Who are the people in the courtroom?
A number of people will be in the courtroom in addition to the judge, the jury, and the attorneys. The following is a list of who they are:
Plaintiff –The plaintiff is the person who filed a civil suit.
Defendant –The defendant in a civil case is the person being sued and in a criminal case is the person who has been charged with a crime.
Attorneys or Counsel – Attorneys representing the plaintiff, defendant or the government in a criminal case are also referred to as counsel. Depending on whom they represent and what court you may be in, you may hear them called counsel for the plaintiff, plaintiff’s attorney, counsel for the defendant, or defense attorney. An attorney representing the government in a criminal case is called the district attorney, the prosecuting attorney or the Commonwealth’s attorney.
Court Reporter – The court reporter keeps the official record by recording every word spoken during the trial.
Tipstaff – The tipstaff’s responsibility is to maintain order in the court and follow the instructions from the judge to attend to the jury.
Deputy Sheriff – The deputy sheriff provides security in the courtroom.
Clerk – The Clerk is responsible for all documents and physical evidence that are entered into the trial and for the swearing in of the jury and all witnesses.
Witnesses – Each side in a trial will probably have a number of witnesses who have information about the dispute.

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1. What precautions are being taken to limit gatherings in the judiciary or court functions, such as jury selection and trials?
2. What should I do if I have concerns about serving jury duty due to COVID-19 related reasons?
3. How do I get to the Jury Assembly Room?
4. Who may be called to serve as a juror?
5. How was my name selected for jury service?
6. Why have some people never been called for jury service and I’ve been called more than once?
7. Will I be automatically exempt from jury service if I am a doctor, lawyer, dentist or school teacher?
8. How long will I have to serve?
9. What can I expect when reporting for jury service?
10. What time will I arrive and leave?
11. What is the phone call-in procedure?
12. How much do I get paid for jury service?
13. Is my employer required to pay me while I am serving on jury service?
14. What happens if I ignore a jury summons or fail to report for jury service?
15. Is there an exemption due to my age?
16. Why do I have to wait until the night before to find out if I have to report?
17. What should I do if being a juror at that time would create a hardship for me?
18. Where do I park when I report for jury service?
19. What if I have an emergency on the day that I am to report?
20. What is the dress code for jury service?
21. Will I have to go through any security measures when I enter the Justice Center?
22. Do you provide childcare while serving as a juror?
23. What should I bring when I report?
24. What happens if there is inclement weather on the day I am required to report?
25. Who are the people in the courtroom?
26. How many jurors are called to jury service each day?