§ 25-1658.Juror qualification form; failure to return; effect; contempt of court.
Article 16: Jurors and Jury Selection · Last amended 2020 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis section requires the jury commissioner to bring in, for in-person completion, any potential juror who fails to return a qualification form, allows questioning about excuse or disqualification at that appearance, and makes it contempt to knowingly withhold the form or misrepresent a material fact on it.
Full Text of § 25-1658
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(1) Any potential juror who fails to return a completed juror qualification form as instructed shall be directed by the jury commissioner to appear before him or her to fill out the juror qualification form. At the time of the potential juror's appearance for jury service or at the time of any interview before the court or jury commissioner, any potential juror may be required to fill out another juror qualification form, at which time the potential juror may be questioned with regard to his or her responses to questions contained on the form and grounds for his or her excuse or disqualification. Any information thus acquired by the court or jury commissioner shall be noted on the juror qualification form.
(2) Any person who knowingly fails to complete and return or who willfully misrepresents a material fact on a juror qualification form for the purpose of avoiding or securing service as a juror shall be guilty of contempt of court.
Section 25-1658 addresses what happens when the process in § 25-1657 does not produce a completed form. Any potential juror who fails to return one as instructed must be directed by the jury commissioner to appear before the commissioner and fill out the form in person. That in-person moment doubles as an opportunity for the court or commissioner: at the potential juror’s appearance for jury service, or at any interview before the court or commissioner, the person may be asked to complete another qualification form and may be questioned about their answers and about any grounds for excuse or disqualification, with whatever the court or commissioner learns noted on the form.
The section backs this process with a contempt sanction. Anyone who knowingly fails to complete and return a juror qualification form, or who willfully misrepresents a material fact on one, for the purpose of avoiding or securing jury service, is guilty of contempt of court. The sanction covers both directions — trying to dodge service and trying to engineer a spot on a jury are treated the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a potential juror never returns the qualification form?
The jury commissioner directs that person to appear in person before the commissioner to fill out the form.
Can the court or commissioner question a potential juror about their form answers?
Yes. At the potential juror’s appearance for jury service, or at any interview before the court or commissioner, the person may be questioned about their responses and about grounds for excuse or disqualification.
Is failing to complete a juror qualification form a crime?
Knowingly failing to complete and return the form, done to avoid or secure jury service, is contempt of court under this section.
Is lying on a juror qualification form also contempt?
Yes. Willfully misrepresenting a material fact on the form, for the purpose of avoiding or securing jury service, is contempt of court under this section.
Does the contempt provision cover someone trying to get onto a jury, not just someone trying to avoid it?
Yes. The section covers misrepresentation or nonresponse aimed at either avoiding or securing jury service.
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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