Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Office of the Revisor of Statutes

Office of the Revisor of Statutes

GENERAL RULES OF PRACTICE

Rule 811.Term of Jury Service

(a) Counties with a population of 100,000 or more must have the same maximum term of jury service. Counties with a population of less than 100,000 but more than 50,000 must have the same maximum term of jury service. Counties with a population of 50,000 or less must have the same maximum term of jury service. The maximum term of jury service for each county must be specified in the State Jury Administration Plan.

(b) No person is required to continue to serve after the person has reported to the courthouse for ten days within a term of jury service.

(c) Regardless of the maximum term of jury service established under the provisions in paragraphs (a) and (b), if a juror who has reached the maximum term of jury service is currently assigned to a trial, the juror's term of service continues until the completion of the trial on which the juror is sitting.

(d) The time that persons are called upon to perform jury service and be available for jury service shall be the shortest period consistent with the needs of justice. The judicial district administrators shall periodically review the frequency of juror use in each county in determining the shortest period of jury service that will enable the greatest number of citizens to have the opportunity to report to the courthouse and participate in the jury system. The judicial district administrators shall adopt in the State Jury Administration Plan the shortest period of jury service for each county that is practical.

(e) A juror is not disqualified under the provisions of Rule 808(b)(7) from serving on more than one trial during a term of jury service. A juror must be excused after completion of one trial to deliberation if the jury commissioner determines that the county has an adequate number of jurors available.

(Amended effective November 22, 2023)

Advisory Committee Comment - 2023 Amendments

Rule 811 is updated in 2023 to move juror term of service lengths out of the rule and into the Statewide Jury Administration Plan adopted by all 10 judicial district administrators in their role as jury commissioners. This allows for a more efficient review and updating than obtaining any needed rule change.