call the courthouse. That call information is also included on the postcard.

The change is part of a statewide rollout of a new jury management system. Curtis says, "In some of the courts that have implemented this postcard system before our turn, they have found that it actually seems to increase the jury response. In other words, it does seem to be more convenient for more jurors to respond this way."

She notes the old summons was used as late as this week, "For people who have received a traditional summons with paper and envelope, those are still valid. But the first round of these new summons will go out on Monday, May 20th." Curtis adds, "We will actually have an updated jury webpage for those who receive the new postcard summons. So, for a short period of time, we’ll actually have two jury pages - one, to respond to the postcards and the other to respond to those who have already received a paper and envelope summons."

Jury duty scams remain prevalent and Curtis wants the public to be aware of the new postcard, so people know it's legitimate. But she also reminds everyone, "The Circuit Courts will never contact anybody by phone, email or other means to ask for personal or financial information, or to demand money for failure to respond to jury service, or threaten anybody with arrest for not serving on jury duty."

Sample Postcard: