Videos explain to jurors what their obligations are when selected for a trial or seated on a grand jury.

Videos explain to jurors what their obligations are when selected for a trial or seated on a grand jury.

Courts can rely on two educational videos from the Supreme Court of Ohio to inform people selected for jury duty about how courts work and the essential role of jurors to the justice system.

One video speaks to jurors selected for a trial in a criminal or civil case. The other is targeted to people chosen for a grand jury.

In the video for petit juries, which hear criminal and civil trials, jurors gain an understanding of the fundamental right to a jury trial in the United States. Jurors also learn about the structure of Ohio courts; who’s who in the courtroom; the key legal words used in court proceedings; and each juror’s roles and obligations during jury selection, trial, and deliberations.

The video for grand juries explains this lesser-known type of jury service. Unlike trial juries, grand jurors don’t determine guilt or innocence. After a prosecutor presents a case alleging that someone committed a crime, the grand jury decides whether there is sufficient evidence to formally charge the person with the crime. The video describes the history of the grand jury process, common legal terms, and the basic responsibilities of grand jurors, including their vow of secrecy.

Each video includes an introduction and closing from Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy of the Supreme Court of Ohio. She thanks Ohio citizens for answering the call to sit on a jury and to serve their communities.

“Your fellow citizens are counting on your fair and impartial application of the law,” Chief Justice Kennedy states in the videos. “And the justice system of Ohio is stronger for your involvement.”

The videos were developed in collaboration with the Ohio Judicial Conference, the Ohio State Bar Association, and the Ohio Channel.

Teachers may also find the videos to be a valuable resource for talking with students about the judicial branch of government and the vital role of juries to U.S. democracy. These and many other civic education videos and tools are available in the Civic Education Section of the Supreme Court website.