Frequently asked questions

The following compilation of FAQs gleaned from courts' juror sites is intended as a resource for court personnel creating or improving a juror information Web site. (See also recommendations on creating juror information sites.)  Because the proper response to many of these questions varies from state to state, or even court to court, no answers are provided. If you are a potential juror seeking answers to these questions, please consult the listing of state court (including county and municipal courts) juror orientation sites or the listing of federal court sites.

Questions about:

Questions about the jury system in general
What is a jury?
What is the role of the juror?
Why does the court need juries to decide cases?
Why is the jury system important?
What are the roots of the jury system?
Who is entitled to a jury trial?
What laws govern the jury system in our state?
What will I get out of being a juror?
What is the difference between a grand jury and a petit jury?

Questions about who gets called for jury duty
Who is eligible to serve as a juror?
How did I get picked for jury service?
Can I volunteer to be a juror?
Why can't the court just use volunteer jurors, or people who are retired, or not working?
How will I know if I have been randomly selected to be a juror?
How often can I be called for jury duty?
If I report as summoned, and complete my term of jury service, how long will it be before I have to serve again as a juror?
What if I have been called twice or have already served in the past year?
Why have some people never been called for jury service and I've been called more than once?
How many people does the court summon?
For what length of time may my name be on a prospective jurors' list?

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Questions about responding to a jury summons
What must I do when I get a jury summons?
Do I have to respond to the jury summons?
How soon must I return the juror history questionnaire?
What should I do with the questionnaire and summons?
I got a jury summons for a deceased family member. What should I do?
What if my son/daughter received a summons but is away at college or in the military?
What if the summons is wrong?
I received a jury summons for the previous resident of my home. What should I do?
I received a summons a few years ago and sent a doctor's note in to be excused. Don't you keep that on file?
Why do I have to fill in all of this information? What if I don't remember some of the things until later?
How may I complete my juror information form?
What do I do if my summons/questionnaire is lost?
What if I fail to return the questionnaire?
I forgot to return my paperwork, what should I do?

Questions about rescheduling or being excused from jury service
Is jury service mandatory?
Under what authority can I be compelled to serve as a juror?
Can jury duty be rescheduled?
How do I request to be excused from jury service?
Are many people excused from serving on a jury?
Who should I notify in the event I cannot appear for jury service?
What if I cannot speak, read, and understand English? / ¿Qué si yo no puedo hablar, leer, y no entender inglés?
Can I send someone in my place if I am unable to serve?
What if I cannot serve on a trial that lasts longer than one day, but I do want to serve?
What happens if I can't go to court on the scheduled day?
What if I think a mistake was made and I am not eligible for jury service?
I am a student. What about school?
Am I still required to perform my jury service if my employer won’t pay me?
Is there an age restriction for jurors?
My religious belief prohibits me from serving as a juror. Do I need to answer the summons and appear for jury duty?
Can I request a financial or medical hardship?
I have moved from the place where I was summoned, what do I do?
I have a prior felony conviction. Can I still serve?
Can a non United States citizen serve as a juror?
Can a person who has been in prison serve as a juror?
Can I be excused because I freeze up in front of a group of people?
What if I am caring for a dependent child or adult?
Is jury duty service credit transferable from state to federal jury service?
What is the difference between deferred, disqualified and excused?
What if I don’t hear from the court about my request for excuse or postponement?
I forgot to report for jury duty as ordered, what should I do?
What if I fail to report for service?

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Questions about employment
What about my job?
When should I let my employer know I have jury duty?
Can my employer prevent me from serving as a juror?
What if my boss won't let me off for jury duty?
Can my employer discipline or fire me?
What happens to my job or school attendance record?
What can I do if the employer refuses to pay me for the first three days of jury service?
Does my employer have to pay me for time missed from work due to jury service?
If I work outside the state, and I am summoned as a juror in the county where I reside in the state, am I entitled to my usual compensation from my employer?
Will my expense allowance be deducted from my salary?
Who would be considered a "full time employee" in terms of being able to receive their salary or wages during jury service?
If I work a second or third shift (classified as a shift other than the typical 8-5 workday), must I return to work after I have served on a jury for six to eight hours during the day and am expected to report for jury duty the next day?
Where can I get proof of my service to take to my employer?
What if my employee is called to jury duty?
As an employer, am I obligated to pay my employee for work-time lost while serving jury duty?
Employer Fact Sheet

