28 U.S.C. § 1861 | Declaration of policy

It is the policy of the United States that all litigants in Federal courts entitled to trial by jury shall have the right to grand and petit juries selected at random from a fair cross section of the community in the district or division wherein the court convenes. It is further the policy of the United States that all citizens shall have the opportunity to be considered for service on grand and petit juries in the district courts of the United States, and shall have an obligation to serve as jurors when summoned for that purpose.

June 25, 1948, ch. 646 62 Stat. 951 Pub. L. 85–315, part V, § 152Sept. 9, 195771 Stat. 638 Pub. L. 90–274, § 101Mar. 27, 196882 Stat. 54(, ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231 38 Stat. 1164Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 411 and 415 (, §§ 275, 278, , 1165).

The revised section prescribes uniform standards of qualification for jurors in Federal Courts instead of making qualifications depend upon State laws. This is in accord with proposed legislation recommended by the Judicial Conference of the United States.

The last paragraph is added to exclude jurors incompetent to serve as jurors in State courts.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 90–2741968— substituted provisions declaring the policy of the United States with respect to trial by jury and the opportunity to serve on such juries for provisions setting out the required qualifications of Federal jurors, including age, citizenship, residence, freedom from conviction of certain crimes, ability to read, write, speak, and understand the English language, and capability of rendering efficient jury service.

Pub. L. 85–3151957— substituted “Qualifications of Federal jurors” for “Qualifications” in section catchline.

Pub. L. 85–315 substituted “and who has resided for a period of one year within the judicial district” for “and resides within the judicial district”, and struck out provisions which prohibited service as a grand or petit juror if a person was incompetent to serve as a grand or petit juror by the law of the State in which the district court is held.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Pub. L. 90–274, § 104Mar. 27, 196882 Stat. 63

section 867 of Title 48Mar. 27, 1968Provided“This Act [amending this section and sections 1821, 1862 to 1869, and 1871 of this title, repealing , Territories and Insular Possessions, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] shall become effective two hundred and seventy days after the date of enactment []: , That this Act shall not apply in any case in which an indictment has been returned or petit jury empaneled prior to such effective date.”

, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–572, § 1Nov. 2, 197892 Stat. 2453

section 1364 of this title section 1363 of this title“This Act [enacting sections 1363 and 1875 of this title, amending sections 1863, 1865, 1866, 1869, and 1871 of this title, renumbering section 1363 (relating to construction of references to laws of the United States or Acts of Congress) as , and enacting provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘Jury System Improvements Act of 1978’.”

, , , provided that:

Short Title

Pub. L. 90–274, § 1Mar. 27, 196882 Stat. 53

section 867 of Title 48“That this Act [amending this section and sections 1821, 1862 to 1869, and 1871 of this title, repealing , Territories and Insular Possessions, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] may be cited as the ‘Jury Selection and Service Act of 1968’.”

, , , provided: