Jury Service – Qualifications
Jurors must be men and women possessed of sound judgment, absolute honesty, and a complete sense of fairness. Their greatest reward is the knowledge that they have discharged this duty faithfully,
honorably, and well.
In addition to determining and adjusting property rights, jurors may also be asked to decide questions involving a crime for which a person may be fined, placed on probation, or confined in prison.
In a very real sense, therefore, the people must rely upon jurors for the protection of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Arkansas Law requires the following qualifications:
- Benton County Registered Voter
- 18 years of age or older
- Citizen of the United States
- Resident of Benton County Arkansas
- Sound mind and good moral character
- Able to read and write the English language
- Must not have served as a juror in Benton County in the last two years
- Must not have been convicted of a felony that has not been pardoned or expunged
Only a Judge can excuse a person from jury service. A person may be excused if the court finds that either the state of the juror’s interests or those of the public will be materially injured by the juror’s attendance.
The law does not allow a person to be excused for economic reasons or business reasons. Nurses, doctors, teachers, and police officers are not exempt or disqualified because of their professions. However, you may speak to the Judge in the Court about your particular situation but there are no guarantees that you will be excused.
NOTE TO EMPLOYERS:
It is unlawful for any employer to discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate, or coerce any employee for attendance or scheduled attendance in connection with jury service. The Circuit Clerk’s Office can provide upon request, a certificate showing the attendance for those jurors whose employers require them.
To contact the Circuit Clerk regarding your jury service, please call (479) 271-1015 or email at jury@bentoncountyar.gov.
