How to Meet the Legal Qualifications for Jury Service

A jury is a group of people composed to hear the testimony in a case of law, determine the truth and arrive at a verdict. Citizens called for jury duty are randomly selected from motor vehicle registration lists and voter registration lists. Those summoned for jury duty must meet several legal qualifications in order to serve as jurors.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Jury summons
• Proof of citizenship
• Voter registration

1. Meet the age requirement. Jury service is limited to those who are at least 18 years of age.
2. Prove your citizenship. Those summoned for jury duty must be citizens of the United States to qualify as jurors.
3. Qualify as a voter. Jurors must be registered voters and must be able to vote in the county in which they will serve.
4. Be able to understand and speak English fluently. You must also be able to read and write in English.
5. Check the date of your last jury service. You are not eligible for service if you served for 6 days during the previous 6 months in a district court, or 6 days during the last 3 months in a county court.
6. Have a clear record. People who have been convicted for theft or a felony are not eligible to serve as jurors. Potential jurors also must not be indicted for theft or felony or be involved in a legal case.
7. Answer the questions given in your qualification form to find out whether you meet all the legal qualifications for jury duty. This form is sent out to pre-qualify potential jurors. If an individual is qualified to serve as a juror then a summons will be issued.
8. Be of sound mind. Jurors must be able to reason normally to be helpful in a trial. You may also be excused from jury duty if you have physical disabilities that would make it difficult for you to serve.
9. Be a current resident of the state and county for which the summons has been issued. You must have been a resident of the county for at least 1 year.

Tips & Warnings

• Some states offer an online pre-qualification service that you can use to see whether you meet the qualifications for jury duty. They may include the website address in the pre-qualification form.
• You must meet all the requirements to qualify as a juror.
• If your voting privileges were once revoked, they must be fully restored in order for you to qualify as a juror.