First time Jury Duty!?

Question

I just got a letter in the mail about Jury Duty for Oct. 22 and this will be my first time, can someone please explain what I should be expecting? I have no clue how it works, what will I be doing exactly?

Answer 1

The judge in charge of your Case will brief you on what you have to do! Just comply notice and do your duty!

Answer 2

The first day you will probably fill out some paperwork, in Ohio they have a movie about jury duty to get people used to the procedure etc.

The next 13 days..I spent playing Euchre!  Bring a book, magazine, and your lunch.

If you are employed take the letter in as proof of jury duty, I was paid my regular rate of pay in exchange for me giving them the $5 a day you get for jury duty.

Answer 3

If you get selected, just listen to the presentations, follow the judges directions and use your brain.  You will do fine.  Jury duty is great!  Hope you get on a jury.  When you do,  just use common sense.

Answer 4

Take your notice with you to the place you are to report at the time you are to be there. Also, take a good book or something to occupy your time. You may be sitting for a couple of days doing nothing. They will tell you precisely what to do, how to follow the herd exactly how high to jump when they say jump. If you are actually selected for jury duty then a new set of instructions will be given to you. Good luck! This is your time to read and wait, and wait, and wait.

Answer 5

If the case is for a serious enough crime, you have the power to determine the fate of another person's life without any risk of harm to yourself.  Get yourself pumped up over the power.  Tell the judge that you can't wait to be a temporary god.

Answer 6

You will be shuffled from room to room and do a lot of waiting. Bring a good book. They have asked a lot more people than they need for a jury in order that they can reject ones that the prosecutor or defense attorney feel would not give their client a fair shake. You will be interviewed by both informally to determine your prejudices etc. Nothing to fear. Just tell them how you honestly feel. If you had a family member that was a victim of the same crime being tried, the defense attorney may not want you serving, etc.

Then you go home and wait to be summoned. In a fair number of the cases, they are settled out of court and you are told not to bother.

If you are allowed, take lots of notes. In the jury room, your fellow jurors will want you to be able to defend your position. If you are the only hold-out, it will be all the more important that you can defend your view. But don't change your mind just because you feel intimidated. You have to live with your decision and depending on the severity of the crime, you don't want to deprive someone of life or liberty if you have a genuine reasonable doubt.  Do not discuss the case outside the jury room or the judge will put little bumps all over your head. Watch some TV court dramas to get the feel of it. Get a feel for what statements  during the trial are thrown out by the judge and why. Do not retain them as part of your decision in the jury room. Some people actually get to like the process. It is the American way.  Good luck!

Answer 7

I live in PA and got a summons in the mail to appear 9/11 and I called the day before like your suppose to to see if your group will be used. My group was like 13 or 14 and they were only using groups 1-7 that day so I didn't even have to go, they told me I probably wouldn't get summoned again for at least another year!