Introduction
Jury duty is the responsibility and an obligation of the citizens of the U.S. who are summoned from a court to be present at a particular place, date, and time to potentially serve as a jury in a court proceeding. A juror must be impartial and ensure the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial. Let us know about How often can you be called for jury duty in N.Y, Eligibility of a juror and the facilities provided to the juror in this article.
A U.S. citizen can get called for jury duty for civil and criminal cases every four years in New York. After knowing the facts of the case, the jurors decide whether a person is guilty or not for which they have been charged. The jury duty may last up to 2 days and up to 2 weeks to a month in case of a grand jury.
Eligibility to do Jury duty In N.Y
A person is eligible to serve for Jury duty in New York if:
- a U.S. citizen
- minimum 18 years of age
- a resident of the county they are serving
- can understand and communicate in English
- never convicted of a felony
Selection For Potential Jurors
Potential jurors are selected randomly from registered voters, driver’s licenses/I.D. They are issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles, New York State income tax filers, unemployment insurance or family assistance recipients, and volunteers.
What Exactly Happens During A Jury Duty in N.Y?
A potential juror arrives in the central jury room in the courthouse along with other members who also have been summoned for jury duty. The jury clerk then selects 25-30 names from the members waiting in the central jury room, and a juror is supposed to enter the jury room when called upon with other members and a couple of attorney lawyers.
The attorneys then introduce themselves, and the jury clerk or court officer hands your cards with each name to the attorney. These cards are mixed up, and six cards are selected randomly. Those six names will sit in the front six chairs and are called ‘the jury panel’ or ‘the hot seats.’
If not selected to serve by the end of the day, some courts will dismiss the juror from jury duty for the next four years.
Attorney’s Role In The Jury Selection
The attorneys speak with the first six potential jurors and then remove those not ideal for the case. Each attorney can remove a limited number of people during the jury selection process, known as peremptory challenges. An attorney must conserve these opportunities for valuable peremptory challenges and only use them when necessary during the jury selection. For example, suppose there is a disagreement between the defense lawyer and the plaintiff’s attorney on removing a particular juror. In that case, the judge decides whether the person or potential juror will serve as a juror or not.
Facilities Provided To A Juror
The jurors are paid $40 per day, and if the service extends beyond 30 days, they are paid an additional $6 per day by the New York State or the employer, as decided by the court. Employees are provided time off from work to appear as a juror. In addition, the court provides aid for the jurors with disabilities.
Exempt From Jury Duty
Citizens falling under the following categories are exempt from federal jury service:
- members of armed forces on duty
- members of fire and police department
- federal, state, or local governments officers
If a person serves federal or state court in New York, they usually are not eligible to serve again in the New York State court for at least six years. In addition, if a juror serves for more than ten days, they are not eligible to serve again for at least eight years.
Conclusion
Jury duty is compulsory for all U.S. citizens except for a few groups serving the public or government. A juror must present for the jury duty once summoned at a particular date, time, and place or may be charged with a penalty. The jury duty may last between 1-2 days to a couple of weeks or even a month. Jurors are paid for jury duty.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many federal district courts does New York have?
New York has four federal district courts – eastern, western, northern, and southern.
- What happens if a juror skips or misses a jury duty?
Suppose a juror will be charged with civil or criminal penalties if they skip a jury duty without a solid reason and fail to inform in advance. They will also be assigned a new date for jury duty.
- Are jurors given any prior information regarding the case?
No. The jurors do not have any information about what type of case they will serve on before entering the jury room.
- What is the attorney of the injured victim called?
The attorney of the injured victim is called the plaintiff’s attorney.
