ILCS » Chapter 705 · Act 305
Illinois Compiled Statutes

705 ILCS 305/2 (2026)

Jury qualifications

✓ current as of May 2026
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(705 ILCS 305/2) (from Ch. 78, par. 2)
    Sec. 2. Jury qualifications.
    (a) At the September meeting of the county board in each year in the respective counties in this State, except those that have jury commissioners, the board shall select from the list the number of persons as the judges of the circuit courts, to be held in the county during the succeeding year, may by joint action determine to serve as petit jurors. In counties having jury commissioners, the persons to serve as petit jurors shall be selected by the jury commissioners, as provided by law. County boards, a jury administrator, and jury commissioners may utilize the services of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts in making these selections. Jurors in all counties in Illinois must have the legal qualifications herein prescribed. Jurors must be:
        (1) Inhabitants of the county.
        (2) Of the age of 18 years or upwards.
        (3) Free from all legal exception, of fair character,
    
of approved integrity, of sound judgment, well informed, and able to understand the English language, whether in spoken or written form or interpreted into sign language.
        (4) Citizens of the United States of America.
    (b) Except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, no person who is qualified and able to serve as a juror may be excluded from jury service in any court of this State on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, or economic status. As used in this subsection, "religion", "sex", "sexual orientation", and "national origin" have the meanings provided in Section 1-103 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
(Source: P.A. 100-228, eff. 1-1-18; 101-327, eff. 1-1-20.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2002–2024 · leading case: Alfredo Miranda v. Cnty. of Lake, 900 F.3d 335 (7th Cir. 2018).
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Alfredo Miranda v. Cnty. of Lake, 900 F.3d 335 (7th Cir. 2018). “705 ILCS 305/2(a)(4).) Gomes pulled away from the officer as he attempted to arrest her.”
People v. McCavitt, 2021 IL 125550 (Ill. 2021). · cites it 2× “III, § 2; 730 ILCS 5/5-5-5(a), (b), (c) (West 2020); 705 ILCS 305/2(a)(3) (West 2020) (“Jurors must be: *** [f]ree from all legal exception”).”
Derrick Hardaway v. Donald S. Young, Warden, 302 F.3d 757 (7th Cir. 2002). “They may not marry, 750 ILCS 5/208, vote, 10 ILCS 5/3-1, serve on a jury, 705 ILCS 305/2, or make a will, 755 ILCS 5/4-1.”
People v. Garcia, 2017 IL App (1st) 133398 (Ill. App. Ct. 2017). “Also, given the timing of her statement regarding English, the court very well could have found Ogrodnik was angling to be released from service because she was not getting out of trial until - 15 - 5 p.m., although this could have been clarified if defendant had raised a…”
In re Commitment of Dodge, 2013 IL App (1st) 113603 (Ill. App. Ct. 2013). “When read in its entirety, however, the record shows that both jurors were able to understand English (see 705 ILCS 305/2(3) (West 2006)). The trial court gave the jury several instructions during the voir dire and upon inquiry, none raised their hands to indicate a lack of…”
People v. Smollett, 2023 IL App (1st) 220322 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). · cites it 2× “” 705 ILCS 305/2(b) (West 2020). Section 2(b) of the Jury Act refers to the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/1-101 (West 2020)) for the definition of - 35 - No.”
Pournaras v. People, 2018 IL App (3d) 170051 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). · cites it 2× “See 705 ILCS 305/2(3) (West 2016). Petitioner was under sentence until he completed his probation and thus was not free from all legal exception.”
Pournaras v. People, 2018 IL App (3d) 170051 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “" 705 ILCS 305/2(a)(3) (West 2016). Plaintiff contends he could not exercise these civil rights while on probation, which we will address in turn.”
Alfredo Miranda v. Cnty. of Lake (7th Cir. 2018). “705 ILCS 305/2(a)(4).) Gomes pulled away from the officer as he attempted to arrest her.”
People v. Resor, 2024 IL App (4th) 230208 (Ill. App. Ct. 2024). “The Jury Act (705 ILCS 305/2(a)(3) (West 2022)) provides that “Jurors must be: *** (3) [f]ree from all legal exception, of fair character, of approved integrity, of sound judgment, well informed, and able to understand the English language, whether in spoken or written form or…”
Wischmeyer v. Petrochoice, LLC, 2024 IL App (2d) 230554-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2024). “(See 705 ILCS 305/2 (West 2022)). Plaintiff argues that, therefore, the “case was heard by a jury of 11.”
Hardaway, Derrick v. Young, Donald S. (7th Cir. 2002). “They may not marry, 750 ILCS 5/208, vote, 10 ILCS 5/3-1, serve on a jury, 705 ILCS 305/2, or make a will, 755 ILCS 5/4-1.”
— 705 ILCS 305/2(3) — 3 cases
People v. Garcia, 2017 IL App (1st) 133398 (Ill. App. Ct. 2017). “Also, given the timing of her statement regarding English, the court very well could have found Ogrodnik was angling to be released from service because she was not getting out of trial until - 15 - 5 p.m., although this could have been clarified if defendant had raised a…”
In re Commitment of Dodge, 2013 IL App (1st) 113603 (Ill. App. Ct. 2013). “When read in its entirety, however, the record shows that both jurors were able to understand English (see 705 ILCS 305/2(3) (West 2006)). The trial court gave the jury several instructions during the voir dire and upon inquiry, none raised their hands to indicate a lack of…”
Pournaras v. People, 2018 IL App (3d) 170051 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). “See 705 ILCS 305/2(3) (West 2016). Petitioner was under sentence until he completed his probation and thus was not free from all legal exception.”
— 705 ILCS 305/2(a)(3) — 4 cases
People v. McCavitt, 2021 IL 125550 (Ill. 2021). “III, § 2; 730 ILCS 5/5-5-5(a), (b), (c) (West 2020); 705 ILCS 305/2(a)(3) (West 2020) (“Jurors must be: *** [f]ree from all legal exception”).”
Pournaras v. People, 2018 IL App (3d) 170051 (Ill. App. Ct. 2019). “See 705 ILCS 305/2(3) (West 2016). Petitioner was under sentence until he completed his probation and thus was not free from all legal exception.”
Pournaras v. People, 2018 IL App (3d) 170051 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “" 705 ILCS 305/2(a)(3) (West 2016). Plaintiff contends he could not exercise these civil rights while on probation, which we will address in turn.”
People v. Resor, 2024 IL App (4th) 230208 (Ill. App. Ct. 2024). “The Jury Act (705 ILCS 305/2(a)(3) (West 2022)) provides that “Jurors must be: *** (3) [f]ree from all legal exception, of fair character, of approved integrity, of sound judgment, well informed, and able to understand the English language, whether in spoken or written form or…”
— 705 ILCS 305/2(a)(4) — 2 cases
Alfredo Miranda v. Cnty. of Lake, 900 F.3d 335 (7th Cir. 2018). “705 ILCS 305/2(a)(4).) Gomes pulled away from the officer as he attempted to arrest her.”
Alfredo Miranda v. Cnty. of Lake (7th Cir. 2018). “705 ILCS 305/2(a)(4).) Gomes pulled away from the officer as he attempted to arrest her.”
— 705 ILCS 305/2(b) — 1 case
People v. Smollett, 2023 IL App (1st) 220322 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “” 705 ILCS 305/2(b) (West 2020). Section 2(b) of the Jury Act refers to the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/1-101 (West 2020)) for the definition of - 35 - No.”
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