If this is your first time serving on a Jury we have all the information you need right on this page. There isn't too much you need to know so you can feel confident after reading this that you are ready to be part of a jury. Also it is important to remember that just because you are summoned for jury service, this does not mean that you must serve on a jury. Instead many people that are called for jury duty are actually sent-home on their first day.

There are still a good number of people each year that show up and are selected for jury duty. If you are selected then knowing a bit more about jury trials will help you perform to the best of your abilities.

Anyone serving on a jury should feel honored to live in a country that allows trial by jury. The jury system has been in existance for a very long time with trial records dating back to 500 BCE in cities like Athens, Greece. Even still there are many countries that are yet to adopt this system of justice.

When you are summoned for jury duty first you will be sent a summons in the mail letting you know you have been selected and the date you are required to appear in court. If you cannot make this date you do have the ability to postpone the date.

Once you have determined what day you will be going to the courthouse make sure you put this information somewhere you won't forget it. Not showing-up for jury duty could land you in serious trouble as it is required that all eligible U.S. citizens make themselves available for jury duty.

At the courthouse you may be taken to multiple courtrooms where cases are actively looking for jurors. They may ask you a few questions to determine if you are fit to serve on the jury for the particular case. In most cases the judge will ask you if you know any of the people involved in the trial or if anyone in your family is involved in the police force, DA, etc. If you are determined a suitable fit for the given trial you will be asked to sit in a specified seat in the jury box.

It is quite possible that you will spend your entire day going from courtroom to courtroom only to find that you have not been selected at the end of the day. If this is the case you can go home in most cases and consider your civil service fulfilled.

If you are selected to serve on a jury then you are now part of a process that will take a variable amount of time. While some cases are solved the first day in court jury duty can also involve weeks or months of service.

When you are on a jury remember that you are not, under any circumstances, allowed to talk to anyone not on the jury about the case. While it might be tempting to tell your friends and family about a particularly exciting case you are a part of - don't do it - this could land you in prison and is a sever breach of confidentiality.

You will of course be able to talk with your fellow jurors and "deliberate" the facts of the case. The jury needs to get every single person to agree as to the verdict or no verdict can be reached. Deliberations can take a long time and the main reason for this is the difference in interpretation of fact amongst jurors.

It is very important to keep an open mind while serving on a jury and make sure to let everyone express their opinion. Once a decision is reached the jury will contact the bailiff to inform the judge that a decision has been made. While the jury does have final say in the verdict, the judge will be the person deciding what the legal implications of the decision will be. Each judge is different in their interpretation of the law as well as reaction to each case. While a judge is supposed to remain completely unbiased as human beings this is not always guaranteed.

Make sure to pay careful attention to everything that is said during the trial. A few key words here and there can make a big difference. If you are asked to defend your viewpoint it's always good to have some good data behind your thoughts. Be prepared to disagree with some of the jurors, this is normal. Remember, the goal is not for all of you to agree right-away, but instead to come to an agreement at the end of the case.

If you have more questions about jury duty don't forget to watch some of the video on the right as well as the website specific to your state. Your state's website should have all specific rules and regulations for serving on a jury. There are some differences between states so make sure you know how your state operates before arriving at the courthouse.