> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://novacont.gitbook.io/nova-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://novacont.gitbook.io/nova-docs/decentralized-jury-system/become-a-juror.md). # Become a Juror NovaJury relies on independent participants who are willing to stake their own funds, review real disputes, and vote honestly. If you are interested in becoming a juror, this page explains everything you need to know before committing.
### Who Can Become a Juror? There are no identity requirements, no application forms, and no approval process. Anyone with a compatible wallet and the required stake amount can register as a juror. The system is permissionless by design. Your stake is your entry ticket, and your track record determines your standing over time. However, becoming a juror is not a passive role. You are expected to respond to assigned cases within strict time windows and to vote honestly and consistently. Failure to do so carries real financial consequences. ### The Stake Requirement To register as a juror, you must stake a minimum of **500 USDT**. This stake serves several purposes: * It demonstrates a genuine financial commitment to the system * It acts as collateral against negligent or dishonest behavior * It aligns your economic incentives with correct participation. The more honestly you vote, the more you earn; the more you neglect your duties, the more you lose Your stake remains locked in the NovaJury smart contract for as long as you are an active juror. It is not used to pay anyone and does not generate passive returns simply by being staked. You earn rewards only by actively participating in cases. > Your stake can fall below the minimum threshold if you accumulate penalties. If this happens, you will be automatically ejected from the juror pool. Always monitor your stake balance. ### How to Register {% stepper %} {% step %} ### Prepare Your Wallet Make sure your wallet holds at least 500 USDT plus a small amount of ETH to cover gas fees. Your wallet will be permanently associated with your juror profile. Choose one you intend to use long term. {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Navigate to the Jury Dashboard Open the NovaCont app and navigate to the **Jury** section. This page is accessible to any connected wallet regardless of whether you are currently a juror. {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Approve the USDT Transfer Before staking, you must approve the NovaJury smart contract to transfer USDT from your wallet. This is a standard ERC-20 approval step. You will be prompted to confirm this in your wallet. It does not transfer any funds by itself. {% endstep %} {% step %} ### Stake and Register Once approval is confirmed, you will be prompted to select your Expertise Categories (e.g., Software Development, Design & Creative, Marketing). You will only be assigned to disputes that match your selected categories. Click "Join as Juror" and confirm the staking transaction. Your 500 USDT will be transferred to the NovaJury contract on the Base network, and your juror profile. Along with your category preferences. Will be created on-chain. From this moment, you are part of the active juror pool. {% endstep %} {% endstepper %} ### Case Assignment Cases are assigned randomly from the active juror pool based on the expertise categories you selected during registration.. When a dispute is ready for jury review, three jurors are selected using a pseudo-random selection mechanism based on on-chain data. You cannot choose which cases you are assigned to and you cannot opt out of individual cases once assigned. **Active case limit:** You can be assigned to a maximum of **5 simultaneous cases**. If you are already at this limit, you will not be selected for new cases until one of your active cases is resolved. **Assignment notification:** There is no off-chain notification system. You are responsible for monitoring your jury dashboard regularly to check for newly assigned cases. Missing a case because you were not paying attention is treated the same as a deliberate no-show. The penalty applies regardless. ### Replacement and No-Show Policy If you are assigned to a case and fail to cast your vote within the first **24 hours** of the voting window, you become eligible for replacement. Any participant can trigger your replacement after this window. If replaced: * You are immediately removed from the case * A portion of your stake is slashed as a penalty * A warning is added to your juror profile * A new juror is assigned and the voting deadline is extended Accumulating **3 warnings** results in permanent ejection from the juror pool. Your remaining stake is returned to you upon ejection, minus any outstanding penalties. ### Unstaking and Exiting If you wish to stop being a juror and reclaim your stake, you must submit an unstake request through the jury dashboard. Due to the nature of ongoing case commitments, your stake is not returned immediately. **The unstaking process:** * Submit your unstake request on the jury dashboard * A **7-day cooldown period** begins from the moment of your request * After 7 days, you may finalize the withdrawal and reclaim your stake * During the cooldown period, you will not be assigned to new cases but remain responsible for any cases already in progress > You cannot unstake while you have active cases pending. Ensure all your assigned cases are resolved before submitting an unstake request, or wait for them to conclude during the cooldown period. ### Current Status NovaJury is not yet operating in decentralized mode. Juror registration and the full staking mechanism will become active when the jury system is officially launched. If you are interested in participating as a juror when the system goes live, stay connected with NovaCont's announcements for updates on the launch timeline.