Well, first off, there's nothing to be "scared" about. I'm not going to say "that's silly", but ... you can. Different jurisdictions handle this in different ways. The first summons I received was while I lived in Michigan, and they provided a phone number to call the night before to see if I would have to report or not, and I didn't. I didn't get another summons until I received one in Connecticut a couple of years ago, and that one I had to appear for. The process is easy and painless, and much of it is, frankly, boring. If you're called to appear for the pool, then you'll be grouped with a roomful of other "potential" jurors, and they'll probably do a mini Civics lesson on the American court system in general and your jurisdiction in particular. Then they'll explain how you might be called to appear in the selection pool for a particular trial, and after the "instruction" portion of the morning then you may (or may not) be selected to join a trial that will be starting soon. From there, you and the other potential jurors will be questioned by the lawyers for the two sides to see if you have any biases for or against, personal or business relationships of any kind with the plaintiff or defendant, or preconceived notions of guilt or innocence in general. If you're not de-selected for obvious reasons, like being related to one of the principals, then you'll be, or de-selected "just because" (each side has 'peremptory' challenges that they can use to remove jurors, with no explanation required), then you're in the jury. Your only obligation then is to heed the judge's instructions, listen to the arguments made by both sides and the testimony offered by witnesses, and make up your mind -- in concert and discussion with the other jurors, and answerable to no one else -- and render a verdict. Enjoy it! In most cases you'll be in and out in a day, and you can feel good about your service. Most good employers also pay you for the time served, as well, without counting it against vacation or sick time.

I never went when I got one. Nothing has happened to me since.

Don't be scared, its fun if you get picked! But rather anticlimactic if you dont... they just send you home.

Yes! I went and I was chosen! I had a blast! It must have been the funniest case in history! A prisoner got in trouble in the showers and he was suing the prison workers for abuse, and his witnesses were so funny! They had practiced what they were going to say, and one even asked the plaintiff, if he said everything allright! And the plaintiff decided to defend himself, no attorney. It was a circus!!! About 8 years ago I was on the grand jury in Houston, that was interesting! You serve on it for a looooooooooooong time!