The Reader's Digest Version: The general sequence of a misdemeanor case is arraignment, pre-trial hearings and trial. Counsel for defendant also will attempt to negotiate a plea bargain as appropriate and will file motion(s) that are legally supported and helpful toward resolution and narrowing the issues.
Misdemeanor trials usually last anywhere from a few days to a week, while felony trials can take weeks or even months, depending on the complexity of the case. Verdict and Sentencing: If you are found guilty, the judge will schedule a sentencing hearing.
Don't lose your temper, try to bully, or refuse to listen to the opinions of other jurors. Don't mark or write on exhibits or otherwise change or injure them.
If the felony is reduced to a misdemeanor, this also restores one right to serve on a jury. Under California law, a convicted felon is disqualified from serving on a jury until and unless his or her civil rights have been restored.
If you are found guilty after either a court trial or a jury trial, the judge decides the penalty (the sentence). A court trial usually takes less than an hour, a jury trial usually takes a full day. The court schedules your trial for another day.
How long do federal jury trials last, and how likely am I to be summoned? “Most trials are only three to four days, and a very small percentage of Americans ever get the chance to serve on a jury,” said Anne Brabham, a jury administrator in the Northern District of Texas.
If the felony is reduced to a misdemeanor, this also restores one right to serve on a jury. Under California law, a convicted felon is disqualified from serving on a jury until and unless his or her civil rights have been restored.
As prospective jurors are needed for specific trials or grand juries, jury pools are randomly selected from the list of qualified participants. Panels of prospective jurors are then randomly selected for each jury trial.
You can only be excused from jury duty for: Medical reasons. Public necessity. Undue hardship. Dependent care.
Disqualifications and exemptions from jury service. A prospective juror is disqualified to serve on a jury if that prospective juror is not a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age and a resident of the county, or is unable to read, speak and understand the English language.