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Jury DutyJury duty is the obligation to serve as impartial decision-makers in court proceedings for eligible US citizens. The word "jury" derives from the Latin jurare (to swear), and the practice is rooted in the English common law system and codified in the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Amendments to the US Constitution. To be eligible, a citizen must be at least 18 years old, proficient in English, and free of disqualifying criminal convictions or pending felony charges. When summoned, prospective jurors report to court, where attorneys and the judge conduct voir dire—a French phrase meaning "to speak the truth"—questioning candidates about potential biases. Attorneys may dismiss unlimited jurors for demonstrable bias and a limited number for no stated reason. Two distinct jury types exist in the American legal system. The petit (trial) jury hears evidence, receives legal instructions from the judge, and deliberates toward a verdict—though, in practice, fewer than 2% of federal criminal cases ever go to trial, and the rate is even lower in most state courts. A grand jury, by contrast, does not determine guilt, but decides whether prosecutors have sufficient evidence to formally charge someone with a crime. A grand jury is required in all federal cases involving serious crimes under the Fifth Amendment, but its use varies from state to state. As of 2023, an estimated 14.4% of Americans were summoned for jury duty annually, with approximately 11 million people reporting for service.Explore Jury Duty

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Hear from the casting director who assembled the entirely fake jury for 'Jury Duty'Casting director Susie Ferris breaks down how she built the show's ensemble from scratch, from combing through early audition tapes to persuading James Marsden to play a heightened version of himself alongside unknowing juror Ronald Gladden. Vanity Fair In 41 states, older Americans can opt out of jury duty, but not in federal courtAs of 2024, 41 states offer age-based exemptions from state jury duty, with opt-out ages ranging from 65 in Mississippi and South Carolina to 80 in five states. None of these exemptions applies to federal court. AARP 'Saturday Night Live' parodied the jury selection process in 2025This "SNL" sketch lampoons the lengths people go to avoid jury duty, with prospective jurors claiming that a Kardashian hit them with a car, that they are from the future and already know the verdict, and that they should be the judge instead. Saturday Night Live A TV show put 1 unsuspecting man on a fake jury surrounded entirely by actors for 3 weeksIn the Amazon comedy "Jury Duty," Ronald Gladden believed he was participating in a documentary about the judicial process, unaware that everyone involved with the entire trial was an actor. In this podcast, Gladden and director Jake Szymanski reflect on the experience. Read the criteria for federal jury selection and the exemptions and excuses that can get you out of itFederal jurors must be US citizens, at least 18 years old, proficient in English, and free of felony convictions. Active-duty military, full-time police and firefighters, and certain public officials are fully exempt from service. US Courts The Declaration was also a list of grievancesThis article breaks down the Declaration’s 27 grievances against King George III, illustrating how they were intended not only to express colonial anger but also to justify rebellion and garner support abroad. HISTORY

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