How to Behave During Jury Duty

Jury duty is a duty of citizenship. Some jurors aren't aware of what is expected of them during the courtroom process, or how to behave. There are some simple rules of etiquette that can make your jury duty experience a pleasant one.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Dress attire: dress slacks or skirts, pressed shirts

1. Arrive on time. Set your alarm clock and give yourself enough time to arrive approximately 15 minutes early. Being tardy will disturb the judge, the attorneys, the parties, witnesses and other jurors.
2. Dress appropriately. Each court may have different expectations of proper attire. Ask before you go. Most jurors have a professional appearance. Dress slacks or skirts and neatly pressed shirts would be acceptable.
3. Rise when the court session begins or ends and the judge enters or leaves the courtroom.
4. Give your undivided attention to all questions and answers throughout the trial. When the voir dire pro questioning process begins, listen closely. During the voir dire pro, a juror is asked several questions to ensure that the person is not biased in any way concerning the trial, knows personally any key players in the courtroom, or has too much personal interest in the case.
5. Raise your right hand or place it on the provided bible if you are chosen after the voir dire pro. You will be sworn in using the "Jurors' Solemn Oath" which says you will accept a juror's position and try the case fairly.
6. Answer all questions given to you with total honesty. Giving false information to questions asked is going against the Juror's Solemn Oath.
7. Remain as quiet as possible in court, and also when you are in the hallways near the courtrooms. Distracting noises impede the courtroom process if all participants cannot hear everything being said.
8. Render a verdict according to your best judgment. All jurors must agree on the verdict. Flipping a coin is not acceptable and considered dishonest behavior.

Tips & Warnings

• Jurors must report to the judge any unsuitable behavior by any juror.
• If an outsider attempts to talk with you as a juror about the case you are sitting in on, you should do the following: (1) Tell the person it isn't right for a juror to speak of the case or get any information except in the courtroom; (2) Don't listen if the outsider continues; and (3) Let the judge know immediately what happened.