When the case is submitted to the jury and the jurors retire to the jury room, the first thing done is the selection of a foreperson. The foreperson presides over the deliberations and signs and brings the verdict into court.

In the jury room, each juror should be given a full opportunity to state and discuss his or her views. Deliberations should be characterized both by a free and fearless expression of opinions and a patient and tolerant attention to the opinions of others. Each juror should listen carefully to the views of the other members of the jury and respect their opinions. The juror talking the longest and the loudest is not necessarily the wisest. After full and frank discussion and calm and unbiased consideration, those views appearing most sensible and sound should prevail.

If additional instructions are needed during deliberations, a verdict is agreed upon, or agreement is impossible after careful and painstaking deliberation, notify the bailiff and he or she will report to the judge.

The information in this section has been provided courtesy of the Indiana State Bar Association.