News Item
Chief Justice Gildea Proclaims Juror Appreciation Week May 4-May 8

Posted: Monday, April 27, 2015

Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea has proclaimed May 4 to May 8 Juror Appreciation Week. The Judicial Branch will use this occasion to express appreciation for those Minnesotans who have answered the call to jury service. A copy of the Chief Justice’s proclamation can be found here.

The right to a trial by jury is one of the core protections of individual freedom in American society. The Constitutions of the United States and the State of Minnesota guarantee defendants in criminal cases and litigants in civil cases the right to a trial by jury.

“Jury service is a privilege and responsibility of citizenship, providing the opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to have direct contact with our democracy and to actively participate in the justice system,” said Chief Justice Gildea. “It is important for the judiciary to acknowledge the dedication of citizens who report for jury service and to recognize employers who support employee leave for jury service.”

During the week, in addition to the proclamation being posted in courts in every county, various activities will recognize prospective jurors. Some will receive American flags and thank you notes. Some will be served cookies and be read the proclamation by a judge. Some district courts will be submitting an article related to Juror Appreciation Week to their local newspapers for publication.

Each year, the Minnesota Judicial Branch obtains names from driver’s license, state ID card, and voter registration lists and compiles that information into a composite source list. From that list, individuals are randomly selected by computer and mailed a summons to appear for jury duty. From an eligible population of 3.7 million people, approximately 180,000 Minnesota citizens are summoned to serve as jurors in the state courts every year.

A prospective juror must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county in which they are summoned, at least 18 years old, able to communicate in English, physically and mentally capable of serving, a person who has had their civil rights restored if they have been convicted of a felony, and a person who has not served as a state or federal juror in the past four years.

Persons summoned for jury duty can complete the required qualification questionnaire through the Judicial Branch website (www.mncourts.gov). The online form gives citizens the option of delivering their summons response to the court at any time of day, and it saves the price of a stamp.

More details about jury service, including frequently asked questions and an orientation video, “All Rise: Jury Service in Minnesota,” can be found at http://www.mncourts.gov/jury.