NACDL - New Hampshire

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Selection Fields

Legislative Intent

N/A

Definitions

500-A:1. Definitions.

In this chapter:

I. “Clerk" means the clerk of the superior court in each county or judicial district or any of his deputies.

II. “Court" means the superior court and regional jury trial courts.

III. “Department" means the New Hampshire department of safety.

IV. “Master jury list" means the list blended and compiled from the voter lists, which shall be provided by the secretary of state pursuant to RSA 654:45, VI on encrypted removable media, and from the official record of persons 18 years of age or older who hold a current New Hampshire driver’s license or a department of safety identification card, which shall be provided by the department. Information contained in the master jury list shall be private and confidential and shall not be subject to RSA 91-A.

V. “Office" means the administrative office of the courts.

VI. “Voter lists" means the official record of persons registered to vote in the most recent state general election and town lists, which are the combined and alphabetically arranged lists prepared by the selectmen and city wards for their respective jurisdictions made up of all adults listed on the voter registration lists, and provided to the office by the selectmen and city wards.

Source of jury master lists are drawn (e.g., voter registration, state income tax, etc. )?

NH Rev. Stat. 500-A:2. Preparation of Master Jury List.

The office shall annually provide to the clerk of court a master jury list for each county or judicial district thereof. A duplicate list shall be retained by the office. Voter lists and department of safety lists, as well as the master jury list, are confidential documents to be used by the office and the respective trial courts only for purposes of jury selection. Voter lists shall contain only the names and addresses of persons listed; additional information, such as date of birth, shall be available to the office only for the purpose of resolving discrepancies in the master jury list.

Drawing of juror names from list

NH Rev. Stat. 500-A:6. Juror Qualification Form.

I. When required to do so, the clerk shall draw from the master jury list the names or identifying numbers of as many prospective jurors as is necessary to create a sufficient jury pool. The names or identifying numbers of prospective jurors may be chosen either by random drawing or by computer on a random basis. The clerk shall prepare an alphabetical list of the names drawn. The names drawn on the list may be disclosed only to persons authorized to see the list under this chapter or upon specific order of the court. The addresses of jurors shall not be disclosed, except to counsel, to a pro se party examining juror qualification forms, or otherwise in accordance with court rule.

II. The clerk shall make available to every prospective juror whose name is drawn from the master list a juror qualification form, accompanied by instructions to complete and submit the form to the clerk within 10 days after its receipt.

III. The court shall prepare the juror qualification form. The juror qualification form shall:

(a) Include the name, address, and age of the prospective juror;

(b) Require the prospective juror to specify if he or she is:

(1) A citizen of the United States and a resident of the county;

(2) Able to read, speak, and understand the English language;

(3) Subject to any physical or mental disability which would impair the prospective juror’s capacity to render satisfactory jury service; or

(4) A convicted felon whose conviction has not been annulled or whose conviction is not eligible for annulment under New Hampshire law; and

(c) Contain the prospective juror’s declaration that his or her responses are true to the best of his or her knowledge and his or her acknowledgment that a willful misrepresentation of a material fact may be punishable as a misdemeanor under the laws of this state.

IV. Notarization of the juror qualification form shall not be required.

V. If the prospective juror is unable to complete the form, another person may do it for him or her. If another person completes the form, such person shall indicate that he or she has done so and why.

VI. If it appears there is an omission, ambiguity, or error in a submitted form, the clerk shall return the form to the prospective juror with instructions to make the necessary addition, clarification, or correction and resubmit the form to the clerk within 10 days after receipt of these instructions.

Procedure for Summoning Jurors

NH Rev. Stat. 500-A:8. Term of Service.

Any person who is summoned to serve as a juror on the petit or grand jury shall not be required to serve a term longer than 30 days. A juror who is sitting on a trial in progress or a grand jury hearing in progress shall be required to serve until the trial or hearing is completed.

Prohibition of Discrimination Against Jurors

500-A:4. Prohibition of Discrimination.

A citizen of this state shall not be excluded from jury service on account of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin or economic status.

Qualifications

500-A:7-a. Qualifications of Jurors.

I. A juror shall be 18 years of age or older on or before the first day of reporting for jury duty.

II. A juror shall be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the county of jury service.

III. A juror shall have the ability to read, speak, and understand the English language.

IV. A juror shall not be subject to any physical or mental disability which would bar effective jury service.

V. A juror shall not have been convicted of any felony unless the conviction has been annulled.

500-A:5. Eligibility for Jury Service.

Eligibility shall be determined by rule of court

500-A:6. Juror Qualification Form.