The meaning of a juror is straightforward: a juror is a person sworn to hear evidence in a court case and help decide the outcome. Jurors are the fact-finders in the American legal system. They watch witnesses testify, review exhibits, and decide what happened based on what was presented in the courtroom. The judge explains the law; the jurors apply it.
What a Juror Does
A juror’s core job is evaluating evidence and judging credibility when accounts conflict. Jurors don’t investigate on their own, don’t consult outside sources, and in most courtrooms don’t get to ask questions. They absorb what the lawyers and witnesses present, then deliberate with the other jurors to reach a verdict.
The standard a juror applies depends on the case. In a criminal trial, the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest standard in the legal system. In a civil case, the person bringing the lawsuit only needs to show that their version of events is more likely true than not. That lower standard is called preponderance of the evidence.
Two Kinds of Juries
“Juror” can mean one of two very different things depending on which type of jury you sit on.
Grand Jurors
A grand jury decides whether someone should be charged with a crime in the first place. Grand jurors review evidence presented by a prosecutor and decide whether probable cause exists to believe a crime was committed. If at least 12 of them agree, the grand jury issues an indictment, which is the formal charge that sends a case toward trial. In federal court, grand juries have between 16 and 23 members.1Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 6 – The Grand Jury
These proceedings are one-sided and secret. Only the prosecutor presents evidence, the suspect typically has no lawyer in the room, and grand jurors are prohibited from disclosing what happens during their sessions.1Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 6 – The Grand Jury
Petit (Trial) Jurors
A petit jury hears evidence at trial and delivers the verdict. This is what most people picture when they think about jury service. In federal criminal cases, the jury has 12 members. In federal civil cases, juries range from 6 to 12.2Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 48 – Number of Jurors, Verdict, Polling
Serious criminal convictions require a unanimous verdict. Every juror must agree. The Supreme Court confirmed this in 2020, striking down state laws that had allowed split verdicts.3Constitution Annotated. Amdt6.4.4.3 Unanimity of the Jury Civil cases do not always require unanimity; federal rules allow a verdict from a minimum of six jurors if the parties agree.
Who Can Serve as a Juror
Federal law sets baseline qualifications that apply in every U.S. district court. To serve on a federal jury, you must meet all of the following:4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1865 – Qualifications for Jury Service
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have lived in the judicial district for at least one year.
- Be able to read, write, speak, and understand English well enough to follow testimony and complete the juror qualification form.
- Have no pending charge or prior conviction for a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, unless your civil rights have been restored.
- Be mentally and physically able to perform the duties.
Federal law also prohibits courts from excluding anyone from jury service based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1862 – Discrimination Prohibited State courts follow similar qualification standards, though the details vary.
How Jurors Are Chosen
The process starts long before anyone walks into a courtroom. Federal courts pull names primarily from voter registration lists and supplement those lists when necessary to produce a jury pool that reflects the community.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1863 – Plan for Random Jury Selection Many courts also draw from driver’s license records, tax rolls, or other government databases. Selected people receive a summons ordering them to appear at the courthouse. Those who show up form the jury pool.
Then comes voir dire, the questioning phase where the judge and attorneys probe potential jurors for bias. The goal is to identify anyone who cannot be fair, such as someone who knows a party personally or has experiences that might cloud their judgment.7Legal Information Institute. U.S. Constitution Annotated – Amdt6.4.5.4 Voir Dire and Peremptory Challenges Jurors are sworn to answer these questions honestly.
Attorneys have two tools for removing people from the panel. A challenge for cause requires the attorney to articulate a specific reason the juror cannot be impartial, and there is no limit on how many jurors can be removed this way. A peremptory challenge lets an attorney remove a juror without giving any reason, but the number is capped. In federal felony cases, the prosecution gets 6 and the defense gets 10. In misdemeanor cases, each side gets 3. Capital cases allow 20 per side.8Justia. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 24 – Trial Jurors Peremptory challenges cannot be used to exclude jurors based on race or sex.
Rules You Have to Follow Once You’re a Juror
Once sworn in, jurors are bound by strict rules of conduct. The most important is the prohibition on independent research. You cannot Google the case, look up legal terms, search for news coverage, visit the scene of an incident, or check a party’s social media. Courts take this seriously because even well-intentioned research can expose jurors to information that was never tested through cross-examination.
Jurors also cannot discuss the case with anyone, including other jurors, until deliberations officially begin. No chatting about testimony during lunch breaks. No calling a spouse to think through the evidence. No posting opinions online. Violating these rules can cause a mistrial, forcing the case to start over with a new jury. A juror who deliberately ignores the restrictions can face contempt of court.
Pay and Job Protection
Jury service doesn’t pay well. Federal jurors receive $50 per day of attendance. For trials lasting more than ten days, the judge may increase the fee up to $60 per day for each additional day beyond the tenth.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1871 – Fees State courts set their own rates, which vary widely.
What the law protects more robustly is your job. Under federal law, no employer can fire, threaten, intimidate, or punish a permanent employee for serving on a federal jury. An employer who violates this rule faces a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation per employee, plus liability for lost wages and benefits. Courts can order reinstatement, and the reinstated employee keeps full seniority as though they had been on a leave of absence.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1875 – Protection of Jurors Employment Most states have similar protections for jurors in state court.
What Happens If You Skip Jury Duty
Ignoring a summons is not consequence-free. A federal court can order you to appear and explain why you failed to comply. If you don’t show up for that hearing or cannot demonstrate a legitimate reason for missing service, the penalties include a fine of up to $1,000, up to three days in jail, a community service order, or any combination of those.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels State courts have their own penalties, and some impose steeper fines.
Courts generally grant postponements for genuine hardships, such as medical emergencies, prepaid travel, caregiving obligations, or financial hardship from a long trial. The key is responding to the summons rather than ignoring it. Most courts allow you to request a deferral to a more convenient date, and simply communicating with the clerk’s office goes a long way.