The Constitutions of the United States and the State of Iowa guarantee defendants in criminal cases and litigants in civil cases the right to a trial by jury. As a prospective juror, you have an opportunity to participate directly in a critical component of our democracy.
Each year, the Iowa Judicial Branch obtains names from a list of licensed drivers, state identification card holders, and registered voters residing in your county and compiles that information into a master jury list. The names of deceased persons, provided by the Department of Health, are removed from the source list.
Iowa law provides that in any two-year period a citizen is not required: to serve on a jury for a term of more than three months, unless to complete service in a particular case; to serve on more than one grand jury; or to serve as both a grand and petit juror.
While there is no Iowa law that requires employers to pay employees while serving jury duty, many do so in recognition of the importance of jury service. You will need to check with your employer. Also, individuals who belong to labor unions may be covered through their union contracts.
If you miss jury service without providing sufficient reason, the court may issue an order requiring you to appear and explain why you should not be punished for contempt. The court will never contact you and ask you to pay a fine with a money card to avoid being arrested for missing jury service.
$30 a dayAre jurors paid? Pursuant to Iowa law, jurors receive $30 a day for serving up to seven days and are entitled to reimbursement for travel to and from the courthouse and for parking expenses. Jurors receive $50 per day for each day that exceeds seven days of service.
Upon request, you may be excused from jury service if you are over 70 years of age and do not wish to serve. No additional documentation is required.
While jury duty is a civic requirement for all eligible citizens in Iowa, there are a number of excuses that can be used to legally get out of being required to report for jury selection or jury duty, or receive a deferral.
Yes, it is legally required, and there are penalties for noncompliance. Jurors perform a vital role in the American system of justice. Jury service is an important civic function that supports one of the fundamental rights of citizens - the right to have their cases decided by a jury of their peers.
For felons in Iowa, the governor's order and the state Supreme Court's decision means that upon completion of their terms of imprisonment, parole, probation, or supervised release, they may vote, hold office, serve on a jury, and otherwise enjoy all the rights of citizens except the right to possess a firearm.
Avoiding it, however, is ill advised: you cannot simply refuse and it is a criminal offence to not answer a jury summons without reasonable cause. You may, however, be able to defer (or possibly be excused) if you've served in the last two years or have a good reason.
An impartial jury is a jury that will consider a case fairly, without favoring or discriminating against anyone. The jury must be willing to look at the evidence open-mindedly. An impartial jury does not immediately assume guilt or innocence. They want to see the evidence and hear the arguments first.
Your Jury Summons asks you to attend for jury service. It will tell you the date, time and court building you have to attend. You must reply to this summons using the Reply to Jury Summons form.
You should come in to the jury assembly area, have a seat, and fill out any of the jury duty forms you are provided. Sometimes a judge will come into the jury assembly area and ask questions of all who show up for jury duty. The purpose of this is to ensure that you meet the requirements to perform jury duty.
The idea of a jury of our peers has been fundamental to the American justice system since its beginning. A group of six to 12 men and women from all sections of the community sit down together and hear a case brought before the court.
Responsibilities of the Judge and Jury. In order for our court system to work properly, judges and jurors must consider the cases before them in a way that is thoughtful, involves sound judgment, is impartial and fair, and shows integrity. In each trial, the judge determines the rules of law that govern the case.
In a civil case, jurors decide which party should prevail and whether damages (usually money) should be awarded. Criminal cases are filed on behalf of citizens by the State of Iowa against individuals or corporations accused of committing crimes.
In each trial, the judge determines the rules of law that govern the case. For example, the judge decides what evidence may be admitted or considers attorneys’ objections to something that was said during trial. At times, the judge may excuse the jury from the courtroom or may speak to the attorneys privately.
When this occurs, jurors should not feel that their time is being wasted or that information is being withheld. These conferences allow the trial to continue fairly and efficiently.
If the charge is brought by a grand jury, it is known as an indictment . The person charged with an offense may admit the charge is true by entering a plea of guilty or may deny the charge by pleading not guilty.
At the close of the trial, the judge gives jurors instructions as to the laws that govern the case. At this time, the responsibility switches to the jurors. After listening carefully and considering all of the testimony and evidence, jurors move to the jury room to discuss the case in privacy.
A person is deemed qualified to serve as a juror UNLESS the person: is not a United States citizen; is not 18 years of age or older; has not resided in the Northern District of Iowa for the past year; is unable to read, write, speak or understand the English language;
How long is the typical jury day and will there be breaks? A normal jury day will begin between 8:00 and 9:00 am and will end at either 2:30 or 5:00 pm. Once the jury is in deliberation, the times may vary. Yes, there will be breaks during the trial.
Any juror who fails to report for jury duty may be served by the U.S. Marshal's Service with an Order to Show Cause. Jurors who fail to show adequate cause for their absence from jury duty can be held in contempt of court under the Jury Selection Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1966 (g).
Persons who have served as a federal juror within the last 2 years; or. A person who serves without compensation as a volunteer firefighter or member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew for a federal, state or local government agency. Jury-Juror Qualification. Jury FAQ.
The number of jurors selected depends on the type of case. For a civil trial, six to eight jurors may be selected. For a criminal trial, twelve to fourteen jurors may be selected. Jury-First Day - What to Expect.
From the jury assembly room, you will be escorted to a courtroom to participate in jury selection. Depending on the case, jury selection can last one to three hours.
Being summoned for jury duty can be intimidating. Here is a preview of the first day: You should plan to arrive at the courthouse at least 15 minutes before your reporting time. The courthouse opens at 7:30 am. A common mistake is going to the state courthouse, not the federal courthouse.