N.J. Stat. tit. 2B, ch. 20

N.J. Stat. tit. 2B, ch. 20
in effect

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-1 Qualifications of jurors

2B:20-1. Qualifications of jurors. Every person summoned as a juror: a. shall be 18 years of age or older; b. shall be able to read and understand the English language; c. shall be a citizen of the United States; d. shall be a resident of the county in which the person is summoned; e. shall not have been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of this State, another state, or the United States; f. shall not have any mental or physical disability which will prevent the person from properly serving as a juror. L.1995, c.44,s.1; amended 1997, c.127.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-2 Preparation of juror source list.

2B:20-2. a. The names of persons eligible for jury service shall be selected from a single juror source list of county residents whose names and addresses shall be obtained from a merger of the following lists: registered voters, licensed drivers, filers of State gross income tax returns and filers of homestead rebate or credit application forms. The county election board, the Division of Motor Vehicles and the State Division of Taxation shall provide these lists annually to the Assignment Judge of the county. The Assignment Judge may provide for the merger of additional lists of persons eligible for jury service that may contribute to the breadth of the juror source list. Merger of the lists of eligible jurors into a single juror source list shall include a reasonable attempt to eliminate duplication of names. b. The juror source list shall be compiled once a year or more often as directed by the Assignment Judge. c. The juror source list may be expanded by the Supreme Court as it deems appropriate. Amended 2007, c.62, s.41.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-3 Questionnaires concerning qualifications

a. The Assignment Judge may direct that questionnaires be sent to potential jurors, requesting that they provide pertinent information concerning their qualifications for jury service, and any claims for exemption or deferral. b. Questionnaires may be sent to all persons on the juror source list, or to persons randomly selected from the juror source list, either before or with the service of a summons for jury service. Source: 2A:70-5 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-4 Public and random selection of jurors

a. Before each session of the Superior Court, the Assignment Judge shall provide for the drawing of names from the juror source list of persons to be summoned for service as grand and petit jurors. b. The Assignment Judge shall specify the number of panels of grand and petit jurors to be drawn, the number of names to be drawn for each panel and the form and manner of preparation of the lists of names drawn. The lists shall state the name and address and, if available, occupation of each juror to be summoned. c. The Assignment Judge shall provide for the selection of additional panels of grand and petit jurors from the juror source list at any time when it appears that additional panels of jurors will be required. d. Both the drawing of names and the assignment of selected names to panels shall be public and random. e. The Assignment Judge may provide for the random selection of jurors, and their assignment to panels, by the use of electronic devices, if: (1) the method of random selection is specified with particularity in the instructions of the assignment judge; and (2) the specification of the method and any programs and procedures used to implement the method, including any computer programs which are utilized, are available for public inspection upon request. Source: 2A:70-4a; 2A:71-3.1; 2A:71-4; 2A:71-8; 2A:71-10; 2A:71-12 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-5 Certification, filing and posting of juror lists

The list of names randomly selected from the juror source list shall be filed and publicly posted in the office of the County Clerk. The Assignment Judge shall certify on the list that the process specified for the selection of jurors and their assignment to panels has been followed. Source: 2A:70-3 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-6 Designation of period of service for petit jury panels

a. The Assignment Judge shall designate the period of service of each panel of jurors selected from the juror source list. b. A panel of jurors may be designated to serve during a portion of the then current session of the Superior Court, or during a portion of the next session of the Superior Court. Source: 2A:71-9 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-7 Summoning of jurors

a. Upon receipt of a list of persons selected to serve on a panel of jurors, the sheriff shall, under the direction of the Assignment Judge, cause the persons to be summoned. b. The sheriff shall make a return to the Assignment Judge of all of the jurors summoned. Source: 2A:72-2,2A:72-4 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-8 Form and service of summons

a. The summons for jury service shall be by written notice and shall state the date, time and place where the juror is to appear for service. b. The summons shall be served at least 30 days prior to the date upon which the juror is to appear, by regular mail addressed to the juror's usual residence or business address unless service at another address is ordered by the Assignment Judge. Service of the summons shall be complete upon mailing. c. If a sufficient number of jurors is unavailable due to a successful challenge or other unanticipated occurrence and new panels of jurors must be selected from the juror source list, the Assignment Judge may direct that the summons be served less than 30 days prior to the date upon which the jurors are to appear. Source: 2A:72-5; 2A:71-11 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-9 Excuses and deferrals by Assignment Judge

a. A person may be excused from jury service or may have jury service deferred only by the Assignment Judge of the county in which the person was summoned, or by the Assignment Judge's designee. b. The Assignment Judge may require verification of any of the facts supporting the grounds for a request for excuse or deferral. Records shall be kept of all requests for excuses and deferrals, and of the granting of excuses and deferrals. Source: 2A:78-1 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-10 Grounds for excuse from jury service.

