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1. Why is jury service important?

The United States Constitution guarantees all people, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status, the right to trial by an impartial jury. Justice ultimately depends to a large measure upon the quality of the jurors who serve in our courts and that's why you are important.

2. What is my duty as a Juror?

As a juror, you must be fair and impartial. Your actions and decisions must be free of any bias or prejudice. Your actions and decisions are the foundation of our judicial system.

3. How was I selected?

You were selected at random from a list of driver registrations who live in the City of Royal Oak.

4. Am I eligible?

Jurors must:
- Be a citizen of the United States
- Reside in the City of Royal Oak
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be able to read and write
- Be of sound mind
- Not have been convicted of a felony

5. Who can be excused from Jury Duty?

You are entitled to be excused as a juror if you:
- Are over 70 years of age
- Are a caretaker of a person who is an invalid
- Can show a physical or mental impairment
- Inability to comprehend or to communicate in English
If you have a serious problem with the date you are scheduled to report, you may call the juror hotline at 246-3600 and ask for a postponement. If the judge does grant you a postponement, you will be given a new date to report, usually within 4-8 weeks. Since jury duty is a constitutional responsibility, requests for postponements are not taken lightly.

6. What are the different types of cases?

There are two basic types of cases; criminal and civil.
- Criminal: A criminal case results when a person is accused of committing a crime. You, as a juror, must decide whether the person charged is guilty or not guilty. The accused person is presumed innocent, and the City or State, represented by a prosecutor, must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt . The verdict must be 6-0 (unanimous).
- Civil Cases: A civil case results from a disagreement or dispute between two or more parties. In a civil case, you, as a juror, must answer questions of disputed facts based upon the testimony and evidence admitted by the Judge. The answers to these questions are called the verdict. In civil cases, 5 out of 6 must agree on the verdict.

7. Will I be paid for being a juror?

Yes. You will be paid $12.50 for a half day (until 12 noon), and $20 for a whole day plus .10 cents a mile from your home to the court.

8. Must my employer pay me while I am on jury duty?

Your employer is not required to pay you while on jury duty; however, employers are prohibited by law from firing an employee for serving on a jury nor can your job be affected by serving on a jury.

9. What is the juror information system?

Your juror notice will give you a phone number (246-3646) that you are asked to call two working days before the trial is to begin. When you call this number you will hear a recorded announcement instructing you to either call back the next day after 5 pm or where and what time to report for jury selection.