The Dreaded Jury Summons — What to Expect in Arizona

If you haven’t already, you’ll likely be summoned for jury duty in Arizona. When you receive that summons, it means you’ve been randomly selected from a list of registered voters and/or licensed drivers. Before you groan, remember: the right to a jury trial is one of the most important rights we have. And as trial lawyers who’ve argued cases before juries for decades, the Law Badgers can tell you exactly what to expect.

Getting the Summons

Your summons will tell you when and where to report. You’re required to respond — ignoring a jury summons can result in contempt of court. Arizona allows some deferrals and exemptions for hardship, but the court takes attendance seriously.

The Selection Process (Voir Dire)

When you show up, you’ll be in a pool of potential jurors called a “venire.” The lawyers and judge will question the pool in a process called voir dire — a French term meaning “to speak the truth.” Both sides are trying to identify jurors who can be fair and impartial. They’ll ask about your background, experiences, and potential biases related to the case.

Each side can remove jurors “for cause” (demonstrated bias — unlimited) and through “peremptory challenges” (no reason needed — limited number). If you’re not removed, congratulations — you’re on the jury.

The Trial

Once seated, the judge will give you preliminary instructions. Then the trial follows a standard sequence: opening statements from both sides (what they intend to prove), the plaintiff’s case — witnesses and evidence, the defense’s case — their witnesses and evidence, closing arguments — each side summarizing their case, and jury instructions — the judge explains the law you must apply.

You’ll evaluate witness credibility, weigh evidence, and ultimately decide the facts. The lawyers present the case. The judge handles the law. You decide what happened and who’s responsible.

Deliberation and Verdict

After closing arguments and instructions, you retire to the jury room to deliberate. In Arizona civil cases, the verdict doesn’t have to be unanimous — at least six of eight jurors must agree (or five of six in justice court). You’ll work through the jury instructions, apply the law to the facts as you found them, and reach a verdict.

Why Jury Duty Matters

As lawyers who regularly stand before juries, we can tell you: jurors take their job seriously. The system works because ordinary citizens bring their common sense, life experience, and sense of fairness to the courtroom. It’s one of the most important civic duties you can perform.

For more detail on jury instructions and why they matter in Arizona, see our post on RAJIs.