Federal · Title 28 — Judiciary and Judicial Procedure

28 U.S.C. § 1865: Qualifications for jury service

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute establishes the process and criteria by which courts determine whether potential jurors are qualified, exempt, or should be excused from jury service based on citizenship, language ability, mental/physical capacity, and criminal history.

Read the full statutory text
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. is not a citizen of the United States eighteen years old who has resided for a period of one year within the judicial district; is unable to read, write, and understand the English language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to fill out satisfactorily the juror qualification form; is unable to speak the English language; is incapable, by reason of mental or physical infirmity, to render satisfactory jury service; or 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.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.