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Mass. General Laws c.234A

Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth

This page links to the current, accurate version of each section of G.L. c.234A.

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§ 1 Application of chapter to particular counties 
§ 2 Judicial districts; eligibility for jury service 
§ 3 Juror service 
§ 4 Disqualification from juror service 

Amended by St.2018, c. 435, § 1, effective April 10, 2019

§ 5 Office of jury commissioner 
§ 6 Jury management advisory committee 
§ 7 Jury commissioner and staff; appointment; salaries 
§ 8 Rules of court; regulations 
§ 9 Liability of cities and towns 
§ 10 Numbered resident list 
§ 11 Numbered resident file 
§ 12 Number of prospective jurors 
§ 13 Random selection of prospective jurors 
§ 14 Typewritten lists from cities and towns not submitting numbered resident files 
§ 15 Preparation of prospective juror list 
§ 16 Master juror list; random shuffling; summoning jurors in sequence 
§ 17 Letter of venire 
§ 18 Discretionary determination of number of jurors to be summoned 
§ 19 Juror summons; contents; postcard summons 

Amended by St.2018, c. 435, § 2, effective April 10, 2019

§ 20 Notice of qualifications for juror service for each juror summoned 

Amended by St.2018, c. 435, § 3, effective April 10, 2019

§ 21 Juror confirmation form included with summons other than postcard summons 

Amended by St.2018, c. 435, § 4,5, effective April 10, 2019

§ 22 Confidential juror questionnaire for each prospective juror 

Amended by St.2018, c. 435, § 6, effective April 10, 2019

§ 23 Use of juror questionnaire during voir dire 
§ 24 Response to postcard summons; response to juror summons sent by first-class mail 

Amended by St.2018, c. 435, § 7, effective April 10, 2019

§ 25 Final summons 

Amended by St.2018, c. 435, § 7, effective April 10, 2019

§ 26 Summoning of additional grand or trial jurors; response; final summons 

Amended by St.2018, c. 435, § 7, eff. April 10, 2019

§ 27 Time and manner of service of additional jurors 
§ 27A Questioning of summoned juror 
§ 28 Cancellation of juror service 
§ 29 Modification of juror service 
§ 30 Standby jurors 
§ 30A Talesmen 

Added by St.2016, c. 36, § 3, effective May 10, 2016

§ 31 Presentation by juror to clerk of summons, questionnaire and notices 
§ 32 Wilful misrepresentations in juror questionnaire 
§ 33 Criminal history records of jurors 
§ 34 Postponement of term of juror service 

Amended by St.2018, c. 435, §§ 8, 9, effective April 10, 2019

§ 35 Juror service performed at any location within judicial district 
§ 36 Notice of date of postponement or request for location transfer 

Amended by St.2018, c. 435, §§ 10, 11, effective April 10, 2019

§ 37 Postponement for reasons of important business of commonwealth or United States 
§ 38 Availability for juror service by telephone notice 
§ 39 Deferment or advancement of, or excuse from, juror service; term limitations; dismissal or discharge of juror 
§ 40 Length of trial; excuse of juror 
§ 41 Length of term of service of jurors 
§ 42 Enforcement of chapter 
§ 43 Delinquency notice 
§ 44 Criminal complaint for delinquent juror 

Amended by St.2018, c. 435, § 12, effective April 10, 2019

§ 45 Studies, research and new procedures 
§ 46 Delegation of authority to jury commissioner 
§ 47 Compensation and reimbursement policy 
§ 48 Payment of regularly employed jurors 
§ 49 Employers or self-employed jurors excused from payment 
§ 50 Reimbursement of unemployed jurors for expenses 
§ 51 Payment of trial juror by commonwealth 
§ 52 Grand juror financial questionnaire 
§ 53 Private hearing to determine rate of compensation of grand juror 
§ 54 Payment of grand juror by commonwealth 
§ 55 Compensation of absent, alternate, standby jurors and jurors on telephone notice; credit during adjournments 
§ 56 Special awards of compensation and reimbursement; expenses; special arrangements 
§ 56A Meals for jurors in accordance with their religious requirements 
§ 57 Juror service certificate; contents 
§ 58 Juror service certificates; tender to employer for compensation 

Amended by St.2018, c. 435, § 13, effective April 10, 2019

§ 59 Form of payment of grand and trial jurors paid by commonwealth 

Amended by St.2018, c. 435, § 14, effective April 10, 2019

§ 60 Employer liability for failure to pay juror-employee 
§ 61 Violation of Sec. 60; harassment, etc. of employee 
§ 62 Trial juror's handbook 

Amended by St.2018, c. 435, §§ 15 to 17, effective April 10, 2019

§ 63 Telephone lines established by office of jury commissioner 
§ 64 Juror orientation 
§ 65 Welcoming address to jurors 
§ 66 Judicial discretion hearing with juror or employer 
§ 67 List of grand and trial jurors expected to appear sent or delivered to appropriate clerks of court 
§ 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 
§ 68B Number of jurors required to render verdict; instructions on sufficient numbers 
§ 68C Failure of jury to agree 
§ 69 Translators for deaf jurors 
§ 69A View by jury 
§ 70 Instruction to jury as to occupation or reputation of other jurors 
§ 71 Fraud in processing or selection of jurors or prospective jurors 
§ 72 Preservation of official records and papers compiled and maintained by office of jury commissioner 
§ 73 Challenge of array 
§ 74 Irregularities or defects causing mistrial or verdict to be set aside 
§ 74A Gratuities 
§ 75 Use of data processing equipment, etc. and electronic telecommunications systems 
§ 76 Contracts and agreements with, and gifts, etc. from governmental units 
§ 77 Contracts, agreements, gifts, etc.; deposit of funds 
§ 78 Management of jurors by individual courts 
§ 79 Annual report of jury commissioner 
§ 80 Annual conference of participants 

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