Jury Selection Process
The procedures used to select jurors assures that the widest number of people are given an equal chance to serve during a period of three months. Names of prospective jurors are selected randomly from the voter registration list and the driver’s license list. This ensures that no individual or group will be unfairly burdened by service and that the fundamental principles of community involvement in the judicial process will be fulfilled. Furthermore, these procedures assure persons who are before the Court that their cases will be heard and decided by a jury that is representative of the community.
Juror Qualification
Shortly before a new term of jury service, a juror package which includes a questionnaire, summons and juror letter is mailed to the citizens whose names are drawn from the master list.   The qualification questionnaire explains the qualification for jurors. Qualifications are set in order to limit service to persons who are able to serve responsibly and effectively. The replies to these questionnaires are used to determine ones’ eligibility.

A few citizens are exempt from service and some may be excused. The Court urges you, even if you are not required to serve, to consider the benefits, both to you and other citizens. The qualification questionnaire also explains the procedure for claiming an exemption or excuse.
Receiving a Jury Summons
A summons is an order of the Court to appear at a time prescribed. Jurors may not disobey this order. The Court has full authority to enforce their appearance. Failure to appear constitutes contempt of Court and is punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment. 

Submitting a letter to be excused does not automatically excuse you from Jury service; therefore, you are required to appear until you have been notified by the Court as to whether your request was granted. 

It is important that jurors report promptly at the time of day shown on the summons. Many people’s time is involved: the parties to a case, the witnesses, the personnel of the Court, and other jurors. The Court may impose penalties for tardiness by a juror.
Juror Selection
Jurors who will actually serve on a jury that hears a case are selected by a process called voir dire. Voir dire is the questioning of prospective jurors by the Court and/or the lawyers to determine a juror’s suitability to hear and decide a specific case. It is a cooperative process among the Court, lawyers, and jurors. A conscientious citizen should not wish to serve on a case if his decision might be influenced unfairly by an acquaintance with the litigants, or by strong feelings about the issues. 

At the same time, a juror is not automatically biased if he has experiences related to the subject matter of the case. If you are unsure whether you should mention something you think may be a problem, do not be shy about speaking up. The Court must have the opportunity to assist you in resolving any doubts as to whether you can serve fairly. 

When the Court concludes that you should not serve on a case for reason of possible bias, you are dismissed for cause. Do not feel that your ability has been questioned if you are dismissed. It is simply felt that you are not the right juror for the particular case. In addition, all parties, through their lawyers, are entitled to make peremptory strikes of a certain number of jurors. These are challenges based on nothing more than the lawyer’s guess that someone else will view his client’s claims more favorably. You should not be bothered if the lawyer strikes you from the panel. He or she is simply trying to give his or her client the best possible chance for a favorable decision. 

Often, the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands will conduct more than one voir dire during a day. If you are not chosen for one case, you may be asked to remain available for voir dire for another case. Jurors who have not been involved in a voir dire will be first in line for the next one. 

In some cases, you will not hear the trial on the same day you are selected for a case. Instead, you will be given a time and date to return when the case will be heard, and a telephone number to call to learn whether the trial will be held as scheduled.

If you are not selected at all, you will be dismissed and instructed either to return at a specified time or to call the Court for further instructions. You are still subject to the terms of the summons, and you must continue to cooperate with the Court.