What is Traverse Jury Duty?

Jury duty is a civic responsiblity of U.S. citizens.

A traverse jury, defined as a petit jury, is the formal name for a group of 12 people assigned to a case and charged with deciding the facts from the information presented.

Requirements to Be a Juror

Any U.S. citizen, 18 years or older and registered to vote, may be called for jury duty. Jurors may be called to serve on a jury for a district, state or federal offense. If you have been convicted of a felony, are not physically or mentally competent, have served on a jury in the last two years or do not have a good grasp of the English language, you are ineligible to serve on a jury.

Exemptions and Deferrals

If you are called for jury duty and are unable to serve due to financial hardship, medical conditions or age, you may request to be excused. Each request to be excused is reviewed individually. In federal trials, certain individuals are ineligible to serve on a jury including active duty military, members of professional police or fire departments, and individuals who work in federal, state or local governments.

Responsibilities of a Juror

If you are placed on a jury panel, your responsibility is to listen to the facts presented and determine if there is proof that a crime has been committed. The judge will instruct jurors prior to the beginning of the trial of the charges in the case and specific responsibilities of jurors.

Compensation

Compensation varies by state and length of time served. Generally, jurors will serve for two to three days; however, it is possible for a trial to take several weeks. Compensation increases with the duration of service and caps at a certain rate per day.

References

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Petit Jury
• United States Courts: Jury Service
• National Archives: Bill of Rights
• United States Courts: Juror Qualifications