As a U.S. citizen, you enjoy certain rights and privileges like voting. You have a say in local and federal elections. Your rights even extend to the judicial process. You have the right to a fair trial whose outcome is usually decided by your peers. Your peers are members of the jury.
These rights as a U.S. citizen also come with certain civic duties like serving on a jury. So, are there potential penalties for skipping jury duty? After all, not everyone looks forward to spending a day or more in court listening to attorneys put on a case.
What is Jury Duty, and Who Can Be a Potential Juror?
Even though pretty much everyone understands what it means to be a juror, it doesn’t hurt to go over a brief explanation.
A juror is an individual who isn’t involved in the legal case. Their only objective is to remain unbiased throughout the court proceedings and render a verdict based on the introduced evidence.
Essentially, a juror holds the fate of a legal case in their hands, which now brings us to another question. Who can serve on a jury? Are jury summons sent out randomly or are there certain qualifications you need to meet?
Qualifications for Jury Duty in South Carolina
The qualifications for jury duty are fairly similar regardless of which state you call home. To serve on a jury in South Carolina, you will need to meet the following criteria:
- You must be a U.S. citizen. You can be a naturalized citizen or born in the United States.
- All jurors must reside in the district the summoning court has jurisdiction over. This means you can’t serve on a Myrtle Beach jury if you live in Columbia.
To serve on a jury you must also be able to read, write, and speak English—this isn’t a form of discrimination. Instead, it helps ensure all jury members can understand the presented case and participate in discussions. If you meet these qualifications, chances are you can serve on either a criminal or civil jury.
Does a Summons Mean You’re Serving on a Jury?
The Palmetto State uses a variety of resources to put together a potential jury pool. The state looks at voter registration logs and even property records and driver’s license rolls. Essentially, the state is looking for potential jurors who are residing in the district the court serves, and this means you can receive a jury summons anytime in the mail.
So, if you receive a jury summons does it mean you’re sitting through a trial? The answer may be yes or no. There’s a process to go through before you’re picked to serve on a jury.
Your jury summons will have a court date, time, and location, which is the start of the process. You show up at the courthouse with your jury summons in hand. Don’t worry if you lose your summons before the court date. The bailiff will still be able to find you in the court logs.
From there, you’ll probably fill out a simple questionnaire. After turning in the completed questionnaire you may be released or told to sit tight. Sometimes, the number of people who respond to a jury summons is more than the court needs. Now, it’s time to answer questions posed by both the prosecuting and defense attorneys. Your answers will determine if you’re picked for jury duty or excused.
You may feel tempted to answer questions in a way that will automatically exclude you from jury duty like yelling out that everyone who’s brought to court is always guilty. This will get you out of jury duty but you may also run into trouble with the judge. The judge may decide you’re not taking your civic duty seriously and hit you with a court fine.
Potential Penalties For Skipping Jury Duty
Skipping jury duty can be tempting. After all, you’re giving up your time to sit in a courtroom. You’re receiving some financial reimbursement but it’s barely enough to cover your gas and lunch costs. Even though employers are forbidden to punish employees for serving on a jury, they aren’t required to pay you for the missed days. Serving on a jury can be a financial hardship.
Even though ignoring a jury summons may seem harmless, it can come with hefty penalties. You may be facing a fine of up to $1,000 and three days in jail. You may also be required to perform community service. You can receive one or a combination of these penalties.
You may even temporarily lose your right to vote. The court may decide your address is incorrect since you didn’t respond to your jury summons. A better option is to see if you meet any of the requirements that disqualify you from serving on a South Carolina jury.
Juror Exemption Requirements
If you meet any of the following criteria you may be exempt from serving on a jury. You’ll still need to notify the court but at least you don’t need to make a trip to the courthouse.
- You are 65 years or older.
- You are the primary caregiver of a disabled person or person 65 years or older who cannot care for themselves.
- You have legal custody and duty of care of a child under the age of 7
You can also be disqualified from serving on a jury if you’ve already performed the service within the last 12 months or aren’t a U.S. citizen. Convicted felons are also exempt from serving on a jury, along with any court employees, and this applies regardless of your position at the courthouse.
Students may also be exempt or at least able to postpone their jury duty. Military personnel and their spouses are other individuals who aren’t legally required to serve on a jury.
Performing Your Civic Duty Isn’t Always Easy
Serving on a jury is intended to be an honor, but it can also be a bit of a disruption to your daily life, which is rarely convenient. If you receive a jury summons, it’s important not to ignore it, as the penalties for doing so can be steep.
Instead, check if you qualify for an exemption, or consider requesting a postponement to better fit your schedule. Taking the right steps can help you fulfill your civic duty without unnecessary hassle.
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