My Personal Experience with Being Called for Jury Duty Selection

Letters are sent to 75 to 100 for the jury pool to be selected. In the letter it will state the date and time that they are to appear. Also they will need to call the weekend before the date to listen to a recording. This letter has to be returned within a limited amount of time. Of course there are a couple of reasons mentioned that may keep you from having to appear for the jury duty or service. One reason is if they have a medical condition. In which case a document from the doctor stating the medical reason for excusing them from jury selection. Another is if you are under 18, they will need to make a copy of their licenses or ID to send in with the letter. In either case they would not need to call or appear for the selection.

This was my personal experience of being called for jury duty selection. I received the LETTER, then went through the process. But to my surprise one morning before I was to appear I picked up the newspaper. In dark letters was written, "Jury Duty Selection to begin." Now this was for a murder case that had taken place some years before. It was a large article as I read on it told about the case. It read who the defendant was and what they were charged with "1st degree murder." Also who the victims were. It also stated that the state was seeking the death penalty. In this state anyone convicted of 1st degree murder will either be sentenced to life in prison without parole or get the death penalty. This being the first time called for jury duty selection, I thought the judge chose the sentence if a guilty verdict was returned.

I arrived at the county court house at 8:45 am on Monday. There I was directed to the jury lounge which was labeled. As I enter the room of about 50 to 65 other jurors, a lady greeted me to give me other instructions. There were a couple papers to be completed after I was seated. I read and answered the questions carefully. There were questions such as: your full name, address, phone number on one small piece of paper. On another was my name again. Then other questions like; are you a citizen of the US, resident of the state and do I live in the county that I was called for the jury service. Other questions were your age, if you have children, if so their age, have you ever been a witness or testified? Some questions were the same ones that were on the letter I received. Also how you felt about the death penalty, another was life in prison without parole and there were others. Still at this time I believed that the judge would choose the sentence. After we had completed the questions, the papers were retrieved then taken to the judge.

Next a deputy sheriff came in to talk with us as a group. As he spoke to he stated:
"being called for jury duty is not a duty but a SERVICE to our community." Also he stated he would be with us all the way through the process of the selection of the jury. When he finished a lady came in to tell us a little more of what we could expect when we went in the courtroom.

After a while later the deputy took us to the back of the courtroom where we were seated. Then the judge spoke to us as a group. He ask some of the same questions that were on the papers. As the judge continued speaking to us, he stated that we had two jobs to do. That was to decide the verdict of guilty or innocence and the sentencing. Then he told us as a chosen juror; "after the trial begins you aren't to talk with anyone about the case." We weren't to watch, listen to the news or read a newspaper until the trial was completely over. This meant after the verdict and sentence was handed down. He said if we did so we would be charged and put in jail. Also that he had did that before.

Now we were all sworn in or confirmed ( different religions). I comfirmed. Next, several people were called and seated in the front of the courtroom. The judge told them that he was going to excuse them for rest of the day. They would need to call the same number that was called over the weekend after 5:30 pm. At that time they would get a message to return at 9:00 am or 1:00 pm the next day.

As the clerk started calling the first 12 to the jury box, I was the first to be called. I was the #1 purposed juror of the first 12. After all the 12 were called and seated, as a group we were asked more questions. At that time we were instructed to raise our hands. Questions: do you know the defendant or any of their family members? Do you know either of the victims or their family members? If one of the purposed jurors then raised their hand they were questioned further. Then the judge took a recess. The 12 were instructed, after recess we were to return to our seats in the jury box.

When entering the courtroom to finish the jury selection the others were seated at the front of the room. After the 12 returned to our seats, the questioning continued - had anyone seen or heard of this case before today? Those that raised their hands were ask where and when. Of course I had, so I explained. There were several others also. I was asked if I had formed an opinion about the defendant (if he was guilty or innocent) "I said, No." Others had to answer the same question.

Then the judge stated he would ask each individual questions. Since I was #1 juror select he started with me. He asked me several than he asked if the defendant was found guilty would I have any problems giving him the death penalty. I stated, "yes". Again he asked ,"do you believe you can give him the death penalty if found guilty?" I said, "no". The judge than quoted the law. In this state if someone is convicted of First Degree Murder the sentence is life in prison without parole or the death penalty. So do you think you can go by the law and sentence them life in prison without parole? I said, "yes." Ok, the judge stated, now could you give them the death penalty? I stated,"no."

He then recommended to the DA and the defense lawyers that I be excused. They both agreed. The judge thanked me for coming then told me that I may be called again for another case. But it would not be within the next two years. At that time I was excused.