Jury Commission Information

Information for Jurors

Supporters of Jurors Information

General Jury Duty Information

A petit jury—also called a trial jury—is a group of citizens selected to hear a civil or criminal trial in court.

  • In a criminal case, the petit jury listens to the evidence and decides whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.
  • In a civil case, the jury decides who wins the case and may also decide the amount of money (damages) to be awarded.

The petit jury typically consists of 6 to 12 jurors, depending on the case and jurisdiction. In most cases, their decision must be unanimous, meaning all jurors must agree on the verdict.

Unlike a grand jury, which decides whether there's enough evidence to charge someone with a crime, a petit jury determines the facts of a case during a trial and reaches a final verdict.

Please see this PDF for more information: https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/b04f7ab8-31c2-40bd-9bf2-a87b404075c2/Jury.pdf

 

Duties of a Petit Juror

As a petit juror (trial juror), your role is essential to ensuring a fair and just legal process. Your main responsibilities include:

1. Be Fair and Impartial

  • Listen to all the evidence with an open mind.
  • Do not favor either side.
  • Avoid forming any opinions until all the evidence has been presented and deliberations begin.

2. Follow the Law

  • Obey the judge’s instructions on the law, even if you personally disagree with them.
  • Base your verdict only on the evidence and legal instructions—not on personal feelings or outside information.

3. Do Not Conduct Your Own Investigation

  • Do not visit any locations mentioned in the trial or research anything related to the case.
  • Do not read news articles, social media, or other sources about the case or people involved.

4. Do Not Discuss the Case Until Deliberations

  • You must not talk about the case with anyone—not even other jurors—until the judge tells you to begin deliberations.
  • Never talk about the case with friends, family, or the public while the trial is ongoing.

5. Deliberate Honestly and Respectfully

  • During deliberations, discuss the case with fellow jurors calmly and respectfully.
  • Consider all viewpoints and work together to reach a fair and lawful verdict.
  • The final verdict must be unanimous in most cases.

6. Maintain Confidentiality

  • Do not share information about jury discussions during or after the trial, unless allowed by law or the court.

 

Who is Entitled to a Jury Trial?

The Illinois Constitution and the United States Constitution both guarantee the right to a trial by jury.

This means that when people have a dispute over important facts in a legal case, they have the right to have those facts decided by a group of impartial jurors—ordinary citizens like you—who listen to the evidence and follow the law as instructed by the judge.

To reach a verdict, the jury must agree unanimously. That verdict must be based solely on the evidence presented in court and guided by the judge’s legal instructions.