You are being asked to perform one of the highest duties imposed on any citizen.  The responsibility of jury duty involves a judgment of facts, which resolves civil disputes, and determines the guilt, or the innocence, of persons charged with a crime.

		As jurors, your function is to listen to the evidence produced during the trial, and decide the case on its merits, not on the inclination of sympathy or prejudice.  Service will delegate to you certain powers of decision on human affairs which are not given to every citizen.  It will place upon you important duties and grave responsibilities which will enlist your best talents of appraisal and judgment.

Your duty requires that you be prompt, attentive, faithful to oath, considerate and tolerant of your fellow jurors, and sound and deliberate in your evaluations.

The Jury Clerk is available to hear and discuss any condition which makes your attendance impossible or impractical.  Every effort will be made to see that your time is not wasted, and every consideration will be given to avoid your discomfort, inconvenience, distress or embarrassment.

You should also understand that although most lawyers, prosecutors and judges are friendly people, you may not have any private contact or conversations with them during the course of trial.  Similarly, if you are selected for a trial, you are not to discuss the case with other jurors, family, friends, or anyone prior to deliberation.  This should not be regarded as aloofness, but as a wise precaution against improper influence.

It is the Court's hope that these few introductory remarks will serve to make you feel at ease.  We trust that you are sufficiently impressed with the importance of jury duty, and that you will do your utmost to promote justice.