§ 25-1661.Jurors; appearance; failure to appear or serve without good cause; contempt of court.
Article 16: Jurors and Jury Selection · Last amended 2020 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis section requires each summoned grand and petit juror to appear as directed, lets a court order a no-show to show cause and hold that person in contempt absent good cause, and shields from contempt anyone already found unqualified, excused, or postponed under a mailed summons.
Full Text of § 25-1661
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(1) Each grand juror and petit juror summoned shall appear before the court on the day and at the hour specified in the summons or as further directed by the court.
(2) Any person summoned for jury service who fails to appear or to complete jury service as directed may be ordered by the court to appear forthwith and show cause for such failure to comply with the summons. If such person fails to show good cause for noncompliance with the summons, he or she shall be guilty of contempt of court.
(3) No person shall be guilty of contempt of court under this section for failing to respond to a summons sent:
(a) By first-class mail, if sent pursuant to a one-step qualifying and summoning system, and if the person has (i) returned a juror qualification form and the jury commissioner has determined that such person is not qualified; (ii) been excused from jury service; or (iii) had his or her jury service postponed; or
Section 25-1661 closes the loop on jury summoning by attaching a duty and a consequence. Every grand and petit juror who is summoned must appear before the court on the day and at the hour the summons specifies, or as the court further directs. Anyone summoned who fails to appear, or who fails to complete jury service as directed, can be ordered by the court to appear at once and show cause for that failure. If the person cannot show good cause for not complying with the summons, that person is guilty of contempt of court.
The section then carves out situations where contempt does not apply, tied to how the summons was delivered and what happened afterward. No one is guilty of contempt for failing to respond to a summons sent by first-class mail under a one-step qualifying and summoning system if that person had already returned a juror qualification form and the jury commissioner determined the person was not qualified, had already been excused from jury service, or had already had jury service postponed. And no one is guilty of contempt for failing to respond to a summons sent through a jury management system at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a summoned juror required to do under this section?
Appear before the court on the day and at the hour specified in the summons, or as the court further directs.
What can a court do if a summoned juror fails to appear?
Order the person to appear at once and show cause for the failure to comply with the summons.
Can a juror be held in contempt for not appearing?
Yes, if the person fails to show good cause for not complying with the summons.
Are there situations where failing to respond to a summons is not contempt?
Yes. A person is not guilty of contempt for failing to respond to a first-class-mailed one-step summons if they had already been found unqualified, already excused, or already had service postponed, and no one is guilty of contempt for failing to respond to a summons sent through a jury management system.
Why does a summons sent through a jury management system get different treatment?
Section 25-1661 exempts summonses delivered through a jury management system from the contempt consequence that otherwise attaches to a failure to respond.
Does the appearance duty apply to both grand and petit jurors?
Yes. The section applies to each grand juror and petit juror summoned.
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
Also known as:failure to appear for jury duty nebraskacontempt of court jury summonsgood cause not appearing jury servicejury management system summons exemptionsection 25-1661 nebraska