ABOUT MY
JUROR SUMMONS
In the Commonwealth you may be summonsed as either a trial or grand juror:
| Trial
Juror Service (the most common) |
Grand Juror Service |
| A trial jury is composed of either 12 jurors plus 2 alternates or 6 jurors plus 1 alternate. It consists of citizens brought together to listen to evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense in the matter of a criminal proceeding, plaintiff or defendant in a civil trial. A trial jury concerns itself only with the issues at hand for a particular trial. During the deliberation process at the end of the trial, the jurors sort out the facts and apply the law as given them by the court. The result of a trial jury's deliberations is called a verdict: the determination that the defendant's guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt or not, or a finding for the plaintiff or defendant in a civil case. | A grand jury is composed of 23 members that listen to evidence presented by the prosecutor. Its function is to consider this evidence, then decide if it rises to a level sufficient to indict (bring a criminal charge against) a person or corporation. The grand jury does not decide the guilt or innocence of the accused; rather, it decides if there is probable cause to bring the accused to trial. Thus, the grand jury's work is a pre-trial function of the court. |
| Click here to enter the Trial Juror Service section |
Click here to enter the Grand Juror Service section |
Click here to view the most |
|
Federal Juror Service: If, having read your juror summons, you realize that you have been summonsed for federal juror service, you may go to the Web Site of the U.S. District Court for the Massachusetts District by clicking on this symbol
Trial and Grand Juror Summons packages contain the following which should be thoroughly read:
n An official summons that instructs you where, when, and at what time you must appear, and if the courthouse to which you have been randomly assigned is wheelchair accessible;
n The juror reply to the summons, (Juror Confirmation Form) that must be completed and returned by mail;
n Instructions for completing the Juror Confirmation Form;
n An "Instructions And Information" pamphlet, and;
n A Handbook that answers the most frequently asked questions about jury duty.
Note: In addition to all of the above, the Grand Juror Summons Package also contains a "Confidential Financial Questionnaire" that must be completed and submitted when reporting for service. It is included as a part of the "Grand Juror Instructions And Information" pamphlet.
Trial Juror Service Grand Juror Service Federal Juror Service Navigational Map of this Site
Courthouse Information About the Massachusetts Jury System The Source List
Summonsing to Service Delinquent Juror Prosecution Program Public Outreach Program
Related Materials Related Links Frequently
Asked Questions Go Back to the Home Page
