how to get out of jury duty ontario. Except in limited circumstances where it is expressly prohibited by statute, civil trials in Ontario currently involve a jury of six people who decide issues of fact and award damages. All Canadian citizens over the age of 18 have a duty to serve as a juror if called upon to do so. To be on a jury in Ontario, however, does not require employees to be paid. The potential jury pool will have a harder time juggling their careers and civic obligations as a result of this.
In light of the backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the province is currently debating whether or not to abolish jury trials for civil cases. Employees should be aware of their rights if they are called to serve on a jury in Ontario, as juries have been used in civil cases in the province since 1792.
How do I avoid serving on a jury?
Nobody can dodge jury duty without a good reason. The size and composition of juries are determined by the requirements of individual courts. If you are a Canadian citizen over the age of 18 and meet the other requirements, you may be eligible to serve on a jury. So, you might get called to a preliminary jury selection. An employee who has been selected to serve on a jury must take time away from work in order to attend the trial. For example, if you are ill, have already planned a trip, are in the middle of a move, have a demanding job, or are a member of a select profession (such as a lawyer, police officer, or firefighter), you may not be able to serve as a juror.
For example, a worker may ask to postpone their jury duty if doing so would interfere with their job. After receiving a jury duty summons, a person has the option of either postponing or declining their service in the jury. A deferral or refusal can only be granted by a judge, and in order to receive one, a juror or potential juror must provide appropriate documentation. The judge has the final say on whether or not you’ll be excused from jury duty.
what happens after I’ve been selected for the jury?
A judge will instruct jurors on their duties once they have been selected. Most trials before COVID-19 began on the day the jury was selected, and the jury would have been given an estimate of the trial’s length before they were seated. The trial would most likely last all day, until about 4:30 in the afternoon. We advise workers to keep an open line of communication with their employers during absences.
