Trial by Jury

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 1, ch. 11
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-101 Qualifications of juror.

(a) A person is qualified to act as a juror if he is: (i) An adult citizen of the United States who has been a resident of the state and of the county ninety (90) days before being selected and returned pursuant to W.S. 1-11-106; (ii) In possession of his natural faculties, of ordinary intelligence and without mental or physical infirmity preventing satisfactory jury service; (iii) Possessed of sufficient knowledge of the English language. (b) No citizen shall be excluded from service as a juror on account of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or economic status. (c) The court shall discharge a person from serving as a juror if the person is not qualified to act as a juror under subsection (a) of this section.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-102 Convicted felon disqualified.

A person who has been convicted of any felony is disqualified to act as a juror unless his conviction is reversed or annulled, he receives a pardon or his rights are restored pursuant to W.S. 7-13-105(a) or (f).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-103 Persons exempt as juror; duty to discharge.

(a) A person is exempt from jury service if the person is: (i) A salaried and active member of an organized fire department or an active member of a police department of a city, town or law enforcement agency of the county or state; (ii) An elected public official; (iii) An active duty member of the Wyoming national guard; or (iv) A person exempt under federal law or regulation, including an active duty member of the armed forces when service on a jury would unreasonably interfere with his performance of military duties or adversely affect the readiness of his unit, command or activity pursuant to 32 C.F.R. Part 144. (b) The court shall discharge a person from serving as a trial juror for the jury term in which he is summoned if it satisfactorily appears that the person is exempt and specifically claims the benefit of the exemption under W.S. 1-11-105.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-104 Causes for excusal.

(a) A juror may not be excused for a trivial cause or for hardship or inconvenience to his business, but only when material injury or destruction to his property or property entrusted to him is threatened, or when his health or the sickness or death of a member of his family requires his absence. A person who has attained the age of seventy-two (72) years may be excused at his request. A person may be excused from jury duty when the care of that person's young children requires his absence. Any person who has served on a jury during a jury term shall, upon request, be excused from further jury service in that court for the remainder of that jury term and in the discretion of the court may be excused from jury service for the following jury term. (b) For the purposes of this section: (i) A person has served on a jury during a jury term when he is summoned to serve and he has been selected as a juror in any court within the judicial district and has taken the oath required under W.S. 1-11-201; (ii) A person has not served on a jury during a jury term if he is disqualified for that jury term pursuant to W.S. 1-11-102 or is discharged for that jury term pursuant to W.S. 1-11-103.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-105 Exemption affidavit required; failure to file.

If a person exempt from jury duty is summoned as a juror, he may submit a declaration under penalty of perjury stating his purported grounds for exemption. If the court determines that the declaration sufficiently demonstrates that the person is not required to serve as a juror pursuant to W.S. 1-11-103(a), the court shall discharge the person from serving as a trial juror for the jury term in which he was summoned. A person who is discharged under this section is not required to appear in court. Failure of any person who is exempt to submit a declaration under penalty of perjury is a waiver of his exemption, and he is required to appear upon the day for which the jury is summoned and serve as a juror the same as if he were not entitled to exemption unless otherwise excused by the court.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-106 Jury lists; preparation of base jury lists; selecting jury panel; certificate and summons.

(a) The list of persons selected to serve as prospective trial jurors, compiled pursuant to W.S. 1-11-129, is the base jury list for the district court and the circuit court for the jury term set by each court. (b) The clerk shall prepare a certificate containing the names constituting the base jury list, and summon them to serve as jurors for the jury term for which they have been selected.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-108 Jury panel in circuit courts; functions, powers and duties of judges thereof.

(a) Repealed By Laws 2014, Ch. 53, § 2. (b) In conducting jury trials, judges of the circuit courts shall exercise and perform the same functions, powers and duties as are prescribed for both the judge and the clerk of the district court in W.S. 1-11-101 through 1-11-401, insofar as practicable. (c) Repealed by Laws 1983, ch. 138, § 3.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-109 Procedure for selecting jury; contents of certificate; summons.

