Jury Duty People Serving Years Written Document Jurors

"Jury duty" (the process of serving on a jury) is a responsibility for all U.S. citizens - some people argue it is a "privilege" (an honor) as well. Anyone can be selected for jury duty at any time, but they must be more than 18 years old, "proficient" (able to speak) in English, and not convicted of a "felony" (serious crime).

First, an individual receives a "summons" (a written document requesting one's presence at a future date and time). The letter states which court to go to and when. Some people can "excuse themselves" (ask not to do something) from jury duty if they "fall into" (are in) certain categories. For example, people are excused from jury duty if they are over 70 years old, if they work in "public safety" (fire and police departments), if they served on another jury recently, if they are a woman who are is "breastfeeding" (giving human milk to a baby), and if they can "demonstrate" (prove; show) "undue" (unreasonable) hardship or extreme inconvenience.

After arriving at the courthouse, the potential jurors fill out a "questionnaire" (a written document with many questions) about their background, opinions, and beliefs. Then, they are called into the courtroom one at a time or in small groups, where the prosecutor and the defense attorney ask them questions. The attorneys may "dismiss" (choose not to have or use) individuals for certain reasons, such as a "bias" (pre-existing belief) related to the case, or perhaps opposition to the "death penalty" (punishment by death for serious crimes).

Once the jurors have been selected, they are told when to come back to the courthouse for the trial, but they never know how long the trial will last. Some trials last only a few hours or days; others can last for weeks.