The United States Jury System

Created and Presented by Mark Martin

September, 2011

Importance of Jury Service

Trial by your peers is our Constitution’s rights to assure our freedoms

Our democracy depends on a citizens participation

It is your legal and civic obligation to serve

Who can serve?

• In order to be a juror, you must be a U.S. citizen

• Must be 18 years of age or older, and speak and understand English.

• You must live in the county in which you have been called to serve, and you cannot have served in the last 3 years.

Types of jury duty

- There are three types of jury duty that you maybe called for

. Trial juror (Districts)

. Grand juror (State of MA)

. Federal juror ( US Government)

How are jury members selected?

• Information about Massachusetts residents come from

• Voter registration• Massachusetts registration of motor vehicle

(DMV)

Importance of jury service

• Under our state and federal constitutions, all people are entitled to a jury trial if the government accuses them of a crime and seeks to take away their freedom

• You maybe entitled to a jury trial to settle a civil dispute concerning money or property

• Service is a core component in guaranteeing these constitutional rights for everyone.

How often can a person serve?

• Under Federal law, a person cannot be required to serve jury duty more often than once every two years. If you have served 30 days or more in the United States District Court or a West Virginia State Court within the last two years, and wish to be excused, please mail a copy of your official jury certificate, together with the juror information form, in the return envelope.

How are jurors paid/compensated?

• Your employer must pay your regular wage by law for the first three days

After three days the state will pay you fifty dollars per day

Some employers will compensate an employee after the third day

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH57MnJIjkc

sources

• Trial juror’s handbook• Google

Questions