Court

 

Jury Duty

Here are some common vocabulary words:

"justice"   "judge"   "jury"   "Attorney"   "Bailiff"   "trial"

All right, now that we've learned some common vocabulary words, let's read this conversation:

Michael:  Did I get any mail today?
Michiko:  Only some junk mail and this letter.  Here.
Michael:  Oh no!
Michiko:  What does it say?
Michael:  It says that I have to appear at the courthouse for jury duty.
Michiko:  What's jury duty?
Michael:  That means I have to listen to the trial and decide whether or not the person is guilty.
Michiko:  I thought the judge did that.
Michael:  Well, some trials have a jury.  They also have a judge but the jury makes the decision.
Michiko:  That's interesting.

There are two kinds of trials.  One has a jury.  A jury is chosen from citizens or residents of that area.  People who are chosen to be on the jury will receive a letter asking them to go to one of the courtrooms.  In the conversation above, the man wanted to know if he received any mail.





Read these example sentences:

"Did I get any mail today?"

"Any mail for me?"

"Are there any letters for me?"


Now, read this conversation in the courtroom:

Judge: Is there any reason why you can't serve on the jury?
Michael:  Yes, your honor.  I own a small business and If I'm not there, I have to close the store.
Judge:  OK, you are dismissed. Anyone else?
Michiko: Excuse me, your honor, but I can't understand English very well.
Judge:  OK, you are dismissed.

On the first day you arrive for jury duty,  the judge will ask if anyone has a reason for not serving on the jury.  It has to be a good reason because nobody wants to take off work to be on a jury.

Here are some examples of good reasons:

"I'm the owner of a small business"

and

If I'm not there, the store will close."


"I don't understand English very well."


Did you notice in the conversation above that the people called the judge, "your honor". This is a title of respect.  Whenever you talk to the judge, you should say, "your honor."

If you are accepted as a member of the jury, you will be paid a certain amount of money every day as well as a small amount for your mileage.

Now, read this short conversation:

Bailiff:  Don't worry, you will all be paid for serving on the jury.
Juror:  How much will we get paid?
Bailiff:  You will get paid 30 dollars a day.
Juror:  Thats not very much.
Bailiff:  You will also get paid for your mileage.
Juror:  How much do we get for mileage?
Bailiff:  You will get 12 cents per mile.

Read these example sentences:

"How much will we get paid?"

"How much do we get for mileage?"


Now, read this conversation:

Bailiff:  Now, I want you to raise your right hand.
Michiko:  OK.
Bailiff:  Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Michiko:  I do.
Bailiff: You may be seated.







Now, the trial is ready to begin.  The jury must decide whether the defendant is innocent or guilty.  Read this conversation:

Judge:  Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you will be hearing testimonies about what happened. Remember that the defendent must be considered innocent until proven guilty.  Do you understand?
Jury: Yes, we understand.
Judge:  Good, then let's proceed.

Let's pause here for a moment.  At the beginning of the trial, the judge will tell the jury:

"The defendant is innocent until proven guilty."


One of the foundations of American law is that everyone has the right to a fair trial. A fair trial means that the defendant is innocent until proven guilty.  Read this example sentence:

"The defendant is innocent until proven guilty"






Now, read this conversation:

Bailiff:  Will Kumiko Takahashi please approach the stand?
Judge:  Counselor, your witness.
Attorney:  Thank you, your honor. Could you please state your name for the record.
Michiko:  My name is Kumiko Takahashi.
Attorney:  Could you state your occupation?
Michiko: I'm a waitress at Bob's Steak House
Attorney: And were you working on the night of October 13th.
Michiko:  Yes, I was.
Attorney:  Could you explain to the court what happened that night.
Michiko:  Well, two of the customers were arguing about something. I told them I was going to call the police.

Read these example sentences:

"My name is Kumiko Takahashi"

"It's Kumiko Takahashi"

"I'm a waitress at Bob's Steak House"


After asking you some simple questions, the attorney will ask you to say what happened.  He might say:

"Could you explain to the court what happened that night?"

or

"Could you tell the court what happened?"


During the trial there may be many witnesses.  Read this conversation:

Bailiff:  Will Michael Jones please approach the stand?
Judge:  Counselor, your witness.
Attorney:  Thank you, your honor. Could you tell the court what you were doing on the night of October 13th.
Michael:  I was taking a walk.
Attorney:  Did you walk past Bob's Steak House.
Michael: Yes, I did.
Attorney:  And could you tell the court what you saw?
Michael:  Yes, I saw two gentlemen in the parking lot fighting.
Attorney:  And then what happened?
Michael:  One of them threw a beer bottle and broke the window of the restaurant.
Attorney:  Do you recognize the man who threw the bottle?
Michael:  Yes.

In this conversation, the witness told what he saw.  He was also asked to identify the person.  Read these example sentences:

"Do you recognize the man who threw the bottle?"

"Can you identify the man who threw the bottle?"


After the ladies and gentlemen of the jury have heard all of the witnesses, they must decide whether the person is guilty or innocent.

Now read this conversation:

Bailiff: All rise.  The honorable Judge Ann Higashi presiding.
Judge: Ladies and Gentleman of the jury, thank you for your patience.  Do any of you have any questions?
Michael:  Yes.  Can we take notes during the trial?
Judge: No, you are not allowed to take any notes.  You must rely on your memory.
Michael:  Will we have a chance to talk to the other jurors?
Judge:   Yes, after we are finished, you will all meet and discuss the evidence. Then you must decide whether the person is innocent or guilty.
Michael:  How long do we have to decide?
Judge:  As long as you need.  But you must all agree.  The decision must be unanimous.

After the trial is finished, the members of the jury will leave the courtroom and  discuss the case.  This is called "deliberation".  Read this example sentence:

"The decision must be unanimous"


During the deliberation, the jury discusses the case.  After the jury decides on the case, they must return a verdict or decision to the

court.

Now, let's read this conversation as the jury returns to the courtroom.

Bailiff:  All rise.  The honorable Ann  Higashi presiding.
Judge:  Thank you.  You may be seated.  Did the jury arrive at a verdict?
Michael:  Yes, your honor.
Judge:  What's the verdict?
Michael:  Guilty.
Judge:   Thank you.  You may be seated.

In this conversation, the jury returned to the court to return the verdict.  Read these example sentences:

"Did the jury arrive at a verdict?"

"What's the verdict?"