§1864 Drawing of names from the master jury wheel; completion of juror qualification form

Summary

The court must randomly pick names from the master jury wheel when it needs jurors. The court clerk or jury commission must post a public notice in the clerk’s office and on the court website explaining how the random draws work. The clerk or commission may make an alphabetical list of the names drawn, but that list cannot be shared except under the court’s jury plan or under sections 1867 or 1868. The clerk must mail a juror qualification form and instructions to everyone whose name is drawn. The person must sign, swear to, and mail the completed form back within 10 days. If someone cannot fill it out, another person may do it for them and must say why. If the form has missing or unclear answers, the clerk will return it and ask for corrections within 10 days. If a person does not return the form, the clerk can summon them to appear and fill it out. If they appear and complete the form, the court may give them the same fees and travel pay jurors get under section 1871, unless their earlier failure to return the form was willful. When a person appears for jury duty, they may be asked to fill out another form in front of the clerk, jury commission, or court and may only be questioned about answers on that form. The clerk or commission can note any information from that meeting and send it to the chief judge or another judge as the jury plan allows. If someone who was summoned fails to appear, the court will order them to appear and explain why. Failing to obey that order or failing to show a good reason can lead to a fine up to $1,000, up to three days in jail, an order to do community service, or a combination of those punishments. Knowingly lying about a material fact on a juror qualification form to avoid or get jury service can bring the same penalties.