Jury Duty

Yes - most of the time. State law requires all qualified North Dakotans to serve as jurors. The court very reluctantly excuses persons from jury duty. A lack of any of the qualifications listed earlier will cause a person to be disqualified for jury duty. In addition, the court will consider excuses upon satisfactory showing of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, and public necessity.

In most instances, not any longer than 10 court days in any two year period.

Yes. Jurors receive $50 for the first half day and $100 for serving the whole day. Jurors receive $100 for each additional day served. The mileage rate is $0.70 per mile. Coroner's inquest jurors get $10 a day.

State law protects your job. Your employer can't fire you, demote you, threaten you or otherwise hassle you because of jury service.

Next is to report to jury duty at the court or other location indicated in the summons. Failure to do so can lead to all kinds of unpleasant things like contempt of court charges, fines, and even jail terms.

There are no strict or prescribed dress codes. Some courts suggest dressing as you would for church, a business meeting or a social function. Dress comfortably, but avoid extremes in dress; for instance, no tuxedos or ragged jean cutoffs.

It's possible but unlikely. You could be "challenged" off all the juries during your service, or you could serve on just one case that might last several days. Most likely you will serve as a juror for two or three cases during your tour of duty.

Not really, but you will have to answer some questions. All the jurors called for a particular term are in the courtroom at the start of a trial. The clerk of court randomly selects names and the persons take their places in the jury box. When a sufficient number have been selected, they are sworn in for jury examination. This examination is called the voir dire (pronounced vwor deer) examination and is usually conducted by the lawyers in the case, although sometimes a judge will participate or conduct it.

The judge or one of the lawyers begins voir dire with a short explanation of the case. While this is not proof or evidence, you should pay attention since this is the first information you'll receive about the case.

The examination seeks to find out if a prospective juror has a personal interest in the case, or has any prejudice or preconceived notions about the case that might make it impossible to serve as an impartial juror. Examples might be a juror related to someone involved with the case, or who strongly believes that all shoplifters should be jailed for a year. In such a case, the juror can be challenged by one of the lawyers and the court will excuse him or her from the jury panel. Another prospective juror is then called.

There are two types of challenges. One is for cause, such as was just described. Each side has an unlimited number of these. If the judge thinks a cause is sufficient, the juror will be excused. The other type of challenge is called peremptory. The number of these allowed each side ranges from four in most civil cases to ten in murder cases. No reasons have to be given for these challenges.

Being challenged off a jury panel is absolutely no reflection on a prospective juror. It does not mean the lawyer or the court believes you are not qualified to sit on the case. It merely means that for this particular case a lawyer for one of the sides, or the judge, believes you may not be well suited. You could well be selected as a juror in the next case before the court.

Persons not selected for the jury will be excused by the court for the day, subject to further call in other cases. There could be other cases listed for later that day in the same court, or by another judge in the same courthouse. In some of the larger courthouses and counties, it is possible to have two or three jury trials going on at the same time.

This depends on the type of case. Usually, a jury will not be less than 6 or more than 12.

In criminal cases, the state is charging a person or persons with violations of criminal law. A prosecutor, usually a state's attorney, represents the government. The person accused of the crime is the defendant, who is usually represented by a private attorney, not a public official. A civil case, on the other hand, is a dispute between the two persons or organizations concerning their respective rights. One party sues to determine these rights. This is the plaintiff. The persons being sued are the defendants. Civil suits usually involve money or property, and no criminal violations are involved.

After the whole jury panel has been selected, you will all be asked to stand, raise your right hands and have the following oath administered:

"Do you solemnly swear that you will consider all the evidence in this case, follow the instructions given to you, deliberate fairly and impartially and reach a fair verdict? So help you God."

You answer, "I do." If you do not care to invoke the name of God in the oath, you may "affirm" instead of "swear" and may substitute for "So help you God" the phrase:

"Under the pains and penalties of perjury."

Your basic job is to pay attention. If you have trouble hearing or seeing, let the judge know. When in the jury box, you will not be allowed to read, talk to other jurors, or otherwise divert your attention from courtroom proceedings. Generally, be alert and courteous, and remain impartial.

All of the exhibits received in evidence will be given to you at the end of the trial. Some of the exhibits may also be read or shown to you during the trial.

Generally this is the obligation and responsibility of the attorneys. In some civil cases the judge may permit jurors to submit questions in writing.

This is a matter within the discretion of the judge. However, unless you are provided with note pads and pencils by the bailiff, it will generally not be allowed.

Occasionally, but it is rare in North Dakota. If the trial lasts more than one day, you usually will be allowed to go home overnight, but will be expected to be back on time for the start of the next day's proceedings. The trial can't continue until all jurors are present, so if you are tardy you will hold up all the proceedings.

No. But, you must not discuss the case with anyone during the trial, not even the other jurors, and you should avoid reading about it in newspapers or listening to or watching news broadcasts about it. Don't discuss it with court personnel or any of the parties involved. When the trial is over and the judge sends you to the deliberation room, then and only then should you discuss the case freely with the other jurors in order to reach a verdict.

Absolutely not! As a juror you must reach your decision only on the evidence and other matters presented during the trial. If the occasion arises where it is necessary to go out of court to view a scene or listen to some testimony, this will be done under court supervision and by all the jurors together.

Yes.

In civil cases, the parties can agree to accept the verdict of the remaining members. Sometimes (usually in longer civil or criminal cases) an extra (alternate) juror is impaneled, and he or she would take the missing juror's place. In criminal cases, if no alternate is available, a mistrial could be declared and the case begun again with a new jury.

At the end of every case, both civil and criminal, the judge gives the jury instructions. These instructions are intended to tell the jury what its choices are and to clarify the decisions it must make (some judges give part of the instructions at the beginning of a case).

If you cannot agree on what a witness may have said and it is important, the judge may reconvene the parties and allow the testimony to be read to you by the court reporter. If any juror needs some matter clarified, a note can be sent to the judge through the bailiff.

Not really. The presiding juror, who is elected by the jurors when the jury begins its deliberations, announces the verdict in court. Since all decisions must be unanimous, it's pretty well known how each person voted. However, a lawyer may request that a jury be polled after the verdict is announced. Each juror must then stand and announce how he or she voted. If by chance there is a change of a vote, then the jury must go back and consider the matter again. No juror has to say anything to anyone after the trial about what went on in the jury room, or why a particular decision was reached. This includes inquiries from court personnel, the opposing parties or their attorneys, or the news media. There is no prohibition against talking about it, either.

Juror information is use by the court system during the summons and qualification process as well as to provide compensation. If your Social Security Number is requested --it is for the purpose of paying juror fees and mileage and is maintained by the court system’s finance department. Additionally, North Dakota court rule provides that names, physical/email addresses and phone numbers of qualified and summoned jurors (and any contents of jury qualification forms) are exempt from being open to the public. This means that a district judge would need to decide whether or not to order the release of this information. This information is requested infrequently by lawyers involved in a case in which you may serve.

Jury facilities have basic services available for your use. They include refrigerators, microwave ovens, sink areas, rest and lactation rooms. Basic amenities such as water, coffee and some snacks are provided.

Yes – North Dakota law prohibits the possession of a firearm or dangerous weapon in a courthouse. Please do not bring weapons of any type with you to jury service. If you do it can be confiscated during screening processes.