Juror Information

As a juror, you are called in to take part in one of the highest duties of citizenship. The jury system is guaranteed by our state and federal constitutions and is the foundation of our legal system. We realize we all have very busy lives.  However, we know you would agree that this act of citizenship is nonetheless a necessary inconvenience considering its role in our justice system. On behalf of the people of Montana, the Court thanks you for your service.

Jury Duty

The jury term for the Red Lodge City Court is for one year. Each term starts on September 1st and ends on August 31st. Notices for jury duty are mailed out in the late spring or early summer.

The law provides that all citizens 18 years of age or older, who are residences for at least 30 days of the State and of the City, and who are citizens of the United States are eligible for jury service.

The City Court does not choose the juror pool. The list of prospective jurors are supplied by the Montana Secretary of State to the Office of Court Administrator. Jurors are selected from a combined list of registered voters, licensed drivers, holders of Montana ID Cards, and Red Lodge property owners.

Sometimes, the information contained within those lists might be inaccurate or out of date. If a juror is not a resident of the city, they must complete the entire questionnaire, complete the affidavit, and return those to the court so that the information can be updated, as they may still be eligible for jury duty in the Justice or District Courts.

If you receive one, you may notice that it needs to be completed and returned within seven days. A second notice may follow if the first one hasn't found its way back. If you need another one, you can download a blank form (Jury Questionnaire) below, but it will not contain your information, so you will need to fill in your full name and mailing address.

Being selected for jury duty does not guarantee that you will be called to serve on a jury at a trial. 

Jurors are selected randomly as required by state law. If there is a jury trial, a panel of prospective jurors will be selected randomly, as required by state law, from the jury pool. Each juror on the panel will be notified by mail, followed by a phone call that they are to report for jury duty.

You can read about how juries are selected in Title 3 Chapter 15 of the Montana Code Annotated.

Returning your Questionnaire

Once you have completed your questionnaire, you can leave it with the clerks or place it in the Dropbox at City Hall. You can also mail the questionnaire to the Court. 

Jury Summons

If you have received a summons to appear for jury duty in City Court for a trial on a specific date and time, please call or email the court to confirming you received the summons and leave your name, phone number, the date of trial.

Many times, after you have been selected for a particular case, the case is settled before the time you are ordered to report. The City Court will attempt to notify you when this occurs to avoid all possible inconvenience to you, your family, and your employer.

Jury List

Montana Law requires a copy of the Latest Jury List be must be made available for public inspection. The listing includes the name, address, and birth year of all jurors. The current list is located below. The list includes all individuals selected for jury service in the City Court.