Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of Court

Jury Management

The Jury Management Department is responsible for the selection of the jurors used by the 21st Judicial District Court in Tangipahoa Parish. A jury pool is empanelled for all civil or criminal cases scheduled to be separately tried in a given week. All civil juries are pooled together and all criminal juries are pooled together.

For example, if two divisions require a criminal jury in the same week, then one jury pool is empanelled for 300 people. If two divisions require a civil jury in the same week, one jury pool is empanelled for 250 people. The judges of the 21st Judicial District Court set the guidelines for the number of people empanelled for civil and criminal juries. The judge is the only person who can excuse someone from jury service.

Because of the limited space in the Amite Courthouse, we do not have a separate jury room for jurors. All jurors report to Courtroom No. 1 where a roll is taken and they view a film. After the roll has been taken and the film has been shown, the judge comes into courtroom to explain the qualifications of a juror and the exemptions that may be claimed. If any juror feels that he or she does not meet the qualifications or wishes to claim an exemption, the judge gives that person the opportunity to speak with him/her one-on-one to explain their situation.

In order to serve as a prospective juror, you must:

Be a United States and of Louisiana citizen who has resided in Tangipahoa Parish for at least one year immediately preceding your jury service;
Be at least eighteen years of age;
Be able to read, write and speak the English language;
Not be under interdiction or incapable of serving as a prospective juror because of a mental or physical infirmity;
Not be under indictment for a felony nor have been convicted of a felony of which you have not been pardoned.

There are three exemptions which may be claimed:

You have performed jury service in the 21st Judicial District Court within the last two years of your reporting date;
Serving would result in an undue hardship or extreme inconvenience;
You are seventy years of age and older.

If you feel you do not meet the above qualifications or wish to claim an exemption, you must contact the Judges Chambers by phone at (985) 748-9445 or (800) 768-6791.

For instructions to prospective Tangipahoa Parish jurors, click here.