Questions about pay (See also questions about employment)
Will I be paid for serving as a juror?
What is the pay for jury service and how is it set?
Will I be reimbursed for transportation costs?
Will my meals be paid for while I am serving on jury duty?
How will I get paid during my service?
How long does it take for jurors to get paid?
If I am summoned to court as a juror, but I was not chosen to serve, am I still entitled to an expense allowance and mileage?
If the case settles, do I still get paid?
Is my jury pay taxable?
May I waive or forego my expense and mileage allowances if I choose to do so?
Can a juror correct a mistake regarding who is responsible for paying the jury fee?

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Questions about getting ready for jury duty
How do I prepare for jury duty?
Some people have never been to the courthouse and are scared of the whole process, what can they do?
How much notice will I be given that I am to appear for jury service?
Should I "bone up" on the case on my own by doing some outside reading or investigation?
Is there anything I should avoid once I have been summoned for jury duty?
I meet the eligibility requirements for serving as a juror but am I really "qualified" to serve?
I do not know the law, how can I be a juror?
What are the most important qualifications of a juror?
How can I make my service more comfortable or enjoyable?

Questions about knowing if I need to report
How do I confirm that I have to go to court on the scheduled day?
How does the call-in procedure work?
What happens if the case is settled before the date of jury service?
What happens to me if the recording tells me I don't have to report?
Even though I have received a summons, is it still possible that I will not be required to come to court on the date shown for jury service?

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Questions about getting to the courthouse
How do I get to the courthouse by public transportation?
How do I get to the courthouse by car?
Where can I park?
Do you pay for parking?
What do I do about overtime parking tickets received while I'm in the courthouse on jury duty?
If I am summoned for one location, can I report to a different one that is more convenient?

What can I bring and how should I dress?
What should I wear to jury duty?
What can/cannot be brought to the courthouse?
Will I be searched when I come to the courthouse?
Can I bring someone to jury service with me?
What is the policy on jurors’ use of cell phones, pagers, and other wireless communication devices?
Can I bring food or drinks into the courtroom?

Questions about court facilities and juror services
Where is the jury room located in the courthouse?
What facilities are available?
Will child care be provided?
Does the court provide a jury lounge?
Is there a quiet room without televisions where I can get some work done?
Where can I store my personal belongings?
Where are the restrooms?
Can I use a telephone?
Will I be able to check my e-mail at the courthouse?
Are the courthouses handicapped accessible?
Can I smoke?
Where can I eat lunch?
What is in the vicinity of the Courthouse?

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Questions about schedule
What time must I arrive at the jury assembly room?
What should I do if I am late and cannot get to the courthouse in time for jury duty?
How long does jury service last?
Will I be informed if a trial is going to be a long trial?
How long is the jury day?
What time is lunch?
When is my group number going to be called?

Questions about what to expect when I arrive
Where do I check in?
What should I expect?
What normally happens the day my jury service begins?
How will I know what to do as a juror?
Is there a jury orientation?
What do I do during jury duty?
Why do I have to wait around so much as a juror?
Why are there delays in the jury process?

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Questions about jury selection
What happens if I am called to a courtroom for possible selection as a juror?
How is a jury selected?
Is it possible that I might report for service but not sit on a jury?
What is the likelihood that I will actually be selected for a jury?
On the day I report for jury duty is it possible that I will be assigned to more than one courtroom for selection of jurors?
Will I be chosen for a specific trial?
Why are some jurors dismissed and not allowed to sit for a trial?
What does the term "voir dire" mean?
Before I am selected for a particular jury, will I be asked questions?
Why do they ask so many personal questions and do I have to answer them?
What is a challenge for cause?
What is a peremptory challenge?
Will I be on a jury all the time?
What happens if I'm not picked for the jury or am challenged off a particular jury panel?
What is the size of the jury?
What is the purpose of stand-by jurors?
What are alternate jurors?

