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 sole 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 the 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. In 1983, the court adopted a two-day/one-trial jury system, under which the Jury Commissioner determines the number of jurors that will be impaneled for trial on the following day. Jurors for each two-day period will have been previously notified by mail of the dates of their jury service. They will be given instructions to call a recorded system the evening prior to their scheduled appearance to determine if it is necessary for them to appear in court the next day.

If the juror is required to report and is thereafter selected to serve on a jury, his/her jury service shall be for the entire duration of that trial. Otherwise, the length of service will be two days.