(a) The clerk shall choose the prospective jurors from the base jury list using a random method of selection. (b) Repealed By Laws 2014, Ch. 53, § 2. (c) If any person selected is not qualified to serve as a trial juror, the name of the person shall be stricken from the base jury list from which summoned. If any person selected is exempt from serving as a trial juror under W.S. 1-11-103(a) and the person has claimed the exemption under W.S. 1-11-105, then the name of the person shall be stricken from the base jury list for the jury term from which summoned. (d) When the necessary number of jurors has been randomly selected, the clerk shall make and certify a list of the names selected. The certificate shall state: (i) The date of the court order for the selection; (ii) The date of the selection; (iii) The number of jurors selected; (iv) The names and addresses of the competent jurors; and (v) The place where the jurors are required to appear. (e) The jurors on the certified list shall be summoned to appear.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-112 Jurors to appear at time specified.

Each grand juror and petit juror summoned shall appear before the court on the day and at the hour specified by the court, and depart only with permission of the court.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-113 Completion of jury panel.

(a) The persons summoned by the clerk shall appear in answer to the summons and be examined as to their qualifications. If after all qualified trial jurors have been accepted it appears that there are not enough in attendance, the court shall order the clerk to randomly select the necessary number of names from the base jury list to complete the jury panel, and the clerk shall continue to randomly select names until a sufficient number of jurors are obtained. The persons so selected shall be summoned to appear. (b) Repealed by Laws 1983, ch. 138, § 3.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-114 Service of summons; proof of service.

(a) Service of a summons may be made by such means as the court may order. If service is accomplished through the sheriff's office, the sheriff's costs shall be paid by the county. (b) If necessary the court may require proof of service.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-115 Failure of juror to attend.

Any juror summoned who willfully and without reasonable excuse fails to attend may be arrested and compelled to attend and is subject to contempt of court.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-116 Empaneling of jury.

At the opening of court on the day that trial jurors are summoned and notified to appear, the clerk shall call the names of those jurors notified to appear. The court shall hear the jurors who are present, and shall excuse those whom the court finds are exempt, disqualified or have material cause for being excused.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-118 Procedure upon exhaustion of prospective jurors during empaneling.

If at any time during the empaneling of a jury all the names selected for the panel are exhausted, the court shall enter an order directing that such additional number of names as necessary be randomly selected from the base jury list. The court may excuse any jurors so selected if it appears that, because of distance, the delay occasioned by notifying the juror and requiring his presence would unduly prolong empaneling the trial jury. The clerk shall notify the persons selected and not excused to appear in court immediately. The process shall continue from time to time when necessary until a jury is obtained.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-119 Number of jurors; fees and mileage.

Trial juries in circuit courts shall be composed of six (6) persons. Trial juries in civil cases and all other proceedings in the district courts except criminal cases shall be composed of six (6) jurors unless one (1) of the parties to the action files a written demand for twelve (12) jurors within the time a demand for jury may be filed, in which event the number of jurors shall be twelve (12). Jurors in all courts shall be allowed the same fees and mileage as jurors in district court.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-120 Persons sworn to constitute jury; generally.

The first six (6) persons, or other number of persons designated for a jury under W.S. 1-11-119, who appear as their names are randomly selected and are approved as indifferent between the parties and not discharged or excused shall be sworn and constitute the jury to try the issue.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-122 Discharge of jurors.

After the jury is discharged the jurors, upon request, shall be excused from jury service for the remainder of the calendar year.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-123 Discharge of jurors; absent or excused jurors.

The name of a juror who is absent when his name is selected, or is set aside, or excused from serving on that trial shall remain on the base jury list.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-125 Procedure when sufficient number of jurors fail to attend.

If a sufficient number of jurors duly selected and notified do not attend to form a jury the court shall direct the clerk to select a sufficient number of names from the base jury list to complete the jury and shall summon the persons selected to attend immediately or at a time fixed by the court. If for any reason a sufficient number of jurors to try the issue is not obtained from the persons notified, the court may make successive orders until a sufficient number is obtained. The court may excuse any juror so selected if it appears that, because of distance, the delay occasioned by summoning the juror and requiring his presence would unduly prolong empaneling the trial jury. Each person so notified, unless excused by the court, shall serve as a juror at the trial. For a neglect or refusal to serve he may be fined in the same manner as a trial juror regularly selected and notified and he is subject to the same exceptions and challenges as any other trial juror.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-126 No objection that jury not original one returned.

