§1865 — Title 28 Judiciary and Judicial Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

The chief judge, another judge the court picks, or the clerk (if the court allows) decides, using the juror qualification form and other solid evidence, whether a person is not eligible, excused, or exempt from jury duty. The clerk writes that decision on the form and on the alphabetical list from the master jury wheel. If someone did not show up for a summons, the clerk notes that on the list. People are assumed eligible unless they fall into five groups: they are not a U.S. citizen, are not eighteen years old, or have not lived one year in the district; they cannot read, write, or understand English well enough to fill out the form; they cannot speak English; they are mentally or physically unable to serve; or they have a pending charge or a conviction for a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year and their civil rights have not been restored.

Title 28, §1865

Judiciary and Judicial Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The chief judge of the district court, or such other district court judge as the plan may provide, on his initiative or upon recommendation of the clerk or jury commission, or the clerk under supervision of the court if the court’s jury selection plan so authorizes, shall determine solely on the basis of information provided on the juror qualification form and other competent evidence whether a person is unqualified for, or exempt, or to be excused from jury service. The clerk shall enter such determination in the space provided on the juror qualification form and in any alphabetical list of names drawn from the master jury wheel. If a person did not appear in response to a summons, such fact shall be noted on said list.

(b)In making such determination the chief judge of the district court, or such other district court judge as the plan may provide, or the clerk if the court’s jury selection plan so provides, shall deem any person qualified to serve on grand and petit juries in the district court unless he—

(1)is not a citizen of the United States eighteen years old who has resided for a period of one year within the judicial district;

(2)is unable to read, write, and understand the English language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to fill out satisfactorily the juror qualification form;

(3)is unable to speak the English language;

(4)is incapable, by reason of mental or physical infirmity, to render satisfactory jury service; or

(5)has a charge pending against him for the commission of, or has been convicted in a State or Federal court of record of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year and his civil rights have not been restored.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 181, 413 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, §§ 100, 277, 36 Stat. 1121, 1164). Section consolidates a part of section 181 with section 413 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed. Other provisions of said section 181 are incorporated in section 115 of this title. Word “jurors” was changed to “grand and petit jurors” upon authority of Agnew v. United States, 1897, 17 S.Ct. 235, 165 U.S. 36, 41 L.Ed. 624, construing such term to include both types of jurors. The last sentence of subsection (a) was added to conform with existing practice in many districts. Subsection (b) extends to all districts a provision of section 181 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., which was designed for the convenience of the districts in Ohio and permitted jurors drawn for service at Cleveland, Toledo, and Columbus to serve at Youngstown, Lima, and Steubenville, respectively. Changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2000—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–518, § 305(1), inserted “or the clerk under supervision of the court if the court’s jury selection plan so authorizes,” after “jury commission,”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–518, § 305(2), inserted “or the clerk if the court’s jury selection plan so provides,” after “may provide,” in introductory provisions. 1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–702 substituted “in any alphabetical” for “the alphabetical”. 1978—Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 95–572 struck out “by pardon or amnesty” after “civil rights have not been restored”. 1972—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 92–269 substituted “eighteen years old” for “twenty-one years old”. 1968—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–274 substituted provisions for the excusing of persons from jury service by the chief judge of the district court or by other district court judge for provisions requiring the selection of jurors so as to be most favorable to an impartial trial and so as to minimize the expense and burden of jury service. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 90–274 substituted provisions setting out the conditions of ineligibility for jury service for provisions authorizing the service of jurors in a place within the district other than the place for which the jurors were summoned.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1978 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 95–572 applicable with respect to any grand or petit juror summoned for service or actually serving on or after Nov. 2, 1978, see section 7(a) of Pub. L. 95–572, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 1363 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1968 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 90–274 effective 270 days after Mar. 27, 1968, except as to cases in which an indictment has been returned or a petit jury empaneled prior to such

Effective Date

, see section 104 of Pub. L. 90–274, set out as a note under section 1861 of this title.

§1865 Qualifications for jury service

Summary

Title 28, §1865

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

Effective Date

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata