Dear fellow Hanoverians:
\nI have had some interesting conversations over the past couple of
\nweeks about how Hanover residents are chosen for jury duty. I thought
\nI would therefore take a minute to explain the process for anyone who
\nmight be interested! First, all Town Clerks across the Commonwealth
\nhave a list of prospective jurors. Residents of Hanover can call,
\ne-mail or stop by the Clerk\u2019s Office to see if they are on the list
\nfor this year. This is prescribed by Massachusetts General Laws
\nChapter 234A.<\/p>\n
So, how do you get on \u201cthe juror\u2019s list\u201d? Here are some excerpts
\nfrom the law that explain the process:<\/p>\n
\u201cOn or before the first day of June of each year, each city and town
\nshall make a sequentially numbered list of the names, addresses, and
\ndates of birth of all persons who were seventeen years of age or older
\nas of the first day of January of the current year and who resided as
\nof the first day of January of the current year in such city or town.
\nThe names of residents shall be listed and numbered, without
\nduplication, in alphabetical order, one name to each number, along
\nwith such other information and in such form and format as shall be
\nspecified in the regulations of the jury commissioner. On or before
\nthe said date, each city and town shall submit one copy of this list
\nto the office of jury commissioner and make a copy of such list
\navailable for inspection by members of the public. Hereinafter in this
\nchapter, such list shall be referred to as the \u201cnumbered resident
\nlist\u201d and a particular individual on such list shall be referred to
\nas a \u201cnumbered resident\u201d. <\/p>\n
On or before the first day of July of each year, the office of jury
\ncommissioner shall determine the number of prospective jurors to be
\ndrawn from each city and town. This number shall be as nearly as
\npossible equal to the ratio of the population of the city or town to
\nthe entire population of the judicial district in which the particular
\ncity or town is situated, multiplied by the total number of
\nprospective jurors required for the judicial district.<\/p>\n
On or before the first day of September of each year, the office of
\nthe jury commissioner shall randomly select prospective jurors for
\neach city and town from the corresponding numbered resident list or
\nnumbered resident file. Each such numbered resident, so identified and
\nselected, shall be a prospective juror of the city or town.\u201d<\/p>\n
The town creates the original \u201cnumbered resident list\u201d with
\ninformation from several sources: the town\u2019s census, the Registry of
\nMotor Vehicles (if you own a car, have a driver\u2019s license or
\npermit), and\/or from the list of registered voters. None of these
\ninformation sources is more important than another; inclusion from any
\nsource lands you on the \u201cnumbered resident list\u201d. Multiple actions
\n(such as being on the census AND being registered to vote) does NOT
\nmake it more likely that you will be chosen for jury service. A
\nresident only gets listed on the \u201cnumbered resident list\u201d that
\ngoes to the Office of Jury Commissioner once.<\/p>\n
For further information, please contact the Town Clerk\u2019s Office at
\nclerk@hanover-ma.gov
\n .<\/p>\n
For “Around Town on the Web”,
\nCathy H-B<\/p>\n
—
\n“Around Town on the Web” (“ATOTW”) is a community service that has been
\nprovided to self-selected residents of the Town of Hanover since the spring
\nof 2004.
\nFor submission guidelines and answers to frequently asked questions about
\n“ATOTW”, please go to http:\/\/www.atotw.com.
\nTo search for archived “ATOTW” news, view the archive.
\nIf you would like to be added to this distribution list, click here. Please
\nfollow the link in the response e-mail to validate your account. You will
\nnot receive “ATOTW” e-mails until you complete this step.
\nIf you would like to be removed from this distribution list, click here.<\/p>\n
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Dear fellow Hanoverians: I have had some interesting conversations over the past couple of weeks about how Hanover residents are chosen for jury duty. I thought I would therefore take a minute to explain the process for anyone who might … Continue reading