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JURY DUTY |
Jury service is the duty of all citizens, including employers and employees. Employers must not reprimand employees for jury duty. If needed, the Clerk of the District Court will provide a letter documenting attendance and verifying jury duty upon request.
The 1st Judicial District primarily uses the list of licensed drivers provided by the Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles. A computer randomly selects a pool of potential jurors for each trial. If a mailing address is incorrect on the summons, it is usually because the information is incorrect on the drivers license list received from the state.
The 1st Judicial District will accommodate anyone wishing to server as a juror. Please indicate any needs when returning questionnaire.
If it is necessary for another person to fill out the jury questionnaire for the potential juror, please state name, address, and the reason for filing out the questionnaire for that potential juror on the back side of the questionnaire.
Only Leavenworth County residents may serve on a Leavenworth District Court case.
Jurors receive $10 a day for service, and jurors living outside the city limits will be reimburse for mileage. Payment is made by the county around the 5th of the following month.
There is no law regarding maximum age of jurors. However jurors over the age of 70 will be excused if requested.
A juror is only required to serve once in a twelve month period.
Jury service is an important duty of all citizens, and hopefully an interesting experience.
A jury is composed for normally six or twelve citizens of the county. Panels are selected randomly by a computer from the driver’s license list. Depending on the type of trial, usually 50 – 80 potential jurors are summoned.
The entire group of people summoned for jury service is called a panel. A computer places the jury panel name in random order. This list is used to call potential jurors to the jury box in the courtroom. After seated the judge and/or attorneys may ask questions of the panel members. The questions are not meant to embarrass anyone, but to the ability to serve as a fair and impartial juror.
After questioning a potential juror may be excused without cause. There will also be “preemptory challenges” in which more jurors may be dismissed, and are not an adverse reflection on anyone.
After jury selection, attorneys for both sides make opening statements in which they explain their positions and what they expect to prove. The statements are not evidence, but explanations of the claims that must be proven.
Both sides usually call witnesses that are questioned to prove their side of the case.
Objections made by attorneys, considered by the judge are decided in which the witness answers a particular question or not.
Sometimes, jurors are excused so attorneys may argue legal matters in front of the judge without prejudice to the jury.
Final arguments are presented by both sides.
At the conclusion of the trial the judge will instruct the jurors as to how the law applies in the case. Jurors must base their verdicts on the judge’s instructions and the law.
Jury deliberations are held in a private room. A presiding juror is elected, and jurors discuss evidence to arrive at a fair and impartial verdict according to the facts presented and the law given by the judge. The jury will return to the courtroom where the verdict is read.
A sworn juror should give full attention to the witnesses, attorneys, and judge. Always be on time, and sit in the same seat once assigned. Do not discuss the case with anyone or allow anyone to discuss it in the jurors’ presence during the trial.
IMPORTANT ! REGARDLESS OF YOUR PERSONAL SITUATION, ALL JUROR QUESTIONNAIRES MUST BE RETURNED FOR PROCESSING!!
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FIRST JUDICIAL |
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