Jury Duty

It is not unusual for students to be called for jury duty.  Jury duty, on a short-term basis, can provide students with an opportunity to fulfill one of their important responsibilities as members of the community.  According tot he Office of the Jury Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, “Every U.S. Citizen 17 years of age or older who is a Massachusetts resident or an inhabitant for more than 50% of the time is eligible to serve as a juror.  If you are a resident of another state but a student at a Massachusetts college or university, you are an inhabitant for more than 50% of the year and, therefore, eligible to serve as a juror in Massachusetts.”

Students should carefully read all materials they receive with their summons to service, which contain helpful information about confirming, postponing, rescheduling, or relocating service.  These materials address many of the most frequently asked questions about jury duty.  Jury duty is a legal obligation and those who fail to respond are subject to criminal prosecution.

Students who miss class in order to fulfill their jury service requirement should notify each of their instructors of the summons, in advance of the anticipated absence, and make arrangements to complete any missed work.

If you have any questions about jury duty, please contact the Office of the Jury Commissioner at 1-800-843-5879.