Massachusetts law about jury selection

Laws, rules, cases, and web sources on the law about how attorneys may select juries for trials.

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Massachusetts laws

MGL c. 234A Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth

• § 67A Examination of jurors
• § 67B Peremptory challenges
• § 67C Certain interests not to disqualify
• § 67D Voir dire procedures
• § 68 Additional jurors impanelled; alternate jurors
• § 68A Foreperson
• § 69 Translators for deaf jurors
• § 71 Fraud in processing or selection of jurors or prospective jurors
• § 73 Challenge of array
• § 74 Irregularities or defects causing mistrial or verdict to be set aside

Court rules and guidelines

Mass. Guide to Evidence § 1116 Peremptory challenges of potential jurors

Mass. Rules of Civil Procedure 47 Jurors

Mass. Rules of Criminal Procedure 20 Trial jurors

Superior Court Rule 6 Jury selection

Selected cases

Selected court cases on the topic of jury selection

Web sources

Learn about jury selection, Mass. Office of Jury Commissioner.
Find out how the jury selection process works and what happens when you're brought before a panel.

Learn about the Massachusetts jury system, Mass. Office of Jury Commissioner.
Find out how the state's jury system works and how jurors are selected for service.

Print sources

Art of advocacy: Jury selection, LexisNexis, 1981 with supplement (eBook available with library card).

Blue's guide to jury selection, West, 2004, with supplement.

Jury selection: The law, art, and science of selecting a jury, annual, West.

LexisNexis practice guide. Massachusetts civil trial practice, annual edition, LexisNexis. Section 1.16[10], Preparing for jury selection. Chapter 1: Selecting Jury, Sections 1.17-1.22 (eBook available with library card).

LexisNexis practice guide: Massachusetts criminal law, annual edition, LexisNexis. Section 5.14, Understanding jury selection. Chapter 7: Challenging jurors, Sections 7.17 – 7.22 (eBook available with library card).

Massachusetts courtroom advocacy, 5th ed., MCLE, 2023. Chapter 3, Jury Selection.

Mastering voir dire and jury selection: gain an edge in questioning and selecting your jury, 4th ed., ABA, 2018 (eBook available with library card).

Pattern voir dire questions: Civil and criminal, annual, James Publishing.

Trial handbook for Massachusetts lawyers, 3rd ed., West, 1999 with supplement. Chapter 6, Selection of the jury.

Trial practice, 3rd ed. (Mass. Practice v.43A) West, 2017 with supplement. Chapter 10, Jury selection.

Last updated:	April 25, 2025