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Jury Trials

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1. What are my responsibilities now that I'm part of a jury?

In any trial, 2 kinds of questions will have to be decided at various times. These are questions of law and questions of fact. The judge decides the questions of law. You decide the questions of fact. After you have decided the questions of fact, you will apply the law to the facts as directed by the judge at the end of the trial.

2. What is a "question of law?"

Questions of law involve the determination of what the law is. They may be about procedural matters (what information can be admitted as evidence, what kind of questions can be asked, which witnesses can appear, and what they can testify about). Or they may involve questions of substantive law, which create, define and regulate the rights of parties.

3. What is a "question of fact?"

Quite simply, it's deciding what really happened in a case. Don't be surprised if the evidence given by both sides is conflicting or if the testimony given by a witness contradicts another. After all, if everyone was in agreement about what happened and what should be done about it, the dispute probably wouldn't be in court, and a jury probably wouldn't be needed. Your job is to listen to all the testimony, consider all the evidence, and decide what you think really happened.

4. Who else will be in the courtroom? What will they be doing?

A number of people will be in the courtroom besides the judge, the jury and the attorneys. A list of court personnel can be found online.

5. What happens during a civil trial?

After the clerk or bailiff has sworn in the jury, the case is ready to begin. Both attorneys may make opening statements explaining their client's position and outlining the evidence they expect to present to support their claims. These statements are not evidence and should not be considered as such. The witnesses for the plaintiff are then called and questioned by the attorney for the plaintiff and cross-examined by the attorney for the defendant. After cross-examination, the plaintiff's attorney may reexamine some of the witnesses. After all the plaintiff's witnesses have been called and all the plaintiff's evidence has been presented, the attorney will tell the judge the plaintiff rests.

Witnesses for the defendant may then be called. This time, the defendant's attorney questions the witnesses and the plaintiff's attorney cross-examines them. When all the defendant's witnesses and evidence have been presented, the defense will rest. After the defendant has finished, the plaintiff has the right to offer testimony in reply.

The judge and the attorneys will then go to the judge's chambers to consider the instructions the judge will give the jurors about the law of the case (this is discussed below). After the judge has decided on the instructions, the judge and the attorneys return to the courtroom. The judge reads the jury instructions to the jury, then the attorneys make their closing arguments. The closing arguments let each attorney tell the jury what they think the evidence proves and why their client should win. These closing arguments may help jurors recall many details of the case, but they are not evidence. The plaintiff's attorney speaks first, followed by the defendant's attorney. Finally, the plaintiff's attorney speaks again and closes the case.

6. What are jury instructions?

Jury instructions tell the jury what the laws are governing a particular case. Each attorney gives the judge a set of proposed jury instructions. The judge considers each instruction and gives the ones properly stating the law that applies to the case. The jurors must accept and follow the law as instructed by the judge even though they may have a different idea about what the law is or ought to be.

7. Who awards damages in a civil case?

In a civil case, the jury not only decides on a verdict for one side or the other, but also awards damages. That is, if the jury determines an award of money should be made, the jury decides how much money should be paid.

8. How are criminal cases tried?

Criminal cases are very similar to civil cases, except instead of a plaintiff, there is a prosecuting attorney. The prosecuting attorney may represent either the Commonwealth (the state) or a city, county or town.

9. What are the 2 types of criminal cases?

There are 2 kinds of criminal offenses: felonies and misdemeanors. A felony offense is punished by death or by a prison sentence of a year or more. If the felony offense is possibly punished by death, it is called a capital offense. If the maximum punishment allowed by law is less than 1 year in confinement or only a fine, the offense is called a misdemeanor.

10. Who sets the punishment in criminal cases?

If the jury finds the defendant guilty in a criminal case, they set the punishment at the same time they decide their verdict. After a guilty verdict in capital cases, however, the jury hears evidence in a separate proceeding before deciding on the penalty.

11. Why do the attorneys object to certain statements or evidence?

An important part of an attorney's job is to protect the client's rights during a trial, making sure the only evidence presented during the trial is proper, relevant and allowed by law. So if evidence is submitted the attorney feels is improper, or if the attorney feels the other side is asking unlawful questions, the attorney will call out, "Objection!" By doing this, the attorney is asking the judge to rule on whether the law allows that particular piece of evidence or statement or question to be admitted. If the judge thinks it should be admitted, the judge will say, "Objection overruled." If the judge agrees the evidence in question is improper, the judge will say, "Objection sustained." How often an attorney raises objections during the trial shouldn't bias you against that attorney's case.

12. Why is the jury sometimes asked to leave the courtroom in the middle of a trial?

The judge may decide to send the jury from the courtroom in the middle of a trial. While the jury is gone, the attorneys and the judge will discuss points of law or whether certain evidence can be admitted. The purpose of these discussions is to make sure the jury hears only legally valid evidence before making its decision. You will be called back to the courtroom when the judge's decision is made.

13. What should I do when testimony is stricken from the record?

You must disregard that testimony. Sometimes the jury hears testimony the judge later decides they should not have heard. The judge will tell the jury to consider the case as if they had never heard it. You must follow the judge's instructions if the parties in the case are to receive a fair trial.

14. Can I talk to anyone about the trial while it's going on?

No. As long as the trial is still going on, do not discuss the trial with anyone. Do not even discuss the case with your fellow jurors until you begin your deliberations. When the trial is over, you can discuss it with anyone if you want, or you may keep silent if you prefer.

15. Can I watch news reports of the trial or read newspaper accounts of it?

No, not as long as the trial is still going on.

16. What if I accidentally hear something about the trial outside the courtroom, or if someone contacts me about the trial while it is still going on?

Ask the bailiff to tell the judge immediately what has happened. Tell no one about the incident, except the bailiff or the judge.

17. What if I realize during the trial I have some special information relating to the case?

Ask the bailiff to tell the judge immediately what has happened. Tell no one about the incident, except the bailiff or the judge.

18. What if I need a break during the trial?

Jurors are given lunch breaks and may be given other breaks during a trial. If it is absolutely necessary you take a break for some reason at any other time during the trial, tell the bailiff or the judge. But note these requests are highly unusual and should be made only if absolutely necessary.