Any person who is 21 years of age, a citizen of the state and a resident of the county in which you are to serve as a juror, is sober, intelligent and has a good reputation may be called to serve as a juror.  If you are notified by mail that you have been called to serve as a juror, you are required to serve unless you are excused for a special reason.  You are ineligible to serve on a jury if you:

• have been convicted of a felony; or
• are unable to read, write, speak, and understand English; or
• if you are on active duty with the military; or
• if you are a lawyer or judge.

Just because you are called to serve jury duty does not mean you will actually serve on a jury. More people are chosen than will be needed because some people are automatically excused and others might be excused by the judge or the attorneys.  A judge may excuse you from serving on a jury if:

• you are a practicing doctor, osteopath, chiropractor, dentist, or clergyman; or
  
• you have served upon a jury within one year before being called again; or
  
• the judge decides that absence from your employment would adversely affect the public health, safety, and welfare; or
  
• the judge decides that for whatever reason, your service would be an extreme hardship on you.
  (To be excused because you fit into one of the above categories, you have to ask the judge; this excuse is not automatic.)

 Additionally, you will be excused as a juror in a particular case if you:

• are a witness in the case; or
  
• have formed an opinion concerning the case; or
  
• are a close relation either by blood or marriage to a party in the case.

If you have not been excused for any of the above reasons, you remain a member of the jury panel, and the final jurors are chosen by the judge and the lawyers asking potential jurors questions. Based on the answers, the lawyers can ask the judge to excuse someone if there is a special reason such as bias, prejudice, or financial interest in the case. Each lawyer is then allowed to eliminate a certain number of people for any or no reason.

If you are chosen to serve on a jury, your employer is required to give you time off for jury service but are not required to continue wage payments.   You will be paid by the county for your jury service.  The amount varies but tends to range between $6.00 to $20.00 per day for actual jury service. Additionally, you should inquire as to whether you qualify for mileage reimbursement.