Introduction
Jury duty or Jurors are summoned to court for ensuring the defendants’ 6th amendment right (quick trial and an impartial jury hearing) on any date or place for a civil or criminal case to serve as a potential jury and pass verdicts. Jury duty is a civic responsibility where the jury is asked to first fill out the questionnaire and participate in the selection process. However, whether the jury is young or a beginner it is ensured that orientation is completed prior or not. Let us know ‘How Long Is An Orientation For Jury Duty?’.
How Long Is An Orientation For Jury Duty?
Now several questions regarding orientation pop up such as – how long it takes, or what is its process. Usually, the jury orientation lasts for an hour only. The orientation will provide basic information about the juror’s responsibilities and roles. To know more about orientation read the article below.
Jury Duty Orientation
As mentioned before, to begin a career as a jury it is mandatory to complete orientation which is not more than an hour or two long. Orientation provides basic information about juror’s responsibilities and terms and services during their work life.
Jury duty Orientation is just the first step towards jury duty as after the orientation, the next step is to fill out a questionnaire before getting selected for a Jury trial. However, not only for junior juries but also for senior and experienced juries filling out the questionnaire is mandatory as it helps the court to keep the records of jury selection. Jury orientation can take place online as well as offline. However, many young juries apply for online jury orientation to complete it according to their convenience.
Orientation: Steps and Content Explained
Online and offline orientation are similar in several ways as both contain several steps and instructions that are provided for in-person attendance that are explained in the steps below –
Step 1 – The first step in an orientation explains the juror certification form and what are the steps and options available to get paid. To fill out the certification form it is not advised to change the address unless changed.
After the calculation of the roundabout trip from your residence to the courthouse, you will be repaid $10 per day for 2 days and $25 per diem + $10 per mile. There are several ways to get paid the first 3 options are for employed jurors and the rest are for other juries such as –
- Jurors will get paid regularly by their employers
- Union or special contract – jurors will get both their juror’s pay and regular pay
- Jurors get regular pay, but employee requires them to turn in their jury service payment to them
- Jurors will be paid mileage and per diem.
- If jurors decide to waive Diem or mileage, then those funds will go to the juror improvement fund for providing juror amenities.
(Note: Providing mileage to the courthouse is deemed necessary and does not concern whether a juror is waving Diem and mileage.)
Except for the juror certification form in the first step, several other pieces of information are also shared regarding maps and parking positions and rules and regulations, and so on. To know more about the first process, click on the given link –
Orientation-1
Step 2 – Second orientation step commonly known as Justice for All provides an in-depth discussion of a juror’s works, responsibilities, and the importance of being a Jury is also discussed. From history to how the Jury duties benefit not only the victims but also the masses.
The second step also includes going into the courtroom after the name is spoken and attendance is taken, a trial jury is selected and a trial case (can be a criminal or civil case) is brought into action. Also, the actions and procedures of both cases are told along with the basic difference that is –
In a criminal case, the prosecutor or attorney on behalf of the state charges the person called defendant with a violation of the law. In criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
In a civil case, however, the dispute is usually among two individuals and the defendant brings in the action and the jury in those cases passes a verdict for the plaintiff or defendant.
After the trial of the juror’s second phase, jurors are selected by a process called Voir dire (to speak the truth) where they are asked several general questions and are asked to answer honestly.
To know more about the second phase, click on the link below: –
Orientation-2
Step 3 – The final step or training step includes steps to uncover unconscious bias and how it affects and how to prevent them. Some reasons for unconscious bias are –
- Deep-seated image of a person
- First impression as we do not know the person and must pass the verdict many people only look or arguments pass the verdict unconsciously ignoring facts and evidence.
- Ignoring important information and stereotyping a person, and so on.
Now to avoid unconscious bias some examples are –
- It is easily avoidable if the jurors are realizing about their unconscious biases
- It is also important to remind oneself and make the effort to help the juror feel more confident.
- Awareness of all the stereotypes and realizing that everyone has different biases, and that unconscious bias should not affect the verdict.
- It is also important to understand that stereotypes and having good intentions do not always work therefore it is important to examine the decisions and pass judgment as jurors carefully.
To know more about step 3 click on the link below –
Orientation-3
Benefits of Jury Orientation
It is important to complete jury duty orientation as it makes it easier for employees to understand their entire careers briefly. And orientation also helps in establishing the basic workload, getting comfortable, and making the first impressions.
Not only these there are distinct benefits that jury employees with orientation have over others. some of them are: –
- Boosting new jurors with confidence and making it easier for them to adapt.
- During orientation sample work is asked by young juries which helps them in a more productive workforce.
- Easy Communication between supervisor or seniors and Jurys.
- Better understanding and more accurate information.
- Improved Jury retention.
Conclusion
As explained in the analysis of Jury duty orientation its distinct steps, how long it lasts, and how it is completed online, to fill a questionnaire or certificate form after orientation. Online jury takes a little over an hour or two and provides information and what jury duty entails. The three steps of jury orientation are
Step 1 – Provide in-depth knowledge of jury duties and responsibilities along with explaining how to fill out the certificate form.
Step 2 – Justice for All includes history, duties importance, trial cases, and many more.
Step 3 – The training step or final step includes the training and explains unconscious bias and how it affects the verdicts.
This sort of study and analysis helps in making the Jury duty process much easier to follow and explaining it in steps helps in understanding the importance of the orientation.
