From the Judges

Your service as a juror is vitally important and the judiciary would not exist as we know it if not for your service.  Upon completion of your jury service we welcome and would appreciate any feedback or suggestions on how the Court can improve the experience.  Your service and dedication to our community is sincerely appreciated.

~Judges of the Canton Municipal Court

The Jury System

The right to a jury trial means the right to have a matter decided by your fellow citizens. The jury system dates back to ancient times before the birth of Christ.  When America was settled, the concept of a jury trial was already a major part of our legal system. The Declaration of Independence cites the "denial of a trial by jury" as one of the major reasons for colonial independence. The right to a jury trial is so important that it is guaranteed in the U.S. and Ohio Constitutions. It is one of our most cherished rights.

Juror Duties: In the Courtroom

As a juror, you, along with the other jurors, solely decide the facts in the case you hear. You decide whom to believe or not believe. You determine the weight to be given to all the evidence. The judge will provide the law to you which you will then apply to the facts you find to be true. You determine the facts from the evidence presented in court.

Evidence: Evidence comes from only what occurs in the courtroom. Evidence can be from the testimony of witnesses, exhibits admitted for your review, and from facts agreed upon by both sides. The statements of lawyers are not evidence. You may believe all, part or none of a witness' testimony. The quality and not the quantity of the evidence is most important.

Your duty is to listen to all evidence with an open mind. Do not form any opinion about the case until you have heard all the evidence. You must take your duty as a juror very seriously. It is an important responsibility.

Juror Duties: Outside Court

As a juror you must not discuss the case among yourselves or with anyone else. This rule applies while you are at court, during breaks, and even at home. You must not let anyone discuss the case with you. You may not speak to the lawyers, witnesses or parties. Once your jury service is concluded, you may freely discuss the case with anyone you choose.

Selecting a Jury

Jurors are selected for a particular case by a process known as voir dire. This means to "speak the truth". This is done by bringing the jurors to the courtroom where you will be asked some questions. The goal is to select jurors who will be fair, impartial, and open-minded. Jurors may be excused from service in two ways:

Challenge for Cause: Jurors may be excused for a particular reason. This could be for illness. It may also occur when a juror might have a difficult time being fair in a particular case. An example would be where a juror is related to one of the parties involved in the case.

Peremptory Challenge: Each side to the case has the right to excuse a certain number of jurors without giving a reason. If you are excused, please do not take it personally.

Types of Cases

Jurors normally hear one of two types of cases: one is a civil lawsuit and the other is a criminal proceeding.

Civil Lawsuit

Most often this type of case involves one side filing a lawsuit against the other side of the case. Normally the suit asks for money damages. Civil lawsuits include cases involving auto accidents, medical malpractice, breach of contract, and many other matters.

Plaintiff-Defendant: The side filing the lawsuit is usually called the plaintiff. The side being sued is usually called the defendant. Calling each side by plaintiff or defendant does not mean one side is right and the other side is wrong.

When a party files a civil lawsuit or asserts a claim, that party must prove the issues relating to the claim by the required burden of proof.

Burden of Proof: In a civil lawsuit, the person filing the suit must normally prove his or her case by a preponderance of the evidence. The term preponderance of the evidence means the greater weight of the evidence. If insufficient proof is offered then the person may not recover.

Criminal Proceeding

A criminal case is different from a civil lawsuit. In a criminal case, the State of Ohio claims that the person (the defendant) has committed a crime. In common pleas court, a defendant is notified of the charge by receiving a document called an indictment.

Indictment: This is a document which contains the allegations involving the criminal charge. The Ohio legislature determines what acts shall constitute a criminal offense. Crimes are listed in the Ohio Revised Code. Examples would be robbery, theft and burglary.

In most criminal cases the jury is concerned only with whether a crime has been committed. The jury is not involved in sentencing and punishment. The judge determines all sentences based on the legislature's guidelines.

Presumption of Innocence: The fact that a person is charged with a crime does not mean he or she is guilty. By law, a defendant is presumed innocent at all times during a trial. A person is to be found guilty only if that person's guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The county prosecutor is a public official who represents the State of Ohio. The prosecuting attorney must prove every element of an alleged crime beyond a "reasonable doubt".

Verdicts

In both a civil lawsuit or criminal proceeding, the end result is for the jury to deliberate and reach a verdict. After the case is completed, the judge will provide detailed instructions and definitions to you concerning the law for the particular case in which you are serving as a juror. Your oath as a juror requires you to accept the law as given to you by the judge. You will then deliberate with only your fellow jurors present to reach a verdict.

Civil Lawsuit Verdict: The verdict in a civil case is typically either for the plaintiff or defendant, as is proven by the evidence. The verdict requires a vote of at least three-fourths of the jury (six of eight).

Criminal Proceeding Verdict: The verdict in a criminal case is either guilty or not guilty. The verdict requires a unanimous vote of the jury.

Trial Procedure Outline

Voir Dire
Jury Seating: 8 Civil; 8 Criminal
Challenge for Cause - Peremptory Challenge

Opening Statements
Overview of what the evidence will be; 
they are not evidence

Presentation of Evidence
Party who has burden of proof normally goes first

Burden of Proof
Civil Cases: Usually prove case by a preponderance of the evidence 
Criminal: State must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt

Final Arguments
Summary of the evidence; they are not evidence

Jury Charge by Judge
Instructions of law

Jury Deliberation
Select foreperson: Only jurors may be present

Jury Verdict
Verdict read in open court 
At least 6 of 8 Jurors sign verdict (Civil) All 8 Jurors sign verdict (Criminal)

Useful Court Terms

Direct Examination: Questions a lawyer asks of a witness normally called by the lawyer to testify on behalf of the lawyer's client.

Cross Examination: After a witness testifies on direct examination, the other side has a right of cross examination. This is permitted to "test" the witness's direct testimony.

Objection: Every trial has objections made by the lawyers as to certain questions and evidence. Objections are based on claims that the evidence is not admissible for some legal reason. The judge rules upon all objections.

Objection Sustained: This means the objection is correct and the question or evidence is not proper. You should not guess on what the answer or evidence may have been if the question had been answered.

Motion to Strike: Sometimes evidence comes in which is not legally proper. When a judge grants a motion to strike, you must disregard the evidence involved.

Objection Overruled: This means the objection to the question or answer is not proper. The evidence, therefore, is admitted for your consideration.

Side Bar Conference: During almost every trial, issues arise concerning legal matters and other procedural matters. To keep the jury impartial, these are often handled at the judge's bench in what is called a side-bar conference.

Depositions: These statements obtained under oath of a witness in a case prior to the trial. The testimony is then typed and it can often be used at trial for various purposes. Some depositions are taken of a witness in advance of the trial and are used in lieu of that witness' appearance during a trial. This testimony is then read or sometimes played on videotape. The testimony is to be considered exactly as if the witness had appeared live in the courtroom.

Exhibits: These are the tangible items of evidence. If admitted by the judge, you will take these to the jury room. These include photographs, medical records, weapons, and other tangible items of evidence.

Deliberation: At the conclusion of the case, after the judge provides you with your instructions, you will then deliberate. Only the jurors are present during the deliberations. Deliberations involve reviewing the evidence and applying the instructions of law to arrive at a verdict.

Preponderance of the Evidence: Preponderance of the evidence is the greater weight of the evidence; that is, evidence that you believe because it outweighs or overbalances in your mind the evidence opposed to it. A preponderance means evidence that is more probable, more persuasive, or of greater probative value. It is the quality of the evidence that must be weighed. Quality may, or may not, be identical with quantity.

In determining whether an issue has been proved by a preponderance of the evidence, you should consider all of the evidence, regardless of who produced it.

If the weight of the evidence is equally balanced, or if you are unable to determine which side of an issue has the preponderance, the party who has the burden of proof has not established such issue by a preponderance of the evidence.

Reasonable Doubt: (For Criminal Cases Only) Reasonable doubt is present when, after you have carefully considered and compared all the evidence, you cannot say you are firmly convinced of the truth of the charge. Reasonable doubt is a doubt based on reason and common sense. Reasonable doubt is not mere possible doubt, because everything relating to human affairs or depending on moral evidence is open to some possible or imaginary doubt. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is proof of such character that an ordinary person would be willing to rely and act upon it in the most important of his or her own affairs.

Canton Municipal Court is located on the Main Level of Canton City Hall at:

218 Cleveland Avenue SW
Canton, Ohio 44702
(Click for map and driving directions)

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Closed on the following Holidays:

Directions to the Canton Municipal Court (Juror Parking via Parkway Parking Deck)

From the North (Cleveland, Akron):

*Take I-77 South to the Tuscarawas Street exit
*Turn LEFT (east) onto Tuscarawas Street
*Continue on Tuscarawas Street to the intersection of Market Avenue (Central Plaza) and Tuscarawas Street
*Turn RIGHT (south) onto Market Avenue (Central Plaza) and proceed past the next light at 2^nd Street SW.
*The Parkway Parking Deck will be on your right between 2^nd Street SW and 3^rd Street SW

From the South (New Philadelphia, Cambridge):

*Take I-77 North to exit 105 (Downtown)
*Turn RIGHT (east) onto Tuscarawas Street
*Continue on Tuscarawas Street to the intersection of Market Avenue (Central Plaza) and Tuscarawas Street
*Turn RIGHT (south) onto Market Avenue (Central Plaza) and proceed past the next light at 2^nd Street SW.
*The Parkway Parking Deck will be on your right between 2^nd Street SW and 3^rd Street SW

From the West (Massillon, Wooster):

*Take US Route 30 East to I-77 North
*Take I-77 North to exit 105 (Downtown)
*Turn RIGHT (east) onto Tuscarawas Street
*Continue on Tuscarawas Street to the intersection of Market Avenue (Central Plaza) and Tuscarawas Street
*Turn RIGHT (south) onto Market Avenue (Central Plaza) and proceed past the next light at 2^nd Street SW.
*The Parkway Parking Deck will be on your right between 2^nd Street SW and 3^rd Street SW

From the East (Louisville, Alliance):

*Take US Route 62 West to I-77 South
*Take I-77 South to the Tuscarawas Street exit
*Turn LEFT (east) onto Tuscarawas Street
*Continue on Tuscarawas Street to the intersection of Market Avenue (Central Plaza) and Tuscarawas Street
*Turn RIGHT (south) onto Market Avenue (Central Plaza) and proceed past the next light at 2^nd Street SW.
*The Parkway Parking Deck will be on your right between 2^nd Street SW and 3^rd Street SW

From the Parkway Parking Deck, exit at the rear Court Avenue Stairway at 3^rd Street SW. Proceed west (toward Cleveland Avenue) on 3^rd Street to Cleveland Avenue.  The Main Entrance to the Court is on Cleveland Avenue between 2^nd and 3^rd Street SW.