§ 25-1656.Petit jurors; how selected; summons or notice to report.
Article 16: Jurors and Jury Selection · Last amended 2020 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis section has the jury commissioner assemble a regular petit jury panel — normally thirty qualified jurors per sitting judge, drawn from a previously qualified pool if one exists, or newly drawn from the master key list if not — and then summon each name drawn.
Full Text of § 25-1656
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(1) Unless the judge or judges order that no jury be drawn, the jury commissioner shall draw petit jurors for a regular jury panel pursuant to this section.
(2) If the jury commissioner has previously drawn and investigated potential jurors for service during the jury term as provided in section 25-1655, the jury commissioner shall draw by chance the names of thirty such qualified jurors, or such other number as the judge or judges may otherwise direct, for each judge sitting with a jury, as petit jurors for such regular jury panel.
(3) If the jury commissioner has not previously drawn and investigated potential jurors for service during the jury term as provided in section 25-1655, the jury commissioner shall draw and investigate potential jurors from the master key list in the same manner as provided in section 25-1655. The jury commissioner shall draw and investigate such number of potential jurors as the jury commissioner deems necessary to arrive at a list of thirty qualified jurors or such other number of qualified jurors as the judge or judges shall direct for each judge sitting with a jury.
(4) After drawing the names pursuant to subsection (2) or (3) of this section, the jury commissioner shall:
(a) Serve a summons pursuant to section 25-1660 on each person whose name was drawn if the jury commissioner uses the two-step qualifying and summoning system; or
(b) If the jury commissioner has not already done so in the summons or by another method of notification, notify each person whose name was drawn of the date and time to report for jury service if the jury commissioner uses the one-step qualifying and summoning system.
Section 25-1656 describes how a regular petit jury panel gets built for an actual sitting, unless the judge or judges order that no jury be drawn. If the jury commissioner already drew and investigated potential jurors for the jury term under § 25-1655, the commissioner draws by chance thirty of those already-qualified jurors — or another number the judge or judges direct — for each judge sitting with a jury, to serve as petit jurors on the regular panel.
If no such pre-qualified pool exists yet, the commissioner draws and investigates potential jurors straight from the master key list, following the same process described in § 25-1655, drawing and investigating as many as necessary to reach thirty qualified jurors, or whatever other number the judge or judges set, for each judge sitting with a jury.
Either way, once the names are drawn, the commissioner acts on the applicable qualifying and summoning system: under the two-step system, the commissioner serves a summons under § 25-1660 on each person drawn; under the one-step system, the commissioner notifies each person of the date and time to report for jury service, unless that notice was already given in the summons or by some other method.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many jurors does the jury commissioner normally draw for a regular petit jury panel?
Thirty qualified jurors for each judge sitting with a jury, unless the judge or judges direct a different number.
Does the jury commissioner always draw new names for each panel?
No. If potential jurors were already drawn and investigated for the jury term under § 25-1655, the commissioner draws by chance from that already-qualified pool instead of starting over.
What happens if no pre-qualified pool of jurors exists yet?
The commissioner draws and investigates potential jurors directly from the master key list, in the same manner described in § 25-1655, until reaching the required number of qualified jurors.
How are the drawn jurors notified to appear?
Under the two-step system, the commissioner serves a summons under § 25-1660. Under the one-step system, the commissioner notifies each person of the date and time to report, unless that information was already provided.
Can a court decide not to draw a jury panel at all?
Yes. Section 25-1656 applies unless the judge or judges order that no jury be drawn.
Source & verification. Section text and the amendment-history citation are
reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Legislature, Revisor of Statutes, enacted by the
Nebraska Legislature. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
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