How to Get Signed Up for Jury Duty in Illinois
In the U.S., it is the constitutional right of any person charged with a criminal or civil offense to have a fair trial before a jury. In every county, members of the local community are summoned at random by the courts to partake in jury service. Therefore, the legal system prevents people from signing up voluntarily for jury service in Illinois or in other states.
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Instructions
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Ensure that you are on the electoral role in Illinois and have a current driver's license, so that your name will be on the county list to stand a chance of being selected for jury service. To qualify, you must also be a national citizen, be aged at least 18 and not have a criminal record.
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Wait to receive a letter to summons you to jury service. People are selected randomly, so there are no guarantees that a person will be chosen to serve as a juror. It has been known for a person to be called up more than once or placed on a stand-by list.
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Attend jury service once you receive a summons. Dress smartly as you would for going to work. Call the court service prior to jury service to confirm your attendance.
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Tips & Warnings
Contact your local clerk's office to inquire about any volunteering work you can undertake within the court system.
It is a legal requirement to attend jury service if summoned. Fines or imprisonment are the penalties for non-attendance. Jury service can be deferred due to mitigating circumstances.
References
- Photo Credit jury image by Blue Moon from Fotolia.com
