JURY DUTY and WHAT TO EXPECT
I know the dread and worries when you are summoned to the government’s jury service. I was when I first experienced this. I know the judge said not to say anything to any relative or friends or write anything on the internet or Facebook. But I think what I’m about to say should be fine. I’m not divulging any information about the case. I’m just writing a general blog on what to expect when you answer your jury duty service.
So you’ve been summoned to serve your civil duty in a jury. This blog is for the FIRST TIMERS who are nervous, confused and dreading not knowing what to expect or do. Don’t sweat it! Nothing is scary about jury duty. However, I will say that it is A HUGE INCONVENIENCE to the citizen being called because you will be spending your money and time while serving your jury duty. ALTHOUGH this is an inconvenience to us, when you serve as a juror on a criminal case you will learn about how the US criminal system works. Some of you may have served as a juror so you know the process. For those of you who don’t read on….
STEP 1: JURY SUMMONS LETTER
On your “JURY SUMMONS” letter, it will tell you these things: The “Standby Service Date”, “Your Badge #” and “Your Group #” as well the website to the court were you can check for information – in my case, it was www.saccourt.ca.gov
On the Friday before the “Standby Service Date” listed on your letter, you should check the website after 5PM. It will tell you WHAT TO DO next. Usually the website will tell you WHERE YOU CAN PARK at the courthouse and THE DATE YOUR GROUP # SHOULD REPORT to the court.
How to get to the court house:
You can either TAKE A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION such as a bus or train (in Sacramento we call it RT or Light Rail). When you see the clerk at the court, tell her you took the public transportation and she will provide you with free bus/train passes for taking public transportation during your jury service. Usually one bus pass to go to the court, one pass to come back home. Each day you serve you will be given two passes.
OR
You can drive own car there. Be warned though, it can be difficult to find a parking spot since there are many people that will drive there. I wouldn't recommend this method. When I was there, there were so many people who had to deal with the hassle of parking. Please do yourself a favorite and save you hassles by taking the public transportation. On the website there will be a Message in RED that tells you where to park your car. Follow this instruction. On your form is a PARKING PERMIT that you can use. Simply place this permit on the dashboard of your car when you park at the courthouse.
STEP 2: JURY ROOM
Upon arriving at the courthouse you will go through a security check point like the one at the airport, but conducted by city police officers. Remove your personal belongings and go through a metal detector.
In the hallway of the entrance, a SIGN will tell you the Jury Room where you should go. Go to this room number. Basically "checking in with the clerk" is letting the court know that you showed up. Hand the clerk your summoned letter and she’ll instruct you on what to do.
The clerk will give you a form called “VOIR DIRE JUROR QUESTIONAIRE” that has 4 sheets in WHITE, YELLOW, PINK and ORANGE color. Once you filled out this form, separate the different colors into 4 forms. You will hand each form to each courtroom that you will be called to. Don’t do what I did – handed all my forms to the first courtroom I was called to and had to fill out another form later.
At this point you are not a juror yet. All the possible jurors will wait in a waiting area, usually in the jury room until each person’s name is called and instructed to report to a courtroom (department room #). Listen carefully, the clerk will announce the court room department number and the names of the people who should report to that room. If you’re being called, you will go to that department room number. If you're not called, wait for the clerk and she will call you.
STEP 3: INSIDE THE COURTROOM
When you reach your courtroom, wait outside. A CLERK and the BAITLIFF will come out and instruct you. She will call the names of the “24” people to go in FIRST and sit in the 24 juror seats that will be questioned by the judge. The rest will sit in the panel.
Upon arriving in the courtroom, you will find the JUDGE, the DEFENDENT and his/her LAWYER, the PROSECUTOR, the BAILIFF and CLERK, and the LADY who records by typing down every word that will be said in the courtroom.
The BAILIFF will pass out TWO FORMS: one form is information about the case, juror questions, general questions and questions about you (the juror’s) background, the other form is a form to be excused by the judge if you have a hardship. The judge will states what he can accept as an excusable “hardship”.
What to expect during the selection process:
The judge will questions the 24 seats and the rest of the jury. After the judge have questioned the jury, the Defendant’s Lawyer will question the 24 persons sitting in the 24 seats, then the Prosecutor Lawyer will question them.
After all the questions have been asked of the jury, the judge will select the 12 JURORS to serve in the case.
Sometimes, there will be NO TRIAL – which usually means that the Defendant and Prosecutor have settled without a jury trial.
And the judge will not select the 12 Jurors and will discharged you from service.
