Dedicated to my husband and two boys.
Thank you for keeping me sane and grounded guys!

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Oh no! Not a summons for jury duty?
What a day! Can it get any worse?

What's a summons, mom? And what
do you mean by jury duty?
Is it something bad?

No, not bad at all.
Its just not the right time for me.

But what does all that mean though?
Summons and jury duty?...
I've never heard about that for sure.

Yes, they wrote the Constitution and won
America's freedom from Britain, right?

I'll try to explain although
it may be a little difficult for
you to understand. Ever heard of
the Founding Fathers?

Yes. In the Constitution, the Founding Fathers
gave American citizens a special job or duty...
As long as you are 18 years old and can speak
and understand English you are expected to
perform that duty.

Oh, I know...
the right to vote for our leaders.

That one came later. The duty, right and privilege
given to all Americans by the Founding Fathers is
that we must take part in jury service.
Let's take a walk.

There's that word again, mom. Can
you please explain?

You know when we watch court shows on T.V, there is
a group of men and women who sit and listen to what the
people say and then say something like this...... We

I know, I know...We find the
defendant GUILTY!

Exactly! That is the jury. Their job is to listen to the
evidence or the things the people say and the answers
they give; and then decide together if the person did
commit the crime.

So is it the same people all the time
and the same amount?

Good question, Johnny. Its not the same people all the time.
That is why I have a summons. They can't use the same people,
so every time they try a case they send summons to different people
for them to come to the court to be a juror.

Whoa, mom...slow down. There's
that word summons again and now
I hear juror. What is that...and summons?

I'll tell you. A summons is just like an invitation from the courts
asking you to come to court so they can see if they need you on
the jury, and a juror is just one member of the jury. There are
12 of them. Got it, buddy?

I do...but how would you know if they
need you, mom? Do they just pick you if
you are rich and well-dressed?

Not at all Johnny. This jury service was so important to the
Founding Fathers that it was mentioned three times in the
Constitution. Rich or poor, male or female, young or old,
white or black, they all have the same right to serve.

Everyone, wow! Even those people
who are criminals and break the law?

Remember, Johnny? To be on a jury you have to be 18, be a citizen
of the United States and be able to read and understand English.
But if you have committed a crime you can never be a juror.
Soldiers on duty are also left out. Okay?

Oh, now I see. You are left out if you have committed
a crime. And soldiers?... so that is why dad didn't get one.
But how do they find you, do they have everyone's
address at the courts?

No, Johnny. They use the list of people who are registered to vote to
find people who can serve. Sometimes too, they use your
motor vehicle registration. They have their ways of finding people
when they need them.

So, how do you get picked on the jury
and do you do this for free?

Ok, mom.

They pay about $40 a day. Not much.
Let's walk back, I'll tell you the rest.

When you go to the court after you are
summoned, all the people who are called
go through what is called the 'voir dire' process.

The what? Wow, this jury duty
thing is really difficult to
understand, mom.

It really means "to tell the truth".
They want to make sure that you don't know anyone in the case
and you will be fair if you end up on the jury. So the lawyers ask
you questions and you must answer with the truth.

So what happens if you know
someone?

Then they allow you to leave and you don't become a juror,
but if you don't know the people involved in the case and the
lawyers think you will be fair then they choose you to sit on the jury.

And you get to say
"I find the defendant guilty"?

Well, that's the job of the jury foreman...and
that's a story for another day.

Well, I can wait...but I hope you
pass the voir dire and get to be part
of the jury

No Johnny, not me. Like I said, I really don't
have time for that now.

But mom, it is your duty, your basic right
and privilege as an American citizen.
You should be excited!

Oh Johnny, I know. The system really
needs people like me to keep it going.

Way to go mom!
I can't wait to be 18...

Follow-up Questions: What have you learned?

Answer the following question based on the information

given in the Trade Book.

1. How did Johnny's mom find out she was chosen for jury duty?

2. What are three basic requirements to serve as a juror?

3. Was Johnny's mom excited when she was called to jury duty?

How do you know that?

4. James is 20 years old, has not registered to vote and has no car.

Will he get called for jury duty? Explain

5. When David showed up for jury duty the case was against his

sister-in-law. Would he be chosen as a juror? Why or why not?

Match the word on the left to its meaning on the right.

1.Jury a.An oath taken by potential jurors to tell the

truth.

2.Summons b.The person accused of committing a crime.

3.Court c.Something that someone is required to do by

law

4.Voir-dire d.Someone who is called to serve on a jury.

5.Constitution e.Responsible for having done something

wrong.

6.Guilty f.A body with the authority to settle criminal or

civil cases

7.Crime g.An order by the court directing a person to

appear for jury duty

8.Defendant h.An action that is wrong based on the law.

9.Juror i.The laws or rules by which a country is

governed.

10.Duty j.Group of citizens selected at random to

decide the facts of a case.

Additional Resources

1. Want to learn about the court system and how our

government works? Then visit Judge Gavel and his friend

Scales here: http://www.ncwd.uscourts.gov/KidsCourt/

2. To learn more about the law go to Law for Kids here:

http://www.lawforkids.org/

3. Find out how the jury system was developed in America

and about new reforms in court trials and jury duty.For

content-rich online kid-safe resources go to:

https://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/68

Suggested Reading about your civic rights and responsibilities.

See my book recommendations below:

1. 2.

What are Right and

Responsibilities? (Civics, Q & A) Knowing and Doing What's

by Leslie Harper, 2012 Right by Pamela Espeland

Power Kids PR. & Elizabeth Verdick, 2005.

Free Spirit Publishing.

Mine and Yours 4.

by Joy Wilt &

Ernie Hergenroeder,

1987. World Inc. How old do I have to be to..?

by Fergus Smith, 1999

Children Act Enterprises

An Acrostic Poem from Me to You

Jury Duty

by Shanet Alexander

Just show up when you are summoned;

Uphold the law.

Real justice can't be served when

You're creating a tragic flaw.

Do show up when you are summoned;

Uphold the law.

The system can't run without you,

You're forever in their awe.

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Excessive Violence
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"A Jury of Your Peers: The Basics"

Name: A Jury of Your Peers: The Basics
Author: sceshwaki

sceshwaki

Having a difficult time teaching the basics of jury service to elementary school children. Look no further... A Jury of Your Peers: The Basics will do just that. Written with 2nd and 3rd graders in mind with links to fun activities and suggested books about civic duties, this book will help you to teach the basic concepts of jury service.

(47 pages)

Privacy level: PUBLIC

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