Frequently Asked Questions

If you received a yellow card from Municipal Court, you have just been added to the jury pool for the term beginning Sept 1st and ending Aug 31st. If you are selected for a particular trial, you will receive a Summons in the mail about 5 weeks before the trial date. The Summons will provide instructions on how to proceed.

Annual Notice postcards are also being sent by Justice Court and District Court.  See below if you need to contact them:

Green postcard?     Justice Court Annual Notice 

Hot pink postcard?  District Court Annual Notice page or email the District Court 

You are eligible to be selected for the jury pool if you are 18 years of age or older, a resident of Missoula County for at least 30 days, and a citizen of the United States.  The jury pool is selected from a combined list of registered voters, licensed drivers, and holders of Montana State ID cards.  Be aware there are 4 Courts in Missoula County that have jury pools – Municipal Court, Justice Court, District Court, and US District Court.  

Email our office with an updated address, and we can have you excused for the remainder of our jury term. 

Please note this only excuses you for a single term in Municipal court. if you want to be removed from future jury pools in Missoula County, see below:

We get our jury pool from those residents who are registered to vote in Missoula County or have Driver's Licenses or State IDs issued from Missoula County. Cancelling your Missoula County voter registration may help remove you from the jury pool. If you have moved from Missoula County, please ensure you have cancelled your voter registration by submitting a voter cancellation form via email to electioninfo@missoulacounty.us or by mailing it to 140 N. Russell St., Missoula, MT 59801. The Elections Office cannot cancel your registration over the phone.

If you have moved out of state, you also need to contact the Montana Driver Services Bureau at (406) 444-3933, as other states do not necessarily inform Montana that you have either registered to vote or obtained a Driver's License in that state. If these departments are not contacted, your name will likely remain on their lists, and you will possibly be added to future jury pools in Missoula County.

Each year, a new jury pool is selected from a combined list of registered voters, licensed drivers, and holders of Montana State ID cards, whether or not you were previously in a jury pool.  Having been in the jury pool in previous years does not preclude you from being selected in the jury pool in a future year.

On the postcard, it should appear directly above your name.    

If you were previously excused for a particular trial or a jury term, you would still qualify to be added to this year’s jury pool.  However, if you were permanently excused previously, please email the Court at CourtJurors@ci.missoula.mt.us, so we can do some research as to why you were added this year.  Please provide your Juror Number, Name, contact information, and a copy of the Permanent Excusal, if you have it.  

Please complete the Affidavit for Excusal advising us of the dates and reasons why you will be unavailable for jury service during that time. Your request will be forwarded to a Judge for review.  If approved, we will update our records to indicate you are unavailable during that time frame, and send you notification.

Please complete the Questionnaire as to Qualification for Jury Service to indicate to the Court that you have received the Annual Notice.  If you are selected to appear for a particular trial, you will receive a Summons in the mail about 5 - 6 weeks before the trial.  It will contain instructions on how to request an excusal. 

You will receive a Jury Summons by mail if you are selected to appear for a particular trial, usually about 5 weeks before the trial.  The Summons will provide instructions on how to notify the Court.

8,500 people have been selected for Municipal Court’s jury pool this year.  Also consider there are 3 other courts that require their own jury pool in Missoula: Justice Court, District Court, and United States District Court.

The term begins each year on September 1, and ends August 31, the following year.

You could be found in contempt of court, face a fine, and/or the Court may direct the Missoula Police Department to bring you before the Court to explain your absence.