Congratulations! You’ve done your civil service.
I know the dread and worries when you are summoned to the government’s jury service. I was when I first experienced this. I know the judge said not to say anything to any relative or friends or write anything on the internet or Facebook. But I think what I’m about to say should be fine. I’m not divulging any information about the case. I’m just writing a general blog on what to expect when you answer your jury duty service.
So you’ve been summoned to serve your civil duty in a jury. This blog is for the FIRST TIMERS who are nervous, confused and dreading not knowing what to expect or do. Don’t sweat it! Nothing is scary about jury duty. However, I will say that it is A HUGE INCONVENIENCE to the citizen being called because you will be spending your money and time while serving your jury duty. ALTHOUGH this is an inconvenience to us, when you serve as a juror on a criminal case you will learn about how the US criminal system works. Some of you may have served as a juror so you know the process. For those of you who don’t read on….
STEP 1: JURY SUMMONS LETTER
On your “JURY SUMMONS” letter, it will tell you these things: The “Standby Service Date”, “Your Badge #” and “Your Group #” as well the website to the court were you can check for information – in my case, it was www.saccourt.ca.gov
On the Friday before the “Standby Service Date” listed on your letter, you should check the website after 5PM. It will tell you WHAT TO DO next. Usually the website will tell you WHERE YOU CAN PARK at the courthouse and THE DATE YOUR GROUP # SHOULD REPORT to the court.
How to get to the court house:
You can either TAKE A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION such as a bus or train (in Sacramento we call it RT or Light Rail). When you see the clerk at the court, tell her you took the public transportation and she will provide you with free bus/train passes for taking public transportation during your jury service. Usually one bus pass to go to the court, one pass to come back home. Each day you serve you will be given two passes.
OR
You can drive own car there. Be warned though, it can be difficult to find a parking spot since there are many people that will drive there. I wouldn't recommend this method. When I was there, there were so many people who had to deal with the hassle of parking. Please do yourself a favorite and save you hassles by taking the public transportation. On the website there will be a Message in RED that tells you where to park your car. Follow this instruction. On your form is a PARKING PERMIT that you can use. Simply place this permit on the dashboard of your car when you park at the courthouse.
STEP 2: JURY ROOM
Upon arriving at the courthouse you will go through a security check point like the one at the airport, but conducted by city police officers. Remove your personal belongings and go through a metal detector.
In the hallway of the entrance, a SIGN will tell you the Jury Room where you should go. Go to this room number. Basically "checking in with the clerk" is letting the court know that you showed up. Hand the clerk your summoned letter and she’ll instruct you on what to do.
The clerk will give you a form called “VOIR DIRE JUROR QUESTIONAIRE” that has 4 sheets in WHITE, YELLOW, PINK and ORANGE color. Once you filled out this form, separate the different colors into 4 forms. You will hand each form to each courtroom that you will be called to. Don’t do what I did – handed all my forms to the first courtroom I was called to and had to fill out another form later.
At this point you are not a juror yet. All the possible jurors will wait in a waiting area, usually in the jury room until each person’s name is called and instructed to report to a courtroom (department room #). Listen carefully, the clerk will announce the court room department number and the names of the people who should report to that room. If you’re being called, you will go to that department room number. If you're not called, wait for the clerk and she will call you.
STEP 3: INSIDE THE COURTROOM
When you reach your courtroom, wait outside. A CLERK and the BAITLIFF will come out and instruct you. She will call the names of the “24” people to go in FIRST and sit in the 24 juror seats that will be questioned by the judge. The rest will sit in the panel.
Upon arriving in the courtroom, you will find the JUDGE, the DEFENDENT and his/her LAWYER, the PROSECUTOR, the BAILIFF and CLERK, and the LADY who records by typing down every word that will be said in the courtroom.
The BAILIFF will pass out TWO FORMS: one form is information about the case, juror questions, general questions and questions about you (the juror’s) background, the other form is a form to be excused by the judge if you have a hardship. The judge will states what he can accept as an excusable “hardship”.
What to expect during the selection process:
The judge will questions the 24 seats and the rest of the jury. After the judge have questioned the jury, the Defendant’s Lawyer will question the 24 persons sitting in the 24 seats, then the Prosecutor Lawyer will question them.
After all the questions have been asked of the jury, the judge will select the 12 JURORS to serve in the case.
Sometimes, there will be NO TRIAL – which usually means that the Defendant and Prosecutor have settled without a jury trial.
And the judge will not select the 12 Jurors and will discharged you from service.
Congratulations! You’ve done your civil service.