Let’s Talk About Jury Duty

The day has come, the dreaded jury duty summons arrived in your mailbox. Some people go their whole life without a jury summon, while other people feel like they receive summons frequently. Whether you’re in the former or the latter, serving on a jury is an important civic duty for Americans. 

But what can you expect if you are chosen as a juror? And what do lawyers do during the selection process? Hickey & Hull is here to explain it all before you step into the courthouse. 

What Role Do Attorneys Play In Juror Selection? 

If you have never been summoned for jury duty, you might not realize that lawyers help the judge with the juror selection process. The legal professionals are looking for an unbiased team of jurors to deliberate on the age-old question, “Guilty or not guilty?” 

Here’s how it works: 

1. Potential jurors are summoned to the courthouse. 
2. The judge and attorneys (or public defender) ask questions to determine fair and impartial candidates. This is called “voir dire.”
3. Depending upon an individual's answers, they will either be selected to serve on the jury or dismissed. 

Attorneys want to ensure they ask the right questions to the potential jurors, to weed out anyone who may be familiar with the case details. However, they also need a balanced jury. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “A jury should represent all types of people, races, and cultures.” 

If you aren’t selected as a juror, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you showed bias during questioning (although, it’s likely you won’t find out the reason why). Dismissal happens for any number of reasons, including age demographics, job title, or relation to the case.

For example, some people have reported being dismissed from jury duty because of their relationship to first responders. While this is something that an individual can’t control, the legal professionals may be concerned about their ability to remain neutral — especially for criminal cases. 

What Happens If You Can’t Attend Jury Duty? 

Serving on a jury is one of our civic duties as Americans, so you can’t necessarily “get out” of jury duty. In Arkansas, you can ask to be excused from serving, however, that doesn’t mean that the judge will grant your request.

In the request, you will need to answer why you cannot attend jury duty. This is reserved for serious hardship, such as health issues or family responsibilities. Legally, individuals cannot request to be excused because of their job commitments. It doesn’t matter if your summons date occurs during a launch of an important work project or a big sales day — you will be required to appear at the courthouse. 

For perspective, some states will not consider breastfeeding as a valid reason to excuse mothers from jury duty, including Arkansas. There are only a few communities that are exempt from serving on a jury: 

• Active duty military members
• Employed firefighters and police officers (not volunteers)
• Elected public officials. 

So, what happens if you don’t attend jury duty? Well, you could be fined or thrown in jail. Anyone can file a request to be excused, but the majority of Americans will not be granted excusal. 

Looking For A Civil or Criminal Attorney? Contact Hickey & Hull

If you are facing a civil or criminal trial, the lawyer you select is incredibly important — in and out of the courthouse. Your attorney will help you fill out court documents, select the jury sitting on your case, and defend you in the courtroom. 

When you need representation in Arkansas, contact Hickey & Hull. Our professionals have the legal knowledge to represent civil and criminal cases in court. Consult with our online agent today or call our offices to schedule your initial appointment.