§ 197.Random selection of jurors; Appropriate source lists

Title 3. Persons Specially Invested With Powers of a Judicial Nature · Chapter 1. Trial Jury Selection and Management Act · Last amended 2021 · Last verified July 28, 2026

In one sentenceSection 197 requires random jury selection from source lists that together give a representative cross section of the area served by the court, and names the voter list, DMV list, and resident state tax filer list as the qualifying sources.

Full Text of § 197

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d)

(a) All persons selected for jury service shall be selected at random, from a source or sources inclusive of a representative cross section of the population of the area served by the court. Sources may include, in addition to other lists, customer mailing lists, telephone directories, or utility company lists.

(b)

(1) The list of registered voters and the Department of Motor Vehicles’ list of licensed drivers and identification cardholders resident within the area served by the court, are appropriate source lists for selection of jurors. Until January 1, 2022, only these two source lists, when substantially purged of duplicate names, shall be considered inclusive of a representative cross section of the population, within the meaning of subdivision (a).

(2) The list of resident state tax filers is an appropriate source list for selection of jurors. Beginning on January 1, 2022, the list of resident state tax filers, the list of registered voters, and the Department of Motor Vehicles’ list of licensed drivers and identification cardholders resident within the area served by the court, when substantially purged of duplicate names, shall be considered inclusive of a representative cross section of the population, within the meaning of subdivision (a).

(c) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall furnish the jury commissioner of each county with the current list of the names, addresses, and other identifying information of persons residing in the county who are age 18 years or older and who are holders of a current driver’s license or identification card issued pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 12800) of, or Article 5 (commencing with Section 13000) of, Chapter 1 of Division 6 of the Vehicle Code. The conditions under which these lists shall be compiled semiannually shall be determined by the director, consistent with any rules which may be adopted by the Judicial Council. This service shall be provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to Section 1812 of the Vehicle Code. The jury commissioner shall not disclose the information furnished by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to this section to any person, organization, or agency.

(d)

(1) The Franchise Tax Board shall annually furnish the jury commissioner of each county with a list of resident state tax filers for their county in consultation with the Judicial Council.

(2) The list of resident state tax filers shall be submitted to the jury commissioner of each county by November 1, 2021, and each November 1 thereafter.

(3)

(A) For purposes of this section, “list of resident state tax filers” means a list that includes the name, date of birth, principal residence address, and county of principal residence, of persons who are 18 years of age or older and have filed a California resident income tax return for the preceding taxable year.

(B) For purposes of this paragraph, “county of principal residence” means the county in which the taxpayer has their principal residence on the date that the taxpayer filed their California resident income tax return.

(C) For the purposes of this paragraph, “principal residence” is used in the same manner it is used in Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code.

End

Plain-English Summary

Section 197 sets the standard for where jury pools come from: a source or sources that, together, are inclusive of a representative cross section of the population the court serves. Until January 1, 2022, only the list of registered voters and the Department of Motor Vehicles’ list of licensed drivers and identification cardholders, substantially purged of duplicates, counted as satisfying that standard on their own.

Beginning January 1, 2022, the list of resident state tax filers joined the voter and DMV lists as a source that, together with them, meets the representative cross-section standard. The Franchise Tax Board supplies that tax-filer list to each county’s jury commissioner annually, drawing on name, date of birth, principal residence address, and county of principal residence for anyone who filed a California resident income tax return the preceding year.

The DMV, for its part, must furnish each county’s jury commissioner with current lists of drivers and identification cardholders 18 or older, and the jury commissioner may not disclose that DMV-furnished information to any other person, organization, or agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What lists can California courts use to select jurors?

Section 197 identifies the voter registration list, the DMV list of licensed drivers and identification cardholders, and, since January 1, 2022, the list of resident state tax filers.

When did the tax filer list become a jury source list?

The list of resident state tax filers became part of the qualifying combination of source lists on January 1, 2022.

Can the jury commissioner share DMV juror information with anyone else?

No. Section 197 bars the jury commissioner from disclosing DMV-furnished information to any person, organization, or agency.

What must the combined source lists represent?

They must be inclusive of a representative cross section of the population of the area the court serves, once substantially purged of duplicate names.

Amendment History

Added Stats 1988 ch 1245 § 2. Amended Stats 2020 ch 230 § 1 (SB 592), effective January 1, 2021.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from the California Legislative Information. Enacted by the California Legislature. Last verified July 28, 2026. · Official source

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