Three Common Jury Duty Myths ⚖️
You have been summoned to court and you wish you had never opened that jury duty letter. Now you’re panicking, thinking of any potential excuse that can get you out of this civil responsibility. Or you’re thrilled and can’t wait to participate in court to feel like you’re a cast member on your favorite detective show. Either way, it’s best to bust these three common jury duty myths before you jump to conclusions.
First Myth: Jury Duty Is a Dull Experience
When asked, most people who served on jury duty will say that they enjoyed the experience because of the different cases and fields they learned about. Jury duty is enjoyable because it’s a learning opportunity. Citizens are invited to partake in a new side of the law when presented with different court cases. They get the opportunity to assess and change a situation towards justice.
But this is not the case if you participate in jury duty with predetermined biases. These biases can range from racial bias, relational bias, and religious bias. Juror bias contaminates a case because it directly conflicts the trial with your interests, prevents you from making a fair judgement and potentially influences the jury to lean towards your biases as well.
It’s important to familiarize yourself with the case you will be involved in, understand the importance of serving on a jury, and to keep an open mind. The goal of trial by jury is to ensure that important decisions, such as an injury case, are made by the community and not by government officials. Therefore, serving on jury duty is a democratic privilege.
Second Myth: Jury Duty Interferes with My Job
A widespread jury duty myth is that you will bear financial consequences for missing workdays. If the process extends further, you’re afraid that you may even lose your job.
Rest assured, you will not lose your job for attending jury duty because state and federal laws have got you covered. Although state laws don’t require employers to compensate employees’ jury duty absences, many employers will provide you with paid time off. If jury duty extends longer than anticipated, you may even take a leave of absence from work.
Third Myth: I Don’t Need Jury Duty Experience for Everyday Life
Jury duty experience is necessary for every citizen of legal age because it’s informative and impactful. You can expect to learn a lot when called to jury duty, starting with the most obvious- how our justice system works and what role you can play in the fate of the person on trial.
For example, In accident cases, you’ll get a deeper look at the impact car crashes leave on their victims, such as the physical, emotional, and financial effects. No matter the level of impact a crash leaves, the injured Is likely to experience physical discomfort from injuries such as cuts, bruises, or muscle tension to injuries that can permanently impair physical capacity. Some injuries, such as bruising, take time to develop and cause discomfort. But the initial trauma the injured will experience at the crash is that of emotional and psychological distress, such as anxiety, sleep disorders, or PTSD. The damages of a car crash can’t be undone and the best way to compensate for the injured person’s traumatic experience is through monetary settlement. The injured will need insurance to cover costs like property damage, medical expenses, living adjustments, and loss of income due to missing work.
As an unbiased juror, you will see both sides of the argument to make up your mind so that your personal inclinations won’t interfere with the trial. Serving in the jury helps fulfill your role as a citizen of your country. It entrusts you with the great responsibility of making a difference in someone’s life when that person is on trial. Everything you learn helps shape your thought and character. 🙂
