Serving jury duty is no one’s favorite thing. It means staying off work and someone else looking after your kids. Sometimes, it means being away from home for an extended time.
But you cannot ignore that piece of paper in the mail. Ignoring a summons can result in a fine or contempt of court.
You must take certain steps if you miss jury duty for whatever reason. You also have to deal with the legal consequences if you don’t.
Why Jury Duty Is More Than Just an Inconvenience
As annoying as jury duty can be, it is also your civic responsibility. You have a say in the outcome of legal cases. You get to scrutinize evidence and testimony. If you are selected for jury duty in a criminal case, you may be part of sending a violent criminal to prison.
How Does Jury Duty Work?
Getting a summons is the start of your jury duty process. You will likely be one of dozens of others summoned. Courts do this to ensure enough jurors turn up for a trial.
Your summons will tell you when and where to be on a specific day. You will have to answer questions from lawyers and the judge. They do this to confirm you are suitable to sit in on the case.
After the questions, you will either be selected or dismissed. If selected, you will be sworn in and given jury instructions.
You can only use the evidence presented when the trial starts. Along with the other jurors, you will listen to testimony. You will also hear arguments from defense and prosecution teams.
In between court sessions, you will have to keep yourself busy. Most courts recommend bringing a book or puzzle to pass the time. While the deliberations carry on, you will also have to follow the instructions you received when you arrived.
Moreover, you have to be present for the different motions and legal arguments. This can also take a long time, and the trial will only be over when the lawyers bring their closing arguments.
At the end of the trial, you get the opportunity to deliberate on it with the other jurors. The judge and lawyers will give you the information you need about the laws relevant to the case. They will also explain why the evidence shown in court is important.
Coming to a decision may take hours or several days. You may agree with two jurors, but three others may not agree with you. If there is no consensus on the verdict, it will delay the process further.
Keep in mind that you are not allowed to use your phone during this time. If the judge discovers you used online resources to make a decision, they will declare a mistrial. If you cannot agree with the rest of the jurors, the jury will be hung. In this case, it will also have to be retried from the start.
But, if you reach a verdict, you can inform the bailiff. The verdict will then be read out in court. You will be thanked for your service and allowed to go home.
I Missed Jury Duty – Now What?
The court will contact you after you miss or ignore your jury duty. You will appear in front of the judge to explain why you did not attend. The judge will give you a new date for jury duty.
You will possibly get a fine as well. Still, never agree to pay money over the phone. These fines are only given after you appear before the judge. No federal court will ask you for payment while on the phone.
Remember, jury duty is mandatory in Florida and elsewhere. Ignoring it or skipping it on purpose will not make it go away. If you do not turn up in court when summoned by the judge, you could have a criminal complaint issued against you. You could also be arrested.
Can You Get Out of Jury Duty?
It is important to note that a summons does not automatically mean you will serve on a jury. Those questions you are asked may disqualify you right from the start.
For example, if you know one of the parties involved, you cannot sit on the jury. The same applies if you are prejudiced or have information about the case.
Besides this, you could potentially get out of jury duty on your own. You automatically do not have to attend if you are over 75 years old.
If jury duty brings hardship to your family (financially speaking), you may be excused. Also, if you serve as a volunteer first responder, you likely do not have to serve jury duty.
Doing Your Civic Duty Is a Privilege
It might help if you looked at jury duty as a privilege instead of an annoyance. If you serve on a jury, you help bring justice for your fellow citizens. Yes, it can be a huge sacrifice, but if you want to continue living in a democratic society, it is necessary.
