Common Questions
and Answers
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What are the
qualifications to serve as a juror?
You do not need
any special skills or legal knowledge to be a
juror. You do need to keep an open mind and be
willing to make decisions free of personal
feelings and biases.
You are qualified for jury service if you:
- Are a U.S.
citizen
- Are 18 years
or older
- Have
sufficient knowledge of English
- Are a resident
of the county that summoned you or are
eligible to vote in California.
- Have not
served on a jury within the last 12 months
- Are not
currently serving on a grand jury or trial
jury
- Are not under
a conservatorship
- Have had your
civil rights restored, if they were previously
restricted
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I've heard about
"one-day or one trial" jury service. What is it?
The courts want
to make jury service as manageable as possible
for you while still ensuring the availability of
jurors for jury trials. One way of doing this is
the "one-day or one trial" system. It works like
this: you are summoned and appear at the
courthouse at the designated time. If you are
not selected for a jury that day, you are
excused and you have satisfied your obligation
for at least a year. Or, if you are selected for
a jury, service in that trial satisfies you
obligation for at least a year. The idea is to
minimize the inconvenience of jury service, but
the system works only if citizens like you honor
their duty and the law and respond to the
court's summons. |
How are jurors
selected?
Most courts use
driver license lists and voter lists to issue
summonses. If in the pas 12 month you have
already responded to a summons or have already
served, please notify the jury staff or your
local court. |
It's not
convenient for me to serve right now. Can I
postpone my service?
If business or
personal matters make it impossible to serve on
a particular date, you may request a
postponement. Procedures vary, so consult the
jury professionals at your local court to
request postponement. |
Can I be excused
from service?
The judge may
excuse qualified jurors who face undue hardships
such as an extreme financial burden,
transportation problems, physical or mental
disability impairment, or an obligation to
provide care for another person. If you are
called for jury selection, the judge will
explain the process of requesting an excuse in
more detail. |
What if I don't
speak English fluently?
You don't need to
speak perfect English to serve as a juror. The
work done by the courts affects all people and
all communities, so people from all communities,
so people from all communities should be
represented. |
Will I get paid
for jury service?
Jurors are paid a
modest stipend of $15 per day starting on the
second day of service. Under state law, jurors
are also reimbursed at least 15 cents per mile,
one way, for jury service. Ask your local jury
office for more specific information about its
reimbursement procedure. |
If I am selected
to serve, how long will the trial take?
The length of the
trial depends on how complex the issues are and
how long jurors spend on deliberations. Most
trials are completed within a few days or a
week. The judge can tell approximately how long
a trial should last when your group is called
for jury selection. Judges are aware that long
trials can be difficult and will discuss this
with potential jurors. Please be patient during
the process. Many of your fellow jurors will
have similar concerns. |
What happens
during a trial?
The judge serves
as the court's presiding officer and as the
final authority on the law. The lawyers act as
advocates for their sides of the case. As a
juror, you will listen to opening statements and
closing arguments for both sides. You will also
learn about and weigh the evidence that has been
collected for the trial. You will talk over the
case with the other jurors during deliberations.
Then you will be asked to make a decision about
the case.
The trial process includes:
- Jury selection
- The
trial--opening statements, presentation of
evidence, closing arguments, jury instructions
- Jury
deliberations
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What about my
job obligations
By law, your
employer must allow you time off to serve on a
jury--jury service is that important. Section
230(a) of the California Labor Code is intended
to prevent an employer from firing or harassing
an employee who is summoned for jury service and
who has given reasonable notice of the time
needed to serve. Notice is generally considered
"reasonable" if it is given as soon as possible
after the employee is summoned. Although state
law does not require employers to continue
paying the salaries of employees who are absent
because of jury service, many employers do. |