Did you know that jury duty is mandatory for all United States (U.S.) citizens who are summoned by the court? The federal courts summon you to appear in court on a certain date and time to be part of a jury. Therefore, you cannot volunteer for jury duty. In this article, we will see about ‘Can You Volunteer For Jury Service?’.
Can You Volunteer For Jury Service?
Jury duty is the responsibility given to act as a member of a jury in a court. In the U.S. it is considered a civic responsibility hence, it is legally required and there are penalties for incompliance. This should tell you just how jurors play an important role in the American court system. The jury serves an important role in federal courts by ensuring that it gives U.S. citizens the right to have their cases looked into and decided by a jury of their peers.
Qualifications To Be A Juror
For one to qualify to be a juror in the U.S., they should be able to meet the following simple requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be an American citizen
- Be proficient in English enough to complete a junior qualification level
- Live within the judicial district for at least one year
- Have no disqualifying physical or mental condition
- Not be currently subject to felony charges
- Have never been convicted of a felony.
The Types of Juries
There are two types of juries which are:-
- Trial Jury/ Petit Jury and,
- Grand jury.
They serve different functions in the federal courts of America. Let’s discuss them more below.
1. Trial/Petit Jury.
This type of jury is not involved with the appeal process. They give a verdict during the criminal trial. It consists of 6 to 12 people. The trials are usually public but the jury delegates privately. The accused has the right to appear and bear witness in front of the trial jury as well as to testify. Usually, the outcome in a trial jury is a verdict of at least three-fourths of the jury in favor of the plaintiff or defendant in a civil case, while in a criminal case the verdict is usually guilty or not guilty by a unanimous vote. Trial by jury is often reserved for serious criminal charges and not petty offenses.
2. Grand Jury.
This is the type of jury that is presented with evidence from the U.S. attorney and helps the prosecutor by deciding whether to file charges or not. It is made up of 16 to 23 people. The proceedings are not open to the public. The defendants and their lawyers don’t have the right to be in front of the jury. The grand jury determines whether there are grounds to believe the person in question has committed a crime and if the accused should be put on trial. If they rule that there is enough evidence, a charge will be issued against the accused. They do not decide if the defendant is guilty or not guilty.
Juror Pay
Did you know that jurors get paid per day? Doesn’t that make you want to attend an upcoming jury summoning? Jurors in federal courts are paid $50 a day. They can be paid up to $60 a day after serving 10 days in a trial. Did you know in the United Kingdom (U.K.) people don’t get paid for jury service? However, for each day at trial, you can claim some pounds to help cover your loss of earnings and for catering for childcare or any care you need. In America, jurors are compensated for transport expenses incurred getting to court and parking fees. An employer is expected by federal law to pay you for time not worked, but some state laws require that employees be paid when serving jury duty. It is important to note that you cannot be fired for taking time off work to do Jury duty.
Conclusion
Now we have learnt ‘Can You Volunteer For Jury Service?’, Jury duty is a civic responsibility and shouldn’t be taken lightly by anyone. Federal courts do not ask people to provide any confidential information and even though courts appreciate some people who may want to volunteer, you cannot volunteer to serve jury duty. Discrimination in the selection process of jurors is prohibited. Having a well-picked jury ensures that everyone gets equal and fair treatment before the court.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is exempt from participating in jury duty?
The navy, air force, and, army members on duty, public officers of the state or local government are still on full-time duty, and members of the professional fire and police departments.
- What happens if you don’t do jury duty?
You can be fined or even face serious charges if you fail to let the court know that you will not be able to attend your jury duty.
- Do celebrities do jury duty?
Yes. Despite them being famous or popular, even they are not exempt from jury service.
