TRANSFERRING YOUR TRIAL JUROR SERVICE
to a Different Courthouse Location
TRANSFERRING YOUR
TRIAL JUROR SERVICE
to a Different Courthouse Location
On this page you may learn if you are eligible to change the courthouse location where you will perform your juror service and, if so, how to go about it.
As jurors are randomly selected by computer to receive a summons, so too are they randomly assigned by computer to serve at a courthouse located within their county of residence. This is meant to bring about as near a demographic replica of the county population as can be. However, in some counties, where the distance between a residence at one end of a county and a courthouse at the other can be great, hardship in getting to the assigned courthouse may be recognized. Therefore, the legislature, in creating this law, allowed for the transfer of juror service to a more conveniently located courthouse. Courthouse transfers are strictly limited by law to hardship cases in order to best ensure that a demographic cross-section of the entire population of a county is represented at each of the jury pools in each judicial district every day.
COURTHOUSE TRANSFERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO GRAND JURORS BECAUSE THE GRAND JURY IS CONVENED AT ONLY ONE COURTHOUSE IN EACH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
ELIGIBILITY
You may request to change the location of the courthouse where you will perform your trial juror service only if:
1. You have a hardship in getting to the courthouse. Examples of hardship include:
-You do not have a car, there is no one to drive you, and there is no public transportation available;
-For medical reasons you cannot travel long distances;
-Your childcare arrangements make it impossible to arrive at your assigned courthouse at the designated time, or;
-You are wheelchair bound and the courthouse you have been assigned to is not wheelchair accessible.
(Click hereto see if the courthouse you have been assigned to is accessible.); and
2. There is at least one alternative courthouse listed in SECTION D of the Juror Confirmation Form [the Form, page 3 of the summons package]. (Please note: if the name of your preferred court does not appear, it is either fully scheduled or is not a court which uses jurors.).
REMEMBER: MERE INCONVENIENCE IS NOT A HARDSHIP
HOW TO REQUEST A TRANSFER OF COURTHOUSE LOCATION
There are two options listed below. No matter which option you choose, you must provide specific evidence of hardship. Please note: if your request is granted, the date of your appearance may change due to the needs of the court to which your service has been transferred.
OPTION #1
You may complete and mail the Form if you have not yet mailed it back...
Step 1: Go to SECTION D on the Form.
You will notice five blue boxes.
- If an abbreviated court name does not appear beside any of the boxes then no alternative court is available in your judicial district and you must then find a way to appear at the courthouse you have been assigned to. Stop at this point. Remember: you may postpone your date of appearance.
(Click here
- If an abbreviated court name appears beside any of the boxes, then proceed to Step 2. (If the name of your preferred court does not appear, it is either fully scheduled or is a court that does not use jurors.)
(Click hereStep 2: Place an X in the blue box to the LEFT of the name of the court you prefer to attend.
Step 3: On the two lines beneath the five blue boxes, provide a detailed but brief explanation of your hardship.
Step 4: Go to SECTION H, date and sign the Form.
Step 5: Mail the Form back to the Office of Jury Commissioner (no stamp is required). You will receive a response to your request by mail in approximately two weeks.
OPTION #2
If you do not have the Form, you may write to us...Step 1: In your letter, please make sure to include:
(1) your name;
(2) your mailing address;
(3) your juror identification number, (this is a 12-character number found above your name on anything we have mailed to you. Without it the processing of your request will be delayed);
(4) the name of the courthouse you wish to transfer to;
(Click here(5) a detailed explanation of your hardship.
Be sure to sign and date your request.
Step 2: Mail your request to...
OFFICE OF JURY COMMISSIONER
RE: TRANSFER REQUEST
560 HARRISON AVENUE-SUITE 600
BOSTON, MA. 02118-2447Trial Juror Service Grand Juror Service Federal Juror Service Navigational Map of this Site
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