It is not a valid objection to a jury that it contains none of the jurors originally returned to the court or is only partially composed of such jurors or that the base jury list was not supplemented as permitted herein.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-129 Procedure for maintaining jury lists.

The supreme court shall compile a base jury list for each county. The supreme court shall compile a base jury list for the state as necessary under W.S. 7-5-303. The base jury lists shall be compiled from voter lists and may also include names from Wyoming driver's license or Wyoming department of transportation state identification lists. The base jury lists prepared by the supreme court and panels or lists of prospective jurors selected by the clerk of court may be compiled and maintained using any manual, mechanical, electronic or other means calculated to ensure the integrity of the system and a random selection process.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-201 Oath of jurors; jury ordered into custody.

As soon as the jury is selected an oath shall be administered to the jurors that they will truly try the matter in issue between ...., the plaintiff, and ...., the defendant, and render a true verdict according to the evidence. After the oath has been administered and the jury fully empaneled, the court shall order the jury into the custody of the officer selected by the court. The jurors shall not separate from the custody of the officer until they have been duly discharged, unless by the consent of the parties to the action. The officer shall provide for suitable quarters and food for the jury pending the trial.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-202 Peremptory challenges allowed.

In the trial of civil cases in the district courts of this state, each side is allowed three (3) peremptory challenges.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-203 Challenges for cause; grounds.

(a) Challenges for cause may be taken on one (1) or more of the following grounds: (i) A lack of any of the qualifications prescribed by statute which render a person competent as a juror; (ii) Relationship by consanguinity or affinity within the third degree to either party; (iii) Standing in the relation of debtor or creditor, guardian or ward, master or servant, or principal or agent to either party, or being a partner united in business with either party, or being security on any bond or obligation for either party; (iv) Having served as a juror or a witness in a previous trial between the same parties for the same cause of action, or being then a witness therein; (v) Interest on the part of the juror in the event or question involved in the action, but not an interest of the juror as a member or citizen of a municipal corporation; (vi) Having formed or expressed an unqualified opinion or belief as to the merits or the main question of the action. The reading of newspaper accounts of the subject matter before the court shall not disqualify the juror either for bias or opinion; (vii) The existence of a state of mind in the juror evincing enmity or bias for either party.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-204 Challenges for cause; trial.

All challenges for cause shall be tried by the court, and the juror challenged, and any other persons may be examined as witnesses upon the trial of the challenge.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-205 Order of trial.

(a) When the jury has been sworn, the trial shall proceed in the following order, unless the court for good cause otherwise directs: (i) The party who has the burden of the issues may briefly state his case and the evidence by which he expects to sustain it; (ii) The adverse party may then briefly state his defense and the evidence he expects to offer in support of it; (iii) The party who has the burden of the issues shall first produce his evidence, the adverse party will then produce his evidence; (iv) The parties will then be confined to rebutting evidence unless the court permits them to offer evidence in their original case; (v) When the evidence is concluded, and either party desires special instructions to be given to the jury, the instructions shall be reduced to writing, numbered and signed by the party or his attorney asking the same, and delivered to the court; (vi) Before argument of the cause is begun, the court shall give such instructions of the law to the jury as may be necessary. The instructions shall be in writing, numbered and signed by the judge; (vii) Where either party asks special instructions to be given to the jury, the court shall either give such instructions as requested, give the instructions with modifications, or refuse to give them. The court shall mark each instruction offered so that it shall appear which instructions were given in whole or in part, and which were refused, so that either party may except to the instructions as given, refused or modified. All instructions given by the court together with those refused shall be filed as a part of the record.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-206 View of property or place by jury.

