Not Even Celebrities Are Exempt From Serving Their Time On A Jury If Called Upon By A Court
Just ask David Letterman, also known as “Juror 16,” who satisfied his civic duty by appearing for jury duty in a recent federal criminal trial involving cryptocurrency fraud. Although he was ultimately excused from serving after being eliminated by the prosecutor without explanation, he survived the first round of general questioning by the court and lawyers with his trademark sarcastic humor.
He’s not alone. Many other celebrities have shown up for jury duty, including Taylor Swift, Tom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt, Madonna, and George W. Bush. Most of these individuals ultimately did not serve, just like many civilians who appear for jury are not ultimately selected, but they appeared when summoned nonetheless.
So, what are your obligations if you receive a notice of selection for jury service? First, you will want to read the notice carefully and pay close attention to any deadlines. Typically, the first communication you receive from the court will be a notification that your name has been selected for a three-month term during which you may be called to serve. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be on a jury during that time, just that you could be called. Whether you are ultimately called will depend on whether there are any civil or criminal trials during that time period and in which courts they will occur.
Included in your notice will be a questionnaire for you to complete and return to the court within a ten-day period. You should complete the questionnaire carefully and thoughtfully and return it to the court as promptly as possible. It is here that you will detail any conflicts that may prevent you from serving on a jury, including any medical hardships, of which you will want to include documentation. If you are unavailable on a particular date due to work or travel, be sure to include that information in the questionnaire, as courts typically will attempt to accommodate reasonable requests. If you are over 75, you may be excused from service if you specifically request it.
Otherwise, if you are over eighteen, a citizen, a resident of the county, are not incapacitated, and are able to speak, read, and understand English, you should be prepared to serve. Although many seek to escape their obligation, serving on a jury truly is a privilege that not many are fortunate enough to experience. Participation in a jury is a critical component to the functioning of our judicial system, and we as lawyers are grateful for your service!