Jurors

New Hampshire combines the list of licensed drivers provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles and the lists of registered voters provided by the Secretary of State to create a master list of jurors.  Names are randomly selected for jurors in each county.

You may not be qualified to sit as a juror for the following reasons:

• You are not a U.S. Citizen
• You have moved out of the State of New Hampshire or the county where you have been asked to serve
• You have a permanent medical condition that would make it very difficult to serve as a juror and are not asking the court to provide you with accommodations
• You are a convicted felon. The court will contact you as to whether you are disqualified from jury service
• You have difficulty speaking or understanding the English language

Your request will be ruled on by a Judge and you will receive notification from the Jury Center.

You can click here to enter the secure eResponse site. Please complete the entire questionnaire, submit your answers, and then request a disqualification.

If the month that you have been summoned for is particularly inconvenient for you, you can request to have your service deferred to another month.  For example:

• You are out of state attending school
• You are a member of the Legislature and the General Court is in session
• You have a case pending in this county that could be heard by this jury panel
• You have a temporary medical condition that would make it very difficult to serve as a juror
• Jury service would create undue hardship or extreme inconvenience (such as having travel plans or work commitments)

Your request will be ruled on by a Judge and you will receive notification from the Jury Center.

You can click here to enter the secure e-response site. Please complete the entire questionnaire, submit your answers, and then request a deferral.

Yes, you may be excused from serving as a juror for one of the following reasons:

• You are 70 years of age or older, and you do not wish to serve
• You are actively serving in the military
• You have served as a juror in the New Hampshire Superior Court within the last three (3) years

You can click here to enter the secure e-response site and request an excusal.

If the juror who has been summoned is deceased, please call the call center at 1-855-212-1234 within our business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., press 4 and ask for the jury center when your call is answered.

You cannot serve as a juror if you have been convicted of a felony which has not been annulled. If you think this applies to you, please complete the jury questionnaire here and indicate your criminal record details. The court will let you know if you have been excused.

Please complete the entire questionnaire. Be sure to indicate what accommodations you would need to be able to serve as a juror in question 45.

NOTICE REGARDING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990
If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate as a juror, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please use the eResponse to provide the court with information regarding the accommodations you need. Please provide this information as soon as possible, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance.

For further information, please click here.

You will be paid $10 for half a day and $20 for a full day of service. If you live outside the town or city where the courthouse is located you will be paid .20 cents per mile round trip. Jurors who live in the town where the courthouse is located do not receive mileage. If you work for the State of New Hampshire you will not receive payment for your service but you are entitled to mileage reimbursement (if applicable).

Notify the Court that you do not wish to be paid when you check in on your first day of service. You can choose to waive the juror fee only, the mileage reimbursement (if applicable) only, or waive both the juror fee and the mileage reimbursement (if applicable).

An employer cannot ask that an employee be excused or deferred. That request must come from the juror directly. According to New Hampshire law (RSA 500-A:14), an employer cannot deprive an individual of their employment or threaten or coerce an employee because of their jury service. Any employer who violates this law may be held in contempt of court. If an employee were to be discharged because of their jury service, they would have the right to bring the employer to court and recover their job, lost wages and attorney fees. Please contact the Jury Center at 1-855-207-8888 if you have any concerns.

Jury service is an important part of our responsibility as individuals living in a democratic society.  Your fellow citizens are relying on you to listen to and decide on the facts in their cases and make impartial decisions about how disputes should be resolved.  You should take this responsibility seriously.  If you willfully fail to serve as a juror, you can be subject to certain penalties.

The proceedings in any courtroom around the state are conducted in a dignified and respectful manner. Juror's clothing should reflect the seriousness of the situation. There is a dress code for jurors. Do not wear torn clothing, shorts, cut-offs, tee shirts, tank tops or clothing with slogans or written expressions. Your clothes should be neat, clean and comfortable.  As a juror, you are representing the court system and should dress accordingly. 

It is difficult to say for sure. If you have been summoned for Petit Jury Service, most trials last less than a week.  Even if you have served on one jury, you may serve on other trials within that same month. You will not be required to sit as a juror for more than 30 days (6, five day weeks) unless you are serving on an on-going trial. 

If you have been summoned for Grand Jury Service, your summons will list your reporting day. Additional dates can be found by clicking here. Generally you will be asked to serve between one to three full days every month.

• PHOTO I.D.: You may be asked to show a photo I.D. such as a driver's license.
• SECURITY SCREENING: The court building is a secure environment and all persons entering the court, even prospective jurors, are required to submit to a security screening. This will include passing through a metal detector and placing any items being carried through an x-ray machine. Do not bring guns, knives, pocket knives, knitting needles or other items that could be used as a weapon. Please keep in mind that even certain everyday items (scissors, nail clippers, etc.) will not be permitted.
• On your first day you will watch a short instructional DVD. Following the DVD, jury selection will begin.
• HOW LONG WILL I BE THERE? You should expect to be in court for the full day, until 4:00 p.m. You may be released earlier but it is not something you can plan on.
• LUNCH: Lunch will be on your own. There are soda machines in most court houses. When you are deliberating on a case you will be provided with lunch.
• CELL PHONES: Juror cell phones will need to be switched off during jury orientation and selection. Your cell phone will be held for you by court staff during grand jury proceedings and petit jury deliberations. If an emergency occurs and you need to be contacted, calls can be made to the court.
• DELAYS: You should be prepared to spend time waiting. You may bring reading materials or other items that will occupy you during waiting periods.
• DAY CARE: Courts do not have any facilities for children. You should make other arrangements for your children during the day.

Once a verdict has been reached, the jurors are permitted to discuss the trial, verdict and deliberations with anyone they wish, other than the parties and their attorneys. No one involved in the case, or any person acting for them, is permitted to question you for a period of 30 days after you have completed the entire term of your jury service. After that time, communication is permitted but it is up to you whether you wish to speak with anyone. You should let the court know if you are contacted within the 30 day period or if anyone has asked you questions or made comments that embarrass or harass you or to influence your actions in future jury service.

• Belknap
• Carroll
• Cheshire
• Coos
• Grafton
• Hillsborough - Northern District
• Hillsborough - Southern District
• Merrimack
• Rockingham
• Strafford
• Sullivan

Here are just a few things to keep in mind when you begin your jury service:

• Do not chew gum or eat snacks during the proceedings.  You will be given breaks during the proceedings when you can have a snack or something to drink.
• It is important to be on time when reporting for jury duty.  The case cannot begin until all the jurors are ready.  If you think you may be delayed for some reason, you should call the clerk's office immediately.
• Remember not to talk to anyone about the case before the judge instructs you to.  This means family members, friends or other jurors.  If anyone tries to contact you or influence your decision, you should tell the judge or a court officer immediately.
• FINALLY, remember to be fair and keep an open mind about what you hear and see during the proceedings.  Set aside your personal feelings.  By remaining impartial, you will be able to reach the best decision in this case for the benefit of your fellow citizens.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JuryCenter