Selected for Jury Duty? Don’t Delay! Respond to Your Postcard Promptly

For immediate release: May 14, 2025

Media contact:
Whitney Bermes, Gallatin County Communications Coordinator
406-595-8963
whitney.bermes@gallatin.mt.gov

Selected for Jury Duty? Don’t Delay! Respond to Your Postcard Promptly

Have you received a jury duty postcard in the mail? You are not alone.

Gallatin County District Court and Justice Court have each selected new jury pools for their 2025–2026 jury terms. Approximately 8,500 residents were notified by District Court last week, and 4,500 residents selected by Justice Court will begin receiving notices this week. Names were randomly drawn from a combined list of registered voters, licensed drivers, and Montana ID card holders.

District Court handles cases like felonies, larger civil cases, and family law matters. Justice Court handles small claims, misdemeanors and traffic violations outside city limits, and other limited-jurisdiction cases.

If you received a postcard from either of these courts, here is what you need to know:

You are not being summoned for a specific trial…yet. You have been identified as a potential juror for the upcoming year-long term.

Respond promptly:

District Court recipients (white postcard) must complete their juror questionnaire within 10 days.

Justice Court recipients (blue postcard) must complete theirs within 7 days.

Each postcard includes detailed instructions on how to complete your questionnaire, so be sure to read and follow those closely!

And do not delay. Failure to respond on time may result in a personal visit from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office. This places unnecessary strain on law enforcement and can delay the judicial process for others.

If you were selected by both courts, contact District Court and they can help remove you from one of the pools.

Please note: There are several other courts in Gallatin County that maintain their own jury pools, including the courts in Bozeman, Belgrade, Manhattan, Three Forks, and West Yellowstone, as well as the Gallatin County Coroner’s Office. If you received a notice from one of these, please refer directly to that court for specific juror information.

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