Mississippi - Jury Duty Laws, Jury Selection, Juror Qualification

Jury Duty in Mississippi - What to Expect

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| Juror Qualifications in Mississippi - Who Can Be Summoned?

In the American court system, criminal defendants are guaranteed the right to trial by a "jury of their peers". In Mississippi, a pool of potential jurors is randomly selected from the local population of individuals eligible for jury duty.

A prospective juror must:

be at least 21 years of age

be either a qualified elector of the county summoned, or a resident freeholder of the county for more than one year

be able to read and write

not be convicted of an infamous crime, or the unlawful sale of intoxicating liquors within a period of five years

not be a common gambler or habitual drunkard

| Juror Selection in Mississippi - What to Expect?

How Are Potential Jurors Chosen in Mississippi?

The first stage in jury selection is summoning a pool of potential jurors from the list of local citizens eligible to serve on a jury in Mississippi, as described above.

In April of each year, the jury commission for each county shall compile and maintain a master list of prospective jurors consisting of registered voters.

Receiving a Jury Duty Summons in Mississippi

If your name is randomly selected for the jury pool through the process described above, you receive a jury summons in the mail instructing you to appear for jury selection on a pre-set day.

While there are a few excuses for getting out of jury selection in MS, most people summoned will have to report to the courthouse for the next stage of the juror selection process, voir dire.

The Juror Selection Process, or "Voir Dire"

Just because you qualify to be a juror and are summoned for jury selection, doesn't mean that you will be selected to be a juror on a case. The process of "Voir Dire", the actual act of jury selection, is how judges, defense attorneys, and prosecutors actually choose the individuals who will sit on the juries for upcoming criminal and civil cases.

During the voir dire process, each lawyer will ask the pool of potential jurors a series of questions about their background, beliefs, prejudices, or relationships with any party to the case. While the goal is to select an impartial jury to render a verdict, each attorney will also seek to exclude any jurors who seem to be more likely to vote against their client's interests. While jury candidates are instructed to be open and truthful when answering such questions, the juror selection process is also where most individuals who don't wish to serve on a trial find a way to be excused from further juror duties.

What Happens After Jury Selection Day

If you are selected to serve on a jury, you will be provided with the trial date, and must return to serve on the jury for the duration of the trial and deliberations. If you were not selected to serve on any jury during the voir dire process, you can go home, and your Mississippi jury duty obligations are complete.

You will receive nominal Mississippi jury duty pay for the jury selection day, as well as for any days served on a jury. Once your service is complete, you won't be summoned for jury duty again until Mississippi re-adds you to the potential juror pool.

| Jury Duty Attire (Dress Code) in Mississippi

Jurors reporting for jury duty or jury selection in the state of Mississippi are expected to dress professionally, in a manner appropriate for a court room.

Most courthouses suggest dress ranging from business casual to business attire. For men, this means slacks or khakis and a polo or button-down shirt, potentially with a tie or suit jacket. For women, this means a professional-looking pair of pants or a skirt, cardigan, sweater, twinset, or shirt.

As a juror, you are expected to maintain a professional and respectable appearance while performing your duties. Hats should never be worn in a courtroom, and you should avoid wearing shorts, t-shirts, tanktops, or anything printed with logos or slogans.

| How Frequently Can I Be Called for Jury Duty in Mississippi?

While jury duty is a civic requirement for all eligible citizens in Mississippi, the state restricts how often you can be summoned for jury duty in order to ensure a fresh jury pool and prevent undue hardship by being summoned too frequently.

Mississippi Jury Duty Summons Frequency:

Anyone who has served as a grand juror or as a petit juror in the trial of a litigated case within two (2) years, shall be exempt from service if the juror claims the privilege to be exempt.

| What Happens If I Fail to Appear for Jury Duty in MS?

While there are a number of ways to be legally excused from jury duty in Mississippi, failing to appear when summoned for jury selection or jury duty without an excuse is illegal, and can result in legal repercussions.

A juror failing to appear may be ordered by the court to appear and show cause and failing to do so may be in civil contempt of court and may be fined up to $500.00 or imprisoned not more than 3or both.

In addition to, or instead of, the court may order the juror to complete a period of community service for a period no less than if the prospective juror would have completed jury service.

Employers in Mississippi are also forbidden from penalizing employees who miss work for jury duty.

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