§1864 Drawing of Names From the Master Jury Wheel; Completion of Juror Qualification Form

Summary

Court staff must randomly draw names from the master jury wheel when the district court 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 drawing works. They can make an alphabetical list of the names, but that list can only be shared under the court’s jury plan or under sections 1867 or 1868. The clerk or jury commission must mail each person whose name is drawn a juror qualification form with instructions to sign, swear, and return it by mail within ten days. If someone cannot fill the form, another person may fill it in and must say they did and why. If the form has missing or unclear information, it will be sent back with instructions to correct it and return it within ten days. Anyone who does not return the form can be ordered to appear and fill it out in person. If they appear and complete the form, the court may pay them the same fees and travel allowances as jurors under section 1871, unless their earlier failure to mail the form was willful. At their jury appearance they may be asked to complete another form and be questioned only about answers on the form. The clerk may note this information and send it to the chief judge or another judge as the jury plan provides. If a person ignores a summons, the court will order them to appear and explain why. If they still fail to appear or do not show good cause, the court may fine them up to $1,000, jail them up to three days, order community service, or any combination. The same penalties apply to anyone who willfully lies about an important fact on the juror qualification form to avoid or get jury service.