After the jurors are selected they will take an oath, promising to follow the law as explained by the judge. Juries decide disputed questions of fact and apply the law as instructed by the court to the facts. A. Juries are composed of members of the community where the trial is held. Ordinarily, they are selected from the voting rolls and will be required to serve on juries periodically. In most jurisdictions, certain people can be exempted from or defer jury service, e.g., pregnant women, individuals who are ill, deaf or blind.
Every state has rules that govern the conduct of a trial.
Rules of evidence are designed to assure that only credible and reliable evidence is presented to the judge or jury. Hearsay evidence, for example, is not admissible. Hearsay is an out of court statement that is being introduced to prove an element of a case. Since the person who made the out of court statement is not in court and subject to cross-examination, hearsay evidence is not admissible. If a party attempts to introduce improper evidence, it will normally be objected to.