Important Things to Remember

After you are sworn as a juror in a case, there are some rules of conduct which you should observe.

Don't be late for court sessions. Because the trial cannot begin until you are present, tardiness can cause delays which lengthen the trial and waste the time of all involved. Also, you may be cited for contempt of court because of your delay or absence.

Listen to every question and answer. Since you must base your verdict upon the evidence as presented, you must hear every question asked and every answer given. If, for any reason, you do not hear some of the evidence, raise your hand and inform the judge.

Don't be an "amateur detective." Since the only evidence you can consider is that presented in court, you are not allowed to make an independent investigation or visit any of the places involved in the case. If it is necessary for the jury to visit a site, the judge will so order and send the jury as a group to see it.

Control your emotions. You should not indicate by exclamation, facial expression, or any other reaction, how any evidence or any incident of the trial has affected you.

Do not discuss the case. During any trial in which you are a juror, there are certain things you must NOT do:

• Do not talk to anyone about the case until instructed to do so
• Do not talk to anyone about any person involved in the case--the parties, the witnesses or the lawyers
• Do not talk to anyone involved in the case--the parties, the witnesses or the lawyers
• Do not read any newspaper stories about the trial and do not watch or listen to any television or radio broadcasts about the trial