Citizens have a civic responsibility for jury duty. Jury duty occurs when a person serves as a juror in a civil or criminal trial. Jurors must listen to testimony throughout the course of the trial and determine the outcome of the case. To be eligible for jury duty, you must meet specific requirements. Failing to appear for jury duty could result in being faced with fines or being placed in court custody.
Although jury duty is an honor, trials can happen at inconvenient times in our lives. Sometimes, trials last a couple of days, and in other cases, a couple of months. This can strain one’s personal life. There are different ways jurors could avoid jury service in Illinois if they cannot do so.
How Are Citizens Selected For Jury Duty In Illinois?
Under Illinois law, each county, including Peoria County, is responsible for generating an eligible jury list every 12 months. There are around 181,000 residents in Peoria County. But, not all these residents are necessarily eligible for jury duty. To be added to the list of eligible jurors, you must:
- Be a registered voter,
- Have a driver’s license,
- Have a State ID Card, or
- Have an Ilinois Person with a Disability Identification Card.
You must also:
- Be a citizen of the United States,
- Be at least 18 years old,
- Be a resident of the County (Peoria),
- Not have a pending lawsuit in the County where the case is being tried, and
- Be able to read, write, and understand the English language.
If you meet all of the requirements above, you may be eligible for jury duty in Peoria County.
How Often Could I Get Called For Jury Duty In Peoria, Illinois?
A citizen could be called for jury duty every 12 months. Peoria County chooses eligible jurors randomly every year.
Could I Take Time Out Of Work To Attend Jury Duty In Illinois?
Under Illinois law, you are legally allowed to take time out of work to attend a jury. An employer cannot fire, harass, or retaliate against an employee for taking part in jury duty. However, employers are not required to pay for an employee who attends jury duty. Illinois law leaves it up to the discretion of the employers to decide whether or not they would like to pay their employees for attending jury duty.
What If I Have Been Discriminated For Jury Duty In Peoria County?
It is illegal for a court or attorney to discriminate against a citizen who is qualified for jury duty based on that citizen’s race, religion, sex, national origin, financial status, or sexual origin.
Do I Have To Attend Jury Duty In Peoria County?
In some scenarios, you could be excused as a juror. Some examples include:
- Medical condition: if you have a medical condition that causes hardship, you do not need to be on a jury
- Age: Illinois residents older than 70 could request an exemption from being on a jury
- Bias: if a juror has a pre-existing bias, they may not be chosen for jury duty
- Previous jury service: sometimes, courts are likely to dismiss a juror if they have served as a juror within the last 12 months
The above are circumstances where a resident could be excused from jury service.
Have You Been Chosen For Jury Service In Peoria?
Contact Joel E. Brown, P.C., today to see if you qualify as a proper juror. There are various requirements for being on a jury. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free case evaluation for more information.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers At Joel E. Brown, P.C. in Peoria for Assistance Today
To learn more, contact our skilled personal injury attorney at Joel E. Brown, P.C to schedule a free consultation. We are conveniently located in Peoria and proudly serve Peoria County, IL, and the neighboring communities.
Joel E. Brown, P.C
416 Main St Suite 1300 Peoria, IL 61602, United States
(309) 673 4357
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