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10550 Independence Pointe Pkwy, Ste 200
Matthews, NC 28105
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(704) 759-6110

Semirog Law Firm, pllc is a personal injury and auto accidents law firm located in Charlotte and Matthews, North Carolina.   We are committed to providing quality legal services in a dedicated and cost-effective manner to all members of our community, regardless of race, gender, or national origin.

We have handled complicated litigation in the areas of personal injury, car wrecks, truck accidents, family and business law.  In addition, we have experience in real estate law and short-sale negotiations.

We offer standard and flexible billing arrangements for our clients, such as flat fee billing, hourly billing, and contingency fee billing depending on the type of legal matter.

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Matthews North Carolina personal injury and auto accident attorneys and Charlotte North Carolina personal injury and auto accident and car accident and motorcycle accident attorneys.

Read our blog where we post recents news in developments in the personal injury and car and auto accidents law in North Carolina.  Learn interesting facts and legal concepts that will help you in your daily life.

Death, Taxes, and ... Jury Duty

Serge Semirog

Are you 18 years or older? Are you a United States citizen?  Are you a resident of North Carolina and one of its counties?  Have you registered to vote and/or have a valid driver's license?  Have you not served as a trial juror in the past two years nor a full term as a grand juror in the past six years?  Are you mentally and physically competent?  Do you speak English? Are you not a convicted felon with US citizenship restored?  

If you answered yes to all of the above questions, congratulations, you can serve as a jury in the county court where you reside!  Think of it as a right of passage for your US citizenship; America (acting through a Jury Commission of three private citizens) chose you (randomly) to serve your country!

The goal of this post is to ensure that you know what to expect when you have been summoned for jury duty. 

Jury Selection

When you arrive at the court listed on the jury summons, be sure to have a book or something to pass the time as you wait to be questioned.  Before the actual selection, you will most likely see a short video explaining the court and your role in the trial.  Then, the attorneys of the trial will ask you several questions to ensure that you are fit to serve, that you don't know anyone related to the trial, and that you can see each side objectively.  

Should all parties accept you as a juror, your job becomes official and you will be a given a red badge until the end of your jury duty.  

Length of Duty and Compensation

Jury Duty can last between several days to several weeks but the average is only one week.  You will be compensated for your lost time.  Petit jurors receive $12 on the first day and $20 for the following days.  If the duty exceeds five days, the compensation is $40 from that point forward. Grand jurors, on the other hand, receive $20 a day.  At the end of your service, the Clerk of Court will issue your payment.  

During the Trial

When you arrive for the trial, be sure to be dressed in a respectful manner; many judges won't allow people to serve while they are wearing halter or tank tops, cut jeans or clothes with offensive material.  Dress comfortably but with your audience's attention in mind.  

Without going into too much detail, your job is to listen to both sides and determine the guilt of the defendant based on evidence, opening, and closing statements.  You should pay attention to everything that is said and judge objectively the facts presented to you.  

Listen to the judge as oftentimes he will direct the jurors.  For example, he may ask you not to take into consideration a piece of evidence previously presented, or he may ask you to leave for recess.  

Outside of the Trial

The details of the trial shouldn't leave the courthouse; the information that you take into consideration should only be that which was presented before you by the attorneys.  This means you shouldn't watch the news about the trial (if there is any) nor should you investigate or search on the Internet the parties involved or post anything regarding the trial on social media.  When the day is done, go home, rest, and be ready for the next day of jury duty. 

At the end of your jury duty, you will leave for deliberation during which you will talk to your fellow jurors and decide the group's opinion on the trial.  When you come out of deliberation, one member (previously designated during deliberation) will announce the result when the judge calls for it.  Congratulations, you are finished with jury duty and you must wait at least two years before, once again, serving North Carolina.

To find out more information, be sure to check out your county court's website where you can find the orientation video entitled You, the Juror.

 
tags Jury Duty, North Carolina
By Serge SemirogGoogle +