Jury Duty for Students
For students residing at Stonehill College, the law is clear: there is no automatic student exemption from jury duty in the Commonwealth. Eligibility is generally based on residency, not permanent domicile, which means most students living on campus are eligible to serve.
Key Eligibility and Service Requirements
Residency for Eligibility
A college student is eligible for jury duty in Massachusetts if they are:
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A U.S. Citizen (age 17 or older, though actual service is for those 18 and older).
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A legal resident of Massachusetts, or an inhabitant of the state for more than 50% of the calendar year (six months or more).
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This rule applies to out-of-state students who reside on a Massachusetts campus for the academic year; they are considered "inhabitants" and must respond to a Massachusetts summons.
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Students who are Massachusetts residents may be summoned by their home county or the county where their school is located. If summoned by both, they must only serve for the one that was issued first.
Exemption and Disqualification
Being a student is not a reason for exemption. Disqualifications are limited and are generally for:
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Being under 18 years old (though citizens 17 and over are included on the master list).
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Not being a U.S. citizen.
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Having served on a jury (in any U.S. court) within the previous three years.
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Having a felony conviction within the past seven years or currently being a defendant in a pending felony case.
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Being outside the judicial district and not intending to return during the following year. A student who will not reside in Massachusetts for 50% of the calendar year is eligible for this disqualification.
Postponement of Service
To avoid conflict with academic schedules, students are allowed one automatic postponement of their jury service for up to one year from the original summons date. Many students choose to postpone their service until a school break, such as the summer.
Academic Obligations
Stonehill encourages students to fulfill their civic duty and offers support for missed class time:
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Students who receive a summons must notify their instructors of the anticipated absence and make arrangements to complete any missed work.
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Students may be required to provide their summons notice or the certificate of service to their academic department or Dean's office.
Failure to Respond
Jury duty is a legal obligation. Students who fail to respond to a summons are considered delinquent and are subject to criminal prosecution and a fine of up to .
If a student has questions, they should contact the Office of the Jury Commissioner at 1-800-THE-JURY (1-800-843-5879).