How to Prepare for Jury Duty

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.

There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 129,902 times.

Jury duty is a civic obligation of every citizen. If you are told to report for jury duty, you will need to fill out a questionnaire and mail it in. If you need to postpone your jury service, then you should contact the court immediately. Otherwise, you will show up to court on the assigned date and wait to see if you are selected to serve on the jury.

Preparing for Jury Duty

Receive your summons. You will receive a letter in the mail telling you the date you must show up to the courthouse. [1] X Research source Read the letter carefully and make note of the date.

• For more information, see Postpone Jury Duty.

• your name, address, and place of birth
• your education
• employment status (self-employed, unemployed, part-time, retired, etc.)
• the education and employment status of a domestic partner or spouse
• your experience with the law, e.g., whether you have ever filed a lawsuit, been arrested, been the victim of a crime, or served as a witness or juror
• whether anyone in your family has worked in law enforcement, the court system, or in the corrections system

• It is against the law in most states for an employer to try to keep you from serving on a jury. You also cannot be disciplined for attending jury service. [3] X Research source
• Be prepared to show your employer a copy of your summons.

• Never wear shorts, crop tops, short skirts, or flip flops. Also, remove all hats (unless you wear one for a religious reason). [5] X Research source
• Make sure to cover up your back, shoulders, and stomach. Avoid see-through clothing. [6] X Research source
• Bring a sweater or jacket to put on in case it gets too cold in the courtroom.

• Compensation varies. In U.S. federal court, you will be paid $40 a day, or $50 a day after 10 days of service. [7] X Trustworthy Source United States Courts Official website for the U.S. court system Go to source In state courts, the pay rate varies widely. For example, in Alabama you will make $10 a day, whereas in North Dakota you earn $50 a day.

Getting Selected for the Jury

• You should leave your cell phone in the car. Otherwise, turn it off before you enter the courthouse. You should not be scrolling through text messages as you sit in court.

Watch a video. You will probably be shown a video on what to expect, titled “Welcome to Jury Duty” or something similar. [9] X Research source You do not have to take notes. The video is meant to get you comfortable.

• In England, things may happen differently. Instead of being asked questions, you will simply be selected by the clerk and told which courtroom to report to. [10] X Research source
• You should bring a book to read, as you may not be selected for the first trial. Nevertheless, you have to wait around because you might be selected later.

• It is hard to know in advance what lawyers will ask, but you should always answer honestly. The questions should not be too personal. The judge will also look at the answers to your questionnaire and ask follow-up questions. For example, if you have been the victim of a crime, then the judge might ask if you harbor bad feelings toward all criminal defendants.
• Speak loudly when answering the questions. A court reporter will be taking down the questions and answers.
• You can try to get out of jury service by telling the judge that you cannot serve, but at this point, it will be difficult. If you need to postpone your jury service, you should have requested postponement before the day of your jury duty.

• The trial may start immediately after the entire jury is selected, or you may have a brief break. Before the attorneys begin their opening statements, you will raise your right hand and take an oath to promise to impartially weigh the evidence. [12] X Research source

• If you fail to follow the directions, then you might be kicked off the jury and be replaced by an alternate.

Expert Q&A

If you aren’t selected for the jury, then you should not be offended. Lawyers have their own legal strategies, so you could have been struck from the jury for any number of reasons. It is not a sign that the attorneys think you are biased or not intelligent.

If you have any sort of job or relation to the case (e.g., a police officer involved in the arrest) you are more likely to be excused.

You Might Also Like

How to Get Out of Jury Duty: A Detailed Guide to Writing an Excuse Letter

Writing a Court Hearing Request Letter Step-by-Step

How to File a Motion if You Don’t Have An Attorney

1. ↑http://www.theguardian.com/law/shortcuts/2013/feb/21/10-things-jurors-need-to-know
2. ↑http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/taking-time-off-jury-duty.html
3. ↑http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/taking-time-off-jury-duty.html
4. ↑https://www.mass.gov/info-details/what-to-expect-on-the-day-of-your-jury-service#what-you-should-wear-
5. ↑https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/jurors/jurors-dress-code
6. ↑https://yorkcountypa.gov/909/Juror-Dress-Code
7. ↑http://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/jury-service/juror-pay
8. ↑http://www.theguardian.com/law/shortcuts/2013/feb/21/10-things-jurors-need-to-know
9. ↑http://www.primermagazine.com/2011/learn/five-easy-steps-for-surviving-jury-duty

1. ↑http://www.theguardian.com/law/shortcuts/2013/feb/21/10-things-jurors-need-to-know
2. ↑https://www.courts.state.md.us/sites/default/files/import/clerks/stmarys/pdfs/prepforjuryduty.pdf
3. ↑https://www.courts.state.md.us/sites/default/files/import/clerks/stmarys/pdfs/prepforjuryduty.pdf
4. ↑https://www.courts.state.md.us/sites/default/files/import/clerks/stmarys/pdfs/prepforjuryduty.pdf

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. This article has been viewed 129,902 times.

If you’ve been summoned for jury duty, the first thing you’ll need to do to prepare is to fill out the questionnaire included in the letter. Inform your boss that you need time off work for jury duty and bring your letter along in case you need to show proof. When you’re choosing your outfit for jury duty, pick something that’s business casual such as slacks with a dress shirt or blouse. When you arrive at court, you'll likely be shown a welcome video that explains the jury duty process. After this, all the potential jurors will be sent to the courtroom where the judge will ask various questions to determine if anyone has a bias that would prevent them from being impartial to the case. If you're chosen for jury duty, simply follow the judge's instructions throughout the hearing. For more information from our Legal co-author, like how to postpone your jury duty, read on.

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