Jury Duty Is Important Service To Our Country

By Pam RochlinUncategorized


THE IMPORTANCE OF JURY DUTY

A friend of ours was recently called for jury duty.Like many people, he is a busy at work and at home. In other words, he does not really have the time. However, he is going to serve because he knows that a jury trial is an important Constitutional right.Therefore, the obligation to serve on a jury is an important service to the community and the country.

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The right to a jury trial is stated in the United States Constitution. It is also in the Constitution of the State of Minnesota. (U.S. Const, Amend. 7; Minn.Const. art. 1, Sec 4.) The right to be judged by a panel of ordinary citizens rather than an appointed official has been a part of our legal system since the founding of our country. Jury trials are used in both criminal cases and civil cases, in state and federal courts.

At our firm, most of our jury trials involve personal injury cases where we are asking for compensation for our injured client. In every trial our lawyers have participated in, we sincerely appreciate, and are actually moved by, the jury process. In particular, people’s willingness to serve and decide disputes in this civil way. We have found that people take jury service very seriously. Jurors will carefully listen to the evidence, and they try to come to the right decision in each case.

Qualifications for Jury Duty

In Minnesota state court trials, a person can be called for jury duty if he or she is:

(1) A citizen of the United States.
(2) At least 18 years old.
(3) A resident of the county.
(4) Able to communicate in the English language.
(5) Physically and mentally capable of rendering satisfactory jury service. A person claiming disability may be required to submit a physician’s certificate as to the disability. A prospective qualified juror who is 70 years of age or older shall be automatically excused from service upon their request.
(6) A person who has had their civil rights restored if they have been convicted of a felony.
(7) A person who has not served as a state or federal grand or petit juror in the past four years.

How Jurors Are Selected

The voter registration and drivers’ license list for the county serve as the source list. The source list may be supplemented with names from other lists specified in the jury administration plan.The source list must be used for the random selection of names or identifying numbers of prospective jurors. Then, qualification questionnaires and summonses for service must be sent.

Length of Jury Duty

The time that a person is called upon to perform jury service and be available for jury service is the shortest period consistent with the needs of justice.
(a) In counties with a population of 100,000 or more, a term of service must not exceed two weeks or the completion of one trial, whichever is longer.
(b) In counties with a population of less than 100,000 but more than 50,000, a term of service must not exceed two months. However, no person is required to continue to serve after the person has reported to the courthouse for ten days or after the completion of a trial.
(c) In counties with a population of less than 50,001 a term of service must not exceed four months. However, no person is required to continue to serve after the person has reported to the courthouse for ten days or after the completion of the trial.
(d) Chief judges and judicial district administrators shall review the frequency of juror use in each county. The must determine the shortest period of jury service that will enable the greatest number of citizens to have the opportunity to participate in the jury system. All courts shall adopt the shortest period of jury service that is practical.

Compensation of Jurors

The compensation a person receives for jury service is minimal and mostly works to reimburse travel expense. The statute states: A juror shall be reimbursed for round-trip travel between the juror’s residence and the place of holding court. The juror is compensated for required attendance at sessions of court. In addition, they may be reimbursed for additional day care expenses incurred as a result of jury duty at rates determined by the Supreme Court.

What About My Job If I Am Gone For Jury Duty?

It is a crime in Minnesota for an employer to terminate an employee because of the employee’s absence for jury service. Many employers pay employees their regular wages while the employee is away for jury service. Of course, there will be work to make up when the employee gets back. We always hope that these outside commitments don’t distract the juror from focusing on the case being presented.
If you are called for jury duty, please go and try your best to make the right decision in your case.It is an important service to your community and your country. We all want fair treatment under the law.