(a) Random selection shall be utilized in creating master and qualified juror lists, commencing with selection from source lists, and continuing through selection of prospective jurors for voir dire.
§ 198.Master and qualified juror lists
Title 3. Persons Specially Invested With Powers of a Judicial Nature · Chapter 1. Trial Jury Selection and Management Act · Enacted 1988 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 198 has the jury commissioner draw a master list at least once every twelve months by randomly selecting names from the source lists, then use that master list to mail juror questionnaires and summon prospective jurors.
Full Text of § 198
(b) The jury commissioner shall, at least once in each 12-month period, randomly select names of prospective trial jurors from the source list or lists, to create a master list.
(c) The master jury list shall be used by the jury commissioner, as provided by statute and state and local court rules, for the purpose of (1) mailing juror questionnaires and subsequent creation of a qualified juror list, and (2) summoning prospective jurors to respond or appear for qualification and service.
Plain-English Summary
Section 198 connects the source lists of § 197 to the day-to-day work of getting people into a courtroom. At least once every twelve months, the jury commissioner randomly selects names from the source list or lists to build a master list.
That master list then does two jobs: it drives the mailing of juror questionnaires, which in turn feeds the creation of a qualified juror list, and it supplies the pool from which prospective jurors are summoned to respond or appear for qualification and service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must a new master jury list be created?
Section 198 requires the jury commissioner to randomly select names for a master list at least once in each twelve-month period.
What is the master list used for?
It is used to mail juror questionnaires, which lead to a qualified juror list, and to summon prospective jurors to respond or appear for qualification and service.
Where do the names on a master list come from?
They are randomly selected from the source list or lists described in § 197.
Amendment History
Added Stats 1988 ch 1245 § 2.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: california master jury listhow is the jury pool created californiaqualified juror list californiajury commissioner master list requirement