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 Can you be excused from serving on Jury Duty? |
A second random selection of people is made from the list of qualified jurors. These are the people the clerk actually calls to court. This number usually falls between 35 and 50. The judge may excuse persons who can prove undue hardship or delay their service.
It is suggested that a request to be excused from jury service or to have the date delayed be made in writing prior to the expected date of appearance.
While jury service may be inconvenient, this is not a reason to seek an excuse. A person who can get away from business for a vacation should be able to get away for jury service.
NO EMPLOYER MAY DISCHARGE AN EMPLOYEE BECAUSE OF JURY SERVICE. 21 VSA 499(a)
Whenever possible, temporary absences from jury service for dentist or doctor appointments, vacation plans and other personal commitments which are difficult to change will be granted.
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| How are prospective jurors selected? |
Since the whole community cannot serve at the same time, the courts must have a way to choose at random a group for each trial which represents the community. Jurors often wonder how this is done and how they happened to be chosen.
In Vermont, a list of prospective jurors is prepared at least once every two years in each county. To make this list, a questionnaire is sent by each county clerk to citizens randomly chosen from the voter registration checklists of each town or city and a list of licensed drivers. The questionnaire is used to find those people qualified to be jurors.
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| How many days will I serve on a jury trial? |
The number of days that a juror actually serves depends on many things such as the workload of the court and the length of any trial on which the juror serves. Most jurors come to the courthouse no more than 10 days.
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| How many times can I be called to Jury Duty? |
A person is summoned to appear before the court for voir dire (jury draw days) no more than three times. Those selected to serve on any trials then return for those trials. Jurors not selected to serve on any trials need not return until the next jury drawing day.
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| How much can I get paid for being on a Jury? |
Vermont law permits payment of jurors if the juror requests pay, unless the juror is otherwise compensated by their employer. Jurors who are eligible for pay receive no less than $15 and no more than $30 each day they are at the courthouse. While this may cause some financial hardship, you may find that the personal satisfaction from being a juror will outweigh the monetary impact which is usually fairly minor due to the limited amount of time you are asked to serve. The court will provide you with a request for payment form which must be completed and returned to the court on or before your first appearance as a juror. It is recommended that you check with your personnel department regarding your company's policy on jury service.
Believe it or not - Vermont pays much more for jury service than other States!
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| Is there a number I can call to see if I'm needed for Jury Duty? |
There is a special telephone number in some courts which jurors must call before they are scheduled to come to court. A recorded message will explain whether the jurors are needed in court the next day as previously scheduled. In courts with the special telephone, jurors should call each time before they come in. A juror who does not call and appears in court when not needed will not be paid.
In those courts that have the special telephone, the court clerk will give the jurors the telephone number and written instructions about the use of the telephone.
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| What courts have Jury Trials? |
There is trial by jury only in Superior and District Courts. Most jury work in Superior Court is civil. Most jury work in District Court is criminal.
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| What is a Juror's Civil Oath? |
You solemnly swear that you will well and truly try each and every issue which may be given you in charge during the present term of this court, agreeably to the evidence given you in court, and the laws of this state, and true verdicts give; your own counsel and that of your fellows you will duly observe and keep; you will say nothing to any person about the business and matters you may at any time have in charge, but to your fellow jurors, nor will you suffer anyone to speak to you about the same but in court; and when you have agreed on a verdict, you will keep it secret until you deliver it in court. So help you God.
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| What is a Juror's Criminal Oath |
You solemnly swear that, without respect to persons or favor of any man, you will well and truly try and true deliverance make, between the state of Vermont and the prisoner at the bar, whom you shall have in charge according to the evidence given you in court and the laws of the state. So help you God.
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| Who is qualified for Jury Duty? |
To qualify to serve as a juror, one must:
1. be a citizen of the United States and 18 years of age;
2. reside within the county;
3. be able to read, write, understand and speak English;
4. be capable, by reason of mental or physical condition, to render satisfactory jury service; and
5. have not served a term of imprisonment in this state after conviction of a felony.
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| Why Me? |
An editorial in The Burlington Free Press said the following about Jury Duty in Vermont:
"The jury system is based on the belief that every person has an innate sense of justice, and that presented with the facts, any random group of Americans will find the just answer to a case....every able Vermonter should take part and consider the effort part of the price of democracy. It's simple: Anyone who expects to receive justice in Vermont's Courts must be willing to provide it."
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