Jury DutyJury Duty

““A person is innocent until proven guilty”A person is innocent until proven guilty”

As a juror, you have the responsibility of As a juror, you have the responsibility of determining the innocence or guilt of determining the innocence or guilt of your fellow manyour fellow man

You must put aside your emotions, You must put aside your emotions, prejudices, and/or feelings of sympathyprejudices, and/or feelings of sympathy

Jury Duty FAQ’sJury Duty FAQ’s

1. Who is eligible for jury duty? 1. Who is eligible for jury duty? a. Any English speaking U.S. a. Any English speaking U.S.

Citizen Citizen who is at least 18 years old who is at least 18 years old

2. How are jurors selected? 2. How are jurors selected? a. Area residents are selected a. Area residents are selected

randomly randomly using tax and voter rolls using tax and voter rolls

3. If called will I definitely serve on a 3. If called will I definitely serve on a jury? jury?

a. Once summoned to court, a. Once summoned to court, prospective jurors may find their prospective jurors may find their service is not required. service is not required. Some jurors are automatically excused Some jurors are automatically excused

and others may be excused during the and others may be excused during the juror selection process. Typically four juror selection process. Typically four out of five prospective jurors are out of five prospective jurors are excused excused

4. How often can I be summoned for jury duty? 4. How often can I be summoned for jury duty? a. Only once a year a. Only once a year

5. Do I have to respond if I receive a summons? 5. Do I have to respond if I receive a summons?

a. Yes, whether you qualify for jury a. Yes, whether you qualify for jury service service or not or not

b. Failure to respond could place you in b. Failure to respond could place you in contempt of court; but you do have several contempt of court; but you do have several options if you cannot serve options if you cannot serve

6. Can I be excused from jury service? 6. Can I be excused from jury service? a. Jury service is not voluntary. a. Jury service is not voluntary.

It is a civic duty, but the law allows you to be excused if It is a civic duty, but the law allows you to be excused if there is undue hardship, if you don’t meet eligibility there is undue hardship, if you don’t meet eligibility requirements, or if you are a police officer requirements, or if you are a police officer

7. Why do judges excuse residents from jury 7. Why do judges excuse residents from jury duty? duty?

a. If you are related to or know someone a. If you are related to or know someone involved in involved in the case the case

b. If you have a financial interest, a b. If you have a financial interest, a prejudice or prejudice or bias, or have formed an opinion bias, or have formed an opinion about the case about the case

c. If you have been convicted of a felony c. If you have been convicted of a felony

How a jury is chosenHow a jury is chosen Chosen from a jury Chosen from a jury

poolpool Must be fair for both Must be fair for both

sidessides 12 jurors and 2 12 jurors and 2

alternates selectedalternates selected You will be asked You will be asked

questions such as:questions such as: Acquaintance with Acquaintance with

parties involved?parties involved? Employment?Employment? Have you formed an Have you formed an

opinion about the case?opinion about the case?

Being a Juror: AttendanceBeing a Juror: Attendance

You must be You must be present every day present every day of your serviceof your service

Hours are normally Hours are normally from 9-12 and 1-4from 9-12 and 1-4

Must stay in the Must stay in the evening if still evening if still deliberatingdeliberating

Being a Juror: PaymentBeing a Juror: Payment

$9.00 per day for the $9.00 per day for the first three days of first three days of serviceservice

$25.00 per day after $25.00 per day after that (until you are that (until you are finished)finished)

$.17 per mile round trip$.17 per mile round trip

Your employer may still Your employer may still pay your wagespay your wages

Being a Juror: AttireBeing a Juror: Attire

No required dress No required dress but your attire but your attire should not distract should not distract from the “dignity of from the “dignity of the court”the court”

Women: dress Women: dress pants/or suitspants/or suits

Men: coats and Men: coats and tiesties

Being a juror: MealsBeing a juror: Meals

Excused for lunch Excused for lunch at noonat noon

Court only covers Court only covers the cost of meals the cost of meals when you are when you are deliberating during deliberating during meal timemeal time

The Juror in the CourtroomThe Juror in the Courtroom

Report promptly Report promptly for each session of for each session of courtcourt

Discard prejudice Discard prejudice and sympathy. and sympathy. Control your Control your emotions. Control emotions. Control your facial your facial expressionsexpressions

Listen attentively Listen attentively to testimony. to testimony. Look carefully at all Look carefully at all exhibits.exhibits.

You may not take You may not take notes because you notes because you may become may become distracted.distracted.

Keep an open mind until the very Keep an open mind until the very end of the trial no matter how end of the trial no matter how persuasive a Plaintiff or Defendant persuasive a Plaintiff or Defendant may sound.may sound.

Carefully listen to statements by Carefully listen to statements by lawyers, but disregard statements in lawyers, but disregard statements in the opening or closing statements the opening or closing statements that are not proven by evidence.that are not proven by evidence.

Do not talk to people Do not talk to people about the case during about the case during the trial.the trial.

Do not discuss the Do not discuss the case with fellow jurors.case with fellow jurors.

Do not listen to Do not listen to comments from the comments from the press.press.

Never visit the Never visit the scene of the crime scene of the crime unless unless accompanied by accompanied by the judge.the judge.

Only consider only Only consider only evidence that was evidence that was placed before you placed before you in the court roomin the court room

After the verdict is After the verdict is read, you should read, you should not discuss with not discuss with anyone what took anyone what took place in the jury place in the jury room, the process room, the process through which the through which the verdict was verdict was reached, or the reached, or the conduct of any conduct of any jurors.jurors.

In the jury roomIn the jury room

At the end of the At the end of the trial, the jury will trial, the jury will go to the jury room go to the jury room to consider its to consider its verdict.verdict.

First job: Elect a First job: Elect a jury forepersonjury foreperson

Foreperson is Foreperson is elected by all jurors; elected by all jurors; all jurors are equalall jurors are equal

Foreperson speaks on Foreperson speaks on behalf of the jury.behalf of the jury.

After the foreperson is selected, he/she After the foreperson is selected, he/she should take a vote.should take a vote.

If the jury finds itself unanimous, no If the jury finds itself unanimous, no further discussion is necessary.further discussion is necessary.

If it is not, the foreperson should give each If it is not, the foreperson should give each juror equal chance to express viewsjuror equal chance to express views

As discussion continues, the foreperson As discussion continues, the foreperson should periodically call for a vote.should periodically call for a vote.

If the jury cannot If the jury cannot agree on a verdict, agree on a verdict, (must be (must be unanimous in unanimous in criminal and 10/12 criminal and 10/12 in civil) the in civil) the foreperson will alert foreperson will alert the judgethe judge

If no verdict is If no verdict is reached, the case reached, the case may be retried.may be retried.

If a verdict is reached, If a verdict is reached, the foreperson will the foreperson will write it down on the write it down on the provided formprovided form

All parties involved All parties involved report to the report to the courtroom.courtroom.

When directed, the When directed, the foreperson reads the foreperson reads the verdict.verdict.