When the court considers it proper for the jurors to view the property which is the subject of litigation or the place in which any material fact occurred, it may order them to be conducted in a body under the charge of an officer to the place which shall be shown to them by a person appointed by the court for that purpose. While the jurors are absent no person other than the person so appointed shall speak to them on any subject connected with the trial.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-207 Decision or deliberation by jury; duty of officer in charge of jury.

When the case is submitted, the jury may decide in court or retire for deliberation. If the jurors retire, they shall be kept together in some convenient place under the charge of an officer until they agree upon a verdict or are discharged by the court. The court may permit them to separate temporarily at night or at their meals. The officer having them under his charge shall not allow any communication to be made to them nor make any himself except to ask them if they have agreed upon their verdict, unless by order of the court. He shall not communicate to any person the state of their deliberations or the verdict agreed upon before their verdict is rendered.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-208 Admonition to jurors when permitted to separate.

If the jurors are permitted to separate during the trial or after the case is submitted to them, they shall be admonished by the court that it is their duty not to converse with nor allow themselves to be addressed by any person on any subject of the trial, and that they are not to form or express an opinion until the cause is finally submitted to them.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-209 Further information after jury's retirement.

After the jurors have retired for deliberation, if there is a disagreement between them as to any part of the testimony, or if they desire to be informed as to any part of the law arising in the case, they may request the officer to conduct them to the court where information upon the matter of law shall be given. The court may give its recollection as to the testimony on the points in dispute, in the presence of or after notice to the parties or their counsel.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-210 Discharge of jury without verdict.

The jury may be discharged by the court on account of the sickness of a juror or any accident or calamity requiring its discharge, or by consent of both parties or after the jurors have been kept together until it appears there is no probability of their agreeing.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-211 Retrial after discharge of jury.

When the jury is discharged after the cause is submitted or during the trial, the cause may be tried again immediately or at a future time as the court directs.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-212 Rendition of verdict.

When the jurors agree upon their verdict, it shall be reduced to writing and signed by the foreman. They shall then be conducted into court, their names called by the clerk and the verdict rendered by the foreman. The clerk shall then read the verdict to the jury and inquire whether it is their verdict.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-213 Further deliberation; polling jury.

If a jury disagrees, or if when the jury is polled a juror answers in the negative, or if the verdict is defective in substance, the jury shall be sent out again for further deliberation and either party may require the jury to be polled by the clerk or court asking each juror if it is his verdict.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-214 Discharge of jury; correcting defective verdict.

If no disagreement is expressed and neither party requires the jury to be polled, or on polling each juror answers in the affirmative, the verdict is complete and the jury shall be discharged. If the verdict is defective in form only, it may be corrected by the court with the assent of the jurors before they are discharged.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-301 Fees in district court generally.

All persons summoned as jurors in the district courts of this state shall receive the fees hereinafter provided and none other.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-302 Mileage rate.

Jurors shall receive mileage at the rate set in W.S. 9-3-103 when the distance required to be traveled by the juror from the juror's place of residence to the place of trial exceeds five (5) miles one (1) way.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-303 Amount of fees.

Jurors shall receive thirty dollars ($30.00) for each full or part day of actual attendance. A juror in attendance for more than five (5) consecutive days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, may, in the discretion of the court, be allowed an additional twenty dollars ($20.00) per day for each day actually in attendance.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-304 Certificate issued to jurors.

The clerk of the court shall note the time of the discharge of each juror summoned and issue to the juror a certificate under seal of the court for the amount due him for mileage and juror fees.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-11-401 Protection of jurors' employment.

(a) No employer shall discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate or coerce any employee by reason of the employee's jury service, for the attendance or scheduled attendance in connection with jury service, in any court in the state of Wyoming. (b) Any employer who violates the provisions of this section: (i) May be enjoined from further violations of this section in order to provide other appropriate relief, including but not limited to reinstatement; and (ii) Is liable for exemplary damages to the employee in an amount set by the court, but not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each violation as to each employee; and (iii) Is liable for the employee's reasonable costs and attorney's fees, as set by the court, in enforcing his rights hereunder. (c) Any individual who is reinstated to a position of employment in accordance with this section shall be considered as having been on furlough or leave of absence during his period of jