How do they choose people to go on jury duty?

Question

How do they choose people to go on jury duty? Is it the same process in the US and the UK?

Answer 1

To get into that huge pool that the courts pick their juries from, you will be selected randomly from the population, using voter listings.

Please note...it is usually a federal offense to ignore a jury duty notification. Unless you have a clear and obvious medical excuse for not attending, you must attend or pay the consequences. This will usually include a large fine and jail time.

Once you get into that room (usually the largest courtroom in the buiilding, which will be packed almost wall to wall with people just like you--around 300), be prepared to amuse yourself for the week you are required to attend. Some people bring cards and start up euchre games, others have their music devices and chill out that way. Still more bring their handheld videos, or a good old fashioned book. You should check the regulations in your city...some of them don't allow laptops and cell phones to be used inside the court houses.

If you are picked to be interviewed for a jury, you will be taken to a separate conference room near the court room being used by the judge and the lawyers and the accused. Yes, the bad guy is usually present during these sessions. He gets to have a say in whether he thinks he might want you on the jury for his trial. The judge will give you a synopsis of what the trial will be about, and how long it is expected to last. The lawyers ask you questions about your views on certain subjects. Answer honesty. It doesn't help anyone if you may be embarrassed about something, and lie (such as former drug use, and whether you would ever cheat in your marriage...they can get very personal). Then the judge will ask you if there is any reason you think you should be excused from this particular trial.

If you have been accepted for jury duty, you will be removed to a separate conference room, where you will await the choosing of your fellow jurors. If you are not chosen, you will go back to return to the jury pool to sit out the rest of the week.

You must be on time every day. You can not talk to anyone about what you may have heard inside those walls during the day. And if you are employed, you should ask the person that has been placed in charge of the jury pool for an official letter stating that you were attendant at the court house for jury duty for the specific dates, and the amount of compensation you received. This is usually necessary for your employer.

Answer 2

First it's at random, you get assigned to a jury room along with a couple dozen other people. Then the judge asks if anyone can't serve on a jury and why, and dismisses whoever has a good excuse (financial burdens, have to take care of someone, etc.). After that, each potential juror left has to take the stand and answer questions from both prosecutors and defense attorneys. Usually these questions give them a good idea whether or not you might be likely to convict the defendant. For example, if the suspect is accused of robbery, they'll probably ask you whether you've ever been robbed. Their thinking is that, if you've ever been a victim, you probably have very intense feelings about that and would be more likely to convict the suspect. So prosecutors would like you, but the defense attorney wouldn't. Each side gets a few people they can immediately dismiss for no reason. Usually they do this on first impressions. But they only get a certain number of these dismissals, so they have to use them carefully. Other questions include if you've ever heard of the case, if you know the defendant, etc. Whoever's left gets on the jury!

Answer 3

In the US they use the voter registration method which is not a "fair" means but a way of self selecting the jury. It keeps lower class folks from getting on the jury! If all was equal then they would use tax records, voter registration, school records, land ownership records, employment records, and all the other available public records that identify "EVERYONE" in the country and allow they the opportunity to be part of their justice system!

Answer 4

In Nevada (USA), people are chosen for jury duty randomly off of voter registration lists, drivers license lists, and property tax lists. It's really hard to get jury duty in Nevada if you would really like the experience.

Answer 5

It soemtimes seem to be random, perhaps by lots. I have gone 2 or 3 years without being called and had a strech where I was called evey year. My sister had not been called for perhaps 5 years but finally was let off.

I don't know about other people, but generally its nearly impossible to get off here without going into court.

Answer 6

If you are a voter, then your names up for grabs-JURY DUTY!

Answer 7

IN the US
the attorys and court choose
and there is not way to find a way out of it.

Answer 8

randomly choose registered voters

Answer 9

they will write a letter to u. If they see that u are so important, or ur credit is good

Answer 10

in the US they use drivers license registration and voter registration.