Questions about being selected for trial
What happens if I am actually selected as a juror?
Will I be informed if a trial is going to be a long trial?
As a juror, what do I do during a trial?
How should a juror behave during trial?
What rules do jurors have to follow?
May I investigate or research the case outside of the court?
What is meant by a jury's taking a view?
Can I take notes during trial?
Can I ask the witnesses questions during the trial?
Can I talk about the case?
Do I have to live like a hermit during a trial?
Is there any special "courtroom etiquette" I should be aware of?
What is appropriate courtroom conduct?
What types of cases will I hear?
Why do judges allow cases to be settled after they have begun? Doesn't this cause jurors' time to be wasted?
What happens if a jury member gets sick, dies, or otherwise becomes unavailable during the trial?
What type of oath will I have to take as a juror?
Why do jurors take an oath?

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Questions about trial participants, processes and terminology
Who else will be in the court room and what will they be doing?
What happens during a trial?
What is the order of events in the trial?
What are the important things to remember during the trial?
What is the difference between a civil and criminal case?
How does my role as a criminal juror differ from that of a civil juror?
How does a civil case get to trial?
How does a criminal case get to trial?
What is "roll call"?
What is an opening statement?
How does each side present its case?
How are witnesses examined?
What are closing statements?
What is a court?
How does the court resolve cases?
What does the jury do in resolving cases?
What does the judge do in a trial?
What do the lawyers do in a trial?
Why do the attorneys object to certain statements or evidence?
What should I do when testimony is stricken from the record?
Why is the jury sometimes asked to leave the courtroom in the middle of a trial?
What is evidence?
How do I find out what a certain legal term means?

Questions about being sequestering
Will I have to stay overnight?
Can I go home during the trial?
Is it true that sometimes jurors are not allowed to go home until after the trial is over? Is this common?
Will I be required to stay (sequestered) in a hotel if I am selected for a trial?
Does the court put jurors in seclusion?
What if I am sequestered?

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Questions about arriving at a verdict
Why does the judge instruct the jury at the end of trial?
Will anyone be in the jury room besides the jury?
How does a jury decide a case?
What is a question of law?
What is a question of fact?
What if we don't understand the jury instructions?
What are jury deliberations?
What should I expect when the jury retires for deliberation?
How is the foreperson of the jury selected?
What is meant by the rule: a case must be decided solely on the evidence?
How should I act during jury deliberations?
I don't know anything about law. How will I know what to decide in a complicated case?
Suppose there is a lawyer or other professional person on the jury with me. Should I agree with whatever that person says?
What is a verdict?
Who awards damages in a civil case?
Who sets the punishment in criminal cases?
In order to reach a verdict, what consensus must be reached?
How many jurors must agree on a verdict?
Do all the verdicts have to be unanimous, like I see on TV?
What should we do after we've reached our verdict?

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Questions about privacy and what happens after the verdict
Is my privacy protected during and after the trial?
Can other people find out I was a juror?
What happens after the verdict?
Do I go back into open court?
Do I have to tell how I voted or what went on in the jury room?
When the case is completed, will I be subject to questioning about my work as a juror?
How do I cope with the stress of jury duty?

Questions about accommodations for disabilities
Do the courts have special accommodations for disabled jurors?
What should I do if I need special accommodations?
I may have trouble hearing the proceedings in the courtroom. What should I do?
Are there assistive listening devices available?
Americans With Disabilities Act notice

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Questions about emergencies and bad weather
What if I am selected for a trial and then experience an emergency that prevents me from coming to the courthouse?
What if someone needs to reach me while I’m there?
What happens if there is inclement weather?

More Info/contacts
How can I get more information?
What is the jury office mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number and fax number?
What does the jury commission/jury pool office/jury manager do?
If I have a problem concerning my jury service, will I be given an opportunity to discuss it with the judge?
What do I do if I am not feeling well or have some personal problem while serving on a jury?
How can jurors make comments regarding jury service?

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