Oregon - Jury Duty Laws, Jury Selection, Juror Qualification

Jury Duty in Oregon - What to Expect

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| Juror Qualifications in Oregon - Who Can Be Summoned?

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

A prospective juror for a civil trial must be:

A citizen of the United States

A resident of the state

A resident of the summoning county

having been convicted of a felony, had their civil rights restored

A prospective juror for a grand or criminal trial must NOT have been:

convicted or served a felony sentence within 15 years immediately preceding summons

convicted or served of a misdemeanor involving violence or dishonesty within 5 years immediately preceding summons

| Juror Selection in Oregon - What to Expect?

How Are Potential Jurors Chosen in Oregon?

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 Oregon, as described above.

The master jury list is comprised, at least once annually, of the most recent list of electors of the county, the records furnished by the Department of Transportation. Total total number of names on the list may not be less than two percent of the population of the county according to the latest federal decennial census.

Receiving a Jury Duty Summons in Oregon

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 OR, 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 Oregon jury duty obligations are complete.

You will receive nominal Oregon 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 Oregon re-adds you to the potential juror pool.

| Jury Duty Attire (Dress Code) in Oregon

Jurors reporting for jury duty or jury selection in the state of Oregon 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 Oregon?

While jury duty is a civic requirement for all eligible citizens in Oregon, 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.

Oregon Jury Duty Summons Frequency:

Jurors are not eligible to serve again within 24 months after being discharged from jury service in a federal court in this state

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

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

A prospective juror who fails to appear pursuant to an order to show cause, or appears and fails to show good cause, may be punished for contempt.

Or, charged with Class B violation.

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

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