A jury is a sworn body of citizens convened to render an impartial verdict (a finding of fact on a question) officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. A trial jury hears the evidence in a trial, as presented by both the plaintiff (petitioner) and the defendant (respondent). After hearing the evidence and often jury instructions from the judge, the group retires for deliberation, to consider a verdict. The jury sifts through the evidence introduced in court, while the judge has responsibility for interpreting the appropriate law and instructing the jury accordingly. The jury then renders a verdict on the defendant's guilt or civil liability.

In 2013, the Cleveland Municipal Court and the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court united their resources and created a new system in which we share jury services. Cleveland Municipal Court jurors are drawn from a pool of registered voters in Cleveland and the Village of Bratenahl supplied by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. With the new system in place, the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Jury Commission summons the City of Cleveland jurors. Jurors will notice that the new jury summons has the Cleveland Municipal Court and the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court seals.