Here is the process for selecting a jury for a trial in Queensland:
1. First selection
A computer randomly selects people from the Queensland electoral roll (you must be over 18 and registered on the electoral roll).
2. Notice to prospective juror
If you’re chosen in the first selection, you’ll receive a letter called a ‘Notice to prospective juror’.
The notice includes a questionnaire, part of which you can use to apply to be excused from jury service, if necessary.
You can either:
Read more about getting a jury service notice.
3. Second selection
If your questionnaire answers determine you’re eligible and available to serve on a jury—or your excusal application is declined —your name will go into a ‘second selection’.
If your name is randomly chosen in this second selection, you’ll receive a summons for jury service.
If it’s not chosen, you won’t be called for jury service during that specific notice period.
4. Summons
If your name is chosen in the second selection, you’ll receive a summons for jury service via email or post.
During the summons period, you may be required to attend court on certain days to participate in the jury selection process.
The court will decide the afternoon before the trial begins if they need you for jury selection the next day.
You can find out whether you’re required in court the next day by:
- calling the phone number on your summons for a recorded message
- checking the daily law list
- receiving a text message (if you’ve provided your mobile number).
Read more about getting a summons for jury service.
5. Empanelment
Empanelment is when the people who will form the jury for a trial are chosen. When you attend court for an empanelment, your name or panel number may be called randomly. If it is, the prosecutor may call out ‘stand by’ or the defence counsel may call out ‘challenge’. If that happens—or your name or panel number is not called— you won’t be required for that trial.
In larger courts, you may be taken to another courtroom for jury selection for a different trial. Or you may be released for the day and summoned another day for jury selection for a different trial.
Read more about the empanelment process.
6. Swearing in
If you’re not asked to ‘stand by’ or ‘challenged’, you’ll be sworn in or affirmed as a juror.
You’ll then be directed to a seat in the jury box and the trial will commence.