2B:20-10. An excuse from jury service shall be granted only if: a. The prospective juror is 75 years of age or older; b. The prospective juror has served as a juror within the last three years in the county to which the juror is being summoned; c. Jury service will impose a severe hardship due to circumstances which are not likely to change within the following year. Severe hardship includes the following circumstances: (1) The prospective juror has a medical inability to serve which is verified by a licensed physician. (2) The prospective juror will suffer a severe financial hardship which will compromise the juror's ability to support himself, herself, or dependents. In determining whether to excuse the prospective juror, the Assignment Judge shall consider: (a) the sources of the prospective juror's household income; and (b) the availability and extent of income reimbursement; and (c) the expected length of service. (3) The prospective juror has a personal obligation to care for another, including: (a) a dependent who is sick, is elderly, or has an infirmity or a minor child, who requires the prospective juror's personal care and attention, and no alternative care is available without severe financial hardship on the prospective juror or the person requiring care; or (b) a child who is one year of age or younger where the prospective juror is the child's mother and is nursing or expressing milk for the child. (4) The prospective juror provides highly specialized technical health care services for which replacement cannot reasonably be obtained. (5) The prospective juror is a health care worker directly involved in the care of a person with a mental or physical disability, and the prospective juror's continued presence is essential to the personal treatment of that person. (6) The prospective juror is a member of the full-time instructional staff of a grammar school or high school, the scheduled jury service is during the school term, and a replacement cannot reasonably be obtained. In determining whether to excuse the prospective juror or grant a deferral of service, the Assignment Judge shall consider: (a) the impact on the school considering the number and function of teachers called for jury service during the current academic year; and (b) the special role of certified special education teachers in providing continuity of instruction to students with disabilities; d. The prospective juror is a member of a volunteer fire department or fire patrol; or e. The prospective juror is a volunteer member of a first aid or rescue squad. Amended 2017, c.131, s.3; 2025, c.43.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-11 Deferral of jury service

Upon a request for deferral of jury service or upon the denial of a request for an excuse from jury service, the Assignment Judge may direct that the jury service of a prospective juror be deferred to another time within the next twelve months. Source: 2A:78-1 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-12 Retention of records

All records concerning the granting of excuses from and deferrals of jury service, and all juror questionnaires, shall be retained for a period of three years. All other records relating to the summoning, impaneling and charging of jurors shall be retained for five years. Source: New L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-13 Discharge of unneeded jurors

If the number of jurors in attendance is greater than is necessary for the business of the court, the Assignment Judge may discharge the unneeded jurors before the expiration of the period for which they were summoned. The jurors discharged shall be selected randomly. Source: 2A:78-3 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-14 Failure to respond to questionnaire or summons

a. Persons who are sent questionnaires concerning their qualifications for jury service who fail to respond to the questionnaire without reasonable excuse shall be liable for a fine not to exceed $500, payable to the county from which the questionnaire was sent, or may be punished for contempt of court. b. Persons summoned as jurors who, without reasonable excuse, either fail to appear for jury service or refuse to serve, shall be liable for a fine not to exceed $500, payable to the county in which the person was summoned, or may be punished for contempt of court. Source: 2A:70-5; 2A:79-1 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-15 Notice and collection of fines

a. The Assignment Judge may direct the sheriff to send written notice to a person who has failed to respond to a questionnaire concerning jury service, or who has failed to appear for jury service or has refused to serve, that a fine has been imposed. The notice shall state the amount of the fine, the manner of payment to be made to the sheriff, and the consequences of failure to pay the fine within 30 days of the date specified in the notice. The notice shall be served in the same manner as a summons. b. If a defaulting juror fails to pay the fine in response to the notice, the Assignment Judge may issue process directing the sheriff to recover the fine and costs by levy on the defaulting juror's personal property. Source: 2A:79-2; 2A:79-3 L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-16 Excuse from employment for jury duty; compensation

2B:20-16. Excuse from employment for jury duty; compensation. Any person employed full-time by any agency, independent authority, instrumentality or entity of the State or of any political subdivision of the State shall be excused from employment at all times the person is required to be present for jury service in any court of this State, any court of another state, or any federal district court or in the United States District Court for New Jersey, and shall be entitled to receive from the employer the person's usual compensation for each day the person is present for jury service in lieu of any payment for juror service as provided in P.L.1993, c.275 (C.22A:1-1.1). L.1995, c.44, s.1; amended 2001, c.38, s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-17 Employment protection

a. An employer shall not penalize an employee with respect to employment, or threaten or otherwise coerce an employee with respect to that employment, because the employee is required to attend court for jury service. b. An employer who violates subsection a. of this section is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. c. If an employer penalizes an employee in violation of subsection a. of this section, the employee may bring a civil action for economic damages suffered as a result of the violation and for an order requiring the reinstatement of the employee. The action shall be commenced within 90 days from the date of the violation or the completion of jury service, whichever is later. If the employee prevails, the employee shall be entitled to a reasonable attorney's fee fixed by the court. Source: New L.1995,c.44,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 2B:20-18 Oath of allegiance

The following oath shall be administered to every person summoned for service as a juror who is not excused from service, before beginning service upon the panel: "Do you swear or affirm that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this State?" Source: 2A:69-1.1 L.1995,c.44,s.1.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026