Jury Duty — Deliberation and Reaching a Verdict

You’ve heard all the evidence and the arguments. The lawyers and parties take a seat. Now it’s just you and your fellow jurors. This is the final part of our jury duty series.

Jury Instructions

Before deliberations, the judge reads the jury instructions — precise statements of the law you must apply to the facts. These are critical. They tell you what elements the plaintiff must prove, what the burden of proof is, and how to calculate damages if you find in the plaintiff’s favor. In Arizona, these are largely drawn from the Revised Arizona Jury Instructions (RAJIs).

Deliberation

You’ll elect a foreperson to organize the discussion and report the verdict. Then you discuss the evidence, debate the issues, and work through the jury instructions methodically.

Each juror brings their own perspective and life experience. Disagreements are normal and healthy — they lead to thorough examination of the evidence. But ultimately you must reach a decision.

The Verdict

In Arizona civil cases, the verdict does not need to be unanimous. At least six of eight jurors must agree (in Superior Court). In criminal cases, the verdict must be unanimous.

Once you’ve reached a verdict, the foreperson signs the verdict form and notifies the bailiff. You return to the courtroom, and the verdict is read. The judge may poll the jurors individually to confirm their votes.

After the Verdict

Once the verdict is read and the jury is dismissed, you’re free to go — and free to discuss the case if you choose. Many jurors find the experience more meaningful than they expected. You’ve participated in one of the foundations of our legal system.

The Law Badgers have stood before countless juries in our careers. We respect the process because we’ve seen it work. If you’ve served on a jury, thank you for doing your part.