Although most people dread being called for a jury, it’s an important responsibility of being an American citizen that should be taken seriously. Usually jurors are called from sources such as lists of people with drivers' licenses and those who are registered to vote.
Types of Juries
The two types of juries which serve district functions are trial juries and grand juries. While a grand jury listens to every case determining if there’s sufficient evidence for bringing a case to trails, a trial jury actually hears the case going to trials. Trial juries can be broken down into civil and criminal cases. A civil case involves a law suit where the person filing is the plaintiff. On the other hand, in criminal law the government (called the prosecution) files the litigation.
People Exempt from Jury Duty
People are generally excused from jury duty if they have a severely ill spouse or have a spouse who’s recently died. Other exemptions may be jurors who have physical or mental conditions hindering them from making decisions. Elderly people can be excused, although if they want to serve, they won’t be disqualified. Other conditions may include someone caring for a sick family member who needs constant supervision.
Preparing for Jury Duty
As soon as someone receives the letter requesting service for jury duty, he needs to respond. Of course, there are circumstances where some people are unable to serve on the week that they're called. For example, if someone knows he’ll be out of town, he should call or write requesting to be excused. Typically, they’ll either be excused or given a future date for appearing for jury duty. It’s important to fill out the forms and return them to the address provided. Jurors need to inform employers of their absences for the time of jury duty well in advance of the date for appearing in court. Jurors should plan to stay all day. While some people are dismissed immediately, many others have to stay all day long, sometimes doing nothing. That’s why it’s helpful to bring along reading materials or hobbies such as knitting or cross word puzzles.
Do Not Discuss the Case
It’s important to not discuss the case, not only with friends and family members when jurors go home, but also with fellow jurors. If a case lasts for more than a day, jurors shouldn’t search online for information regarding their cases. The only time discussion is allowed is when the jurors are deliberating after the trial and they’re trying to reach a verdict.
Listening to the Witnesses
It’s important to carefully listen to all the information stated by the witnesses. It’s all about evidence, even more so that being persuaded by attorneys. Jurors should take notes, writing down anything that stands out in their minds as information leading them to form a decision.
The Deliberation Stage
The deliberation phase is when the jury involved in a trial privately discusses the court’s findings and votes to either find a defendant innocent or guilty. A foreman is chosen from the group of jurors to facilitate the discussion and then to give the jury's decision to the bailiff who passes it on to the judge.
Finally it’s imperative to weigh all the evidence when making a decision. Often decisions aren’t black and white and a hung jury may result. However, a juror should stand by his convictions if he truly believe his position is right. On the other hand, if a juror feel he's misjudged the case, he shouldn’t let his pride stand in the way of changing his decision. Although it may be an inconvenience for the jurors who are called, for the peoples’ lives involved in the cases, the outcomes can be life-changing.
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