What are the Qualifications to be on a Criminal Jury in Minnesota?
According to the Minnesota Court system, they have a process for picking potential jurors to be a part of the criminal jury pool. The purpose of this article is to give you some basic understanding as to the people who may ultimately judge you in your criminal case. We will look at where these people come from as well as their minimum qualifications to be jurors. The real purpose is to provide you with a better understanding of these individuals. If you are facing serious criminal charges in Minnesota and are trying to figure out who the people are who will be judging you, sit down with an experienced Minnesota criminal defense attorney.
“Knowing where these jurors come from is one thing. Weeding through them and excluding the right ones is quite another.”
How are Potential Jurors are Selected to be in the Pool?
Potential jurors are randomly selected from driver’s license, voter registration and state identification (ID) records. They then receive a summons to appear at the courthouse for jury service in the County in which the live.
What are the Qualifications for Jury Service?
A prospective juror must be:
A U.S. citizen;
A resident of the county in which you are charged;
At least 18 years old. A possible juror who is 70 or older may opt out but isn’t required to do so;
Able to communicate in the English language;
Physically and mentally capable of serving;
A person who has had their civil rights restored if they have been convicted of a felony; and
A person who has not served as a state or federal juror in the past four years.
“Its important to remember that just because somebody qualifies doesn’t mean they would necessarily be a good juror in your case.”
If you are facing criminal charges, consulting with an experienced Minnesota criminal defense attorney may be the best decision you’ll ever make. You can learn about your rights, some ideas about the strength of the State’s case, what may happen and where you go next. As importantly, it is critical to understand this jury pool and what to do when it comes to jury selection which in some ways is the most important step in the jury process. Having somebody with extensive jury trial experience fight for your rights at this stage can make all of the difference.
Jack’s Got Your Back.
Jack Rice is the Founder of Jack Rice Defense, a boutique criminal defense firm based in St. Paul, MN. Jack is also a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist, a former prosecutor, and former CIA Officer. Contact Jack Rice Defense for a free confidential consultation or call 651-447-7650 or 612-227-1339.