The Unique Importance of Jury Service

Have you ever thought about the unique importance of serving on a jury?   Citizens, as jurors, voluntarily give their time and effort on behalf of this fundamental right.  Jurors serve as neutral judges of the facts and as the conscience of the community for the cases that they hear.

 Citizen-jurors directly participate in and ultimately decide court cases.  The issues that juries are called upon to hear are incredibly important both to individuals and to society.   This direct personal  involvement of citizens as the ultimate decision-maker happens only in the judicial branch.   There is no similar citizen role in either the legislative or executive branches of government.

 In criminal cases jurors ensure that no one is convicted unless the State has proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  In civil cases jurors determine whether or not a party has been wronged and, if so, what the proper legal remedy will be to right that wrong.  

Many people ask me how the courts decide who will serve on juries. 

First, there are a number of legal requirements for jury service.  Basically, a person must reside in the county where the case is heard,  be at least 18 years old, and be a United States citizen.   Convicted felons can't serve as jurors unless their civil rights have been restored. 

The court system randomly selects names of potential jurors from driver’s license, state ID card, and voter registration records.    Some people have been selected a number of times in their lives for jury duty while others will never be called.    This seems to reflect the randomness of the system.

Of those receiving jury duty notices, a smaller group is then randomly selected for each specific case to participate in the jury selection process - known as "Voir Dire."  Voir Dire is a French term meaning, "to speak the truth."   Prospective jurors have a duty to speak truthfully regarding their qualifications to serve.  

During Voir Dire potential jurors are questioned by the judge and by each party to seek out any cause, bias or partiality that would prevent them from serving fairly.  A qualified juror must be neutral, open-minded, and fair.  They must also be willing and able to set aside their prior views and experiences and decide cases based only on the evidence received in court and in accordance with the law.

It has been said that the triumph of a jury, and the real test of the quality of its service, rests in the jury being able to determine and declare the truth.   As each party participates in the Voir Dire process, there is a greater confidence that every member of the jury is qualified to serve and will seek the truth.

The Minnesota Supreme Court has declared the week surrounding Law Day to be Juror Appreciation Week.  While it is appropriate to officially recognize the role of jurors during this week, we should always be thankful that our fellow citizens give their time and effort to safeguard this uniquely important aspect of our justice system.

Judge Galler is chambered in Washington County.  If you have a general question about the law or courts for Judge Galler, send your question to the editor of this newspaper. Learn more about Judge Galler, or listen to a podcast of his columns at www.judgegreggaller.com.