Massachusetts law about juries and jury service

Laws, regulations, cases, and web sources on juries, jury service, and jury instructions.

• For information on jury selection, see Law about jury selection.

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Best bets

Emergency or weather-related court closings and jury duty

Federal jury duty information, US District Court, District of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts jury information, Office of Jury Commissioner.
Everything you need to know if you've been summonsed for jury service; also gives an overview of the Massachusetts jury system.

Massachusetts laws

MGL c. 234A Office of Jury Commissioner

• MGL c. 234A, § 3 Juror service
• MGL c. 234A, § 4 Disqualification from juror service
• MGL c. 234A, §§ 10-16 Prospective juror lists
• MGL c. 234A, §§ 19-27A, 32 Juror summons and questionnaire
• MGL c. 234A, § 28 Cancellation of juror service
• MGL c. 234A, §§ 34, 36, 37 Postponement of juror service
• MGL c. 234A, §§ 47-61 Compensation and reimbursement

Massachusetts regulations

Office of Jury Commissioner regulations

Massachusetts court rules

Civil Procedure Rule 47 Jurors

Criminal Procedure Rule 5 The grand jury

Criminal Procedure Rule 20 Trial jurors

Superior Court Rule 5 Jurors

Superior Court Rule 8A Notes by jurors

Federal laws

28 USC §§ 1861–1878 Juries; trial by jury

Jury instructions

Model jury instructions
The Massachusetts Court System's jury instructions are written statements that explain the jury's role and laws that apply to the specific case.

Selected cases

Selected court cases on the topic of juries and jury service

Web sources

Grand jury service, Office of Jury Commissioner.
Have you been summoned for grand jury service? Find out what to expect during your service.

Grand juror's handbook, Office of Jury Commissioner.

Jury duty, Office of Jury Commissioner.
Have you been summoned to jury duty in Massachusetts? Learn how to respond to your summons.

"Massachusetts' leadership role in the American jury system," by Pamela J. Wood, Massachusetts Jury Commissioner, 55 Boston Bar Journal 13 (Spring 2011).

Massachusetts Trial Court policy on juror use of personal communication devices, Mass. Trial Court, 2010.
This policy relates to the use of cell phones and other personal communication devices by jurors in courthouses and courtrooms.

Top 10 things prospective jurors should know about jury duty, Office of Jury Commissioner.

Trial juror's handbook, Office of Jury Commissioner.
Answers common questions about serving as a juror.

Trial juror instructions and information brochure, Office of Jury Commissioner.
Information about completing the juror confirmation form; qualifications and disqualifications; postponements and transfers; parents, students, self-employed jurors; accessibility and compensation.

Print sources

Criminal model jury instructions for use in the District Court, 3^rd ed., MCLE, 2009 with supplements.

Criminal practice and procedure, 4^th ed. (Mass. Practice v.30A) Thomson Reuters, 2014 with supplements.
Chapter 17 (Rule 5 – The Grand Jury); Chapter 32 (Rule 20 – Trial Jurors); Appendix 32A. “Good Cause” and “No Good Cause” to discharge deliberating juror decisions (examples).

Federal grand jury: A guide to law and practice, 2^nd ed., Thomson/West, c2006 with supplements.

Grand jury law and practice, 2^nd ed., West Group, 1997 with supplements.

Massachusetts jury trial benchbook, 5^th ed., Flaschner Judicial Institute, 2022.

Last updated:	May 22, 2025