Legal Definitions - jury list

The jury list is an official compilation of names of individuals who are eligible to serve as jurors and may be called upon for jury duty in a court of law. It serves as the master record from which potential jurors are selected for various trials.

• Example 1: Annual Compilation

  Each year, the county clerk's office in a particular jurisdiction gathers names from various public records, such as voter registration rolls and state driver's license databases. This extensive collection of names forms the annual jury list, ensuring a broad pool of citizens is available for potential jury service throughout the upcoming year.

• Example 2: Drawing for a Specific Trial

  When a high-profile criminal case is scheduled for trial, the court needs to summon a large group of potential jurors for the selection process. The court administrator will draw a specific number of names from the comprehensive jury list to send out official summonses, inviting those individuals to appear for jury duty for that particular trial.

• Example 3: Challenging the List's Composition

  A defense attorney in a complex civil case might argue that the method used to create the local jury list is flawed, perhaps because it disproportionately excludes certain socioeconomic groups by relying solely on property tax records. The attorney could challenge the fairness of the list itself, asserting that it does not represent a true cross-section of the community, which could impact the impartiality of the eventual jury.