Can You Volunteer For Jury Service?

Jury duty is an important part of the justice system in the United States. It is legally required and there are penalties for not fulfilling it. This should tell you just how important jurors are in the American court system. The jury plays an important role by ensuring that citizens have a voice in their cases and that they receive the best possible decision from a jury.

Qualifications To Be A Juror

-Be a U.S. Citizen -Be at least 18 years old -Be able to read and write English -Have a high school diploma or equivalent

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age, an American citizen, proficient in English, and live within the judicial district for at least one year. The applicant must also have no disqualifying physical or mental condition and have never been convicted of a felony.

The Types of Juries

  1. The venire panel which is made up of citizens who are randomly selected from a population.
  2. The petit jury which is made up of 12 people who are specially selected by the court to hear the case. ..

The three main types of federal courts are the district, circuit, and appellate courts. Each court has a different function to play in the judicial system. The district court is the lowest level of federal court. It hears cases that involve only one or a few people and usually deals with minor issues. The circuit court is the next level up. It hears cases that involve more than one person and usually involves more serious issues. The appellate court is the highest level of federal court. It reviews cases that have gone through other levels of courts and decides whether or not to uphold or change the decision made by those lower courts. ..

1. Trial/Petit Jury. 

A trial jury is a group of jurors who are 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.

2. Grand Jury. 

A grand jury is a group of citizens who are 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. ..

Juror Pay

In the United Kingdom, jurors are not 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.

Conclusion

Federal courts appreciate some people who may want to volunteer to serve on jury duty, but you cannot do so. Volunteering will not help you in the selection process and will 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.

The navy, air force, and army members on duty are still on full-time duty. Public officers of the state or local government are still on full-time duty.

If you cannot attend your jury duty, you may be fined or even face serious charges. ..

Even celebrities and popular people are not exempt from jury service. They are just as likely to be called to serve on a jury as anyone else.