§ 25-1677.Packing juries; solicitation of jury service; penalties.
Article 16: Jurors and Jury Selection · Last amended 2020 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis section sets three separate penalties for jury manipulation: forfeiture of office for an officer who corruptly summons a juror to sway a verdict, a contempt fine for a person who seeks their own selection as a juror, and a contempt fine for anyone who solicits placing someone on a jury.
Full Text of § 25-1677
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(1) If a sheriff or other officer corruptly or through favor or ill will summons a juror with the intent that such juror shall find a verdict for or against either party, or summons a grand juror from like motives with the intent that such grand juror shall or shall not find an indictment or presentment against any particular individual, the sheriff or other officer shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars, shall forfeit his or her office, and shall be forever disqualified from holding any office in this state.
(2) Any person who seeks the position of juror or who asks any attorney or other officer of the court or any other person or officer in any manner charged with the duty of selecting the jury to secure or procure his or her selection as a juror shall be guilty of contempt of court, shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars, and shall thereby be disqualified from serving as a juror for that jury term.
(3) Any attorney or party to a suit pending for trial at that jury term who requests or solicits the placing of any person upon a jury, or upon any list of potential jurors for service on any grand or petit jury, shall be guilty of contempt of court and be fined not exceeding one hundred dollars, and the person so sought to be put upon the jury or list shall be disqualified to serve as a juror for that jury term.
Section 25-1677 targets jury packing from three different angles, each with its own penalty. First, a sheriff or other officer who summons a juror corruptly, through favor or ill will, intending that juror to reach a particular verdict — or who summons a grand juror with the same motive to shape an indictment or presentment — faces a fine of up to five hundred dollars, forfeits his or her office, and is forever disqualified from holding any office in Nebraska.
Second, a person who seeks the position of juror by asking an attorney, court officer, or anyone else charged with selecting the jury to secure their own selection is guilty of contempt of court, faces a fine of up to twenty dollars, and is disqualified from serving as a juror for that jury term.
Third, an attorney or a party with a pending suit at that jury term who requests or solicits placing a specific person on a jury, or on a list of potential jurors, is guilty of contempt of court and faces a fine of up to one hundred dollars. The person that attorney or party sought to place on the jury is also disqualified from serving that term.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to an officer who packs a jury to influence a verdict?
A fine of up to five hundred dollars, forfeiture of office, and permanent disqualification from holding office in Nebraska.
Can I get in trouble for trying to get myself picked as a juror?
Yes. That is contempt of court, punishable by a fine of up to twenty dollars, and it disqualifies you from serving that jury term.
What if a lawyer tries to get a specific person placed on the jury?
The lawyer is guilty of contempt and faces a fine of up to one hundred dollars, and the person they tried to place is disqualified from that term.
Are these criminal penalties or contempt sanctions?
The officer-packing penalty includes a fine and loss of office; the other two violations are treated as contempt of court with their own fines.
Does this section apply to grand juries as well as petit juries?
Yes. The officer-packing provision covers summoning either a petit juror or a grand juror with corrupt intent.
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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