I have to go to jury duty, this is my first time going. Can somebody tell me what its all about?

Question

I'm kinda nervous and I really don't like the courtroom thing, but I have to go or they'll charge me a fine something, I don't know!

Answer 1

I have been called many times and it is very simple.  You will get a general talk in a big courtroom and then you will be interviewed.  They will either keep you or let you go.  I have been called for duty but have never served and have only been interviewed twice.  I am old.

Answer 2

Here is my advice: As soon as they call your name, say: "Guilty."

Answer 3

I had to do jury duty and this is how it worked here.  You go in on the day they tell you to and they will assign you a number.  They give you a phone number to call every night for a a month to see if your number is called for the next day.  If it is you report to the court and they will ask you all a series of questions to see if are suitable to be a juror on the case that is that day.  If you are, they call numbers and if you are picked you will have to actually serve that day.  You hear the case, sometimes more than one case in a day and then are sent to a back room where everyone discusses and decides the verdict out of three or four choices on a sheet of paper.  One person is picked out of the group to announce the verdict and then usually the judge makes her decision and you get to go home.  Out of the whole month I was called in three times, and only actually served one time.  It is a terrible inconvenience though.

Answer 4

It is part of your civil duty as an American to go to jury duty.  Just show up or call in on the day they tell you to and everything should be fine.  Theoretically, if you do not show up, they will issue a warrant for your arrest and fine you.  Each county will have different rules and levels of enforcement.

Answer 5

OMG!

They will NOT fine you!

I have been called upon several times for jury duty. I was high risk pregnancy 3 of those times and i simply told them so. That was it.

Simply tell them if you cant do it, or if it is a hardship and they wont make you. There are many retirees who would LOVE to perform this duty.

Answer 6

Just relax but pay attention to the deliberations so that you will be able to participate properly.

Answer 7

There's really nothing to be worried about. Just be sure to bring something to occupy your time. The worst part is waiting in a great big room with everyone else. I've served and I found it very interesting. It's our civic duty to serve and I was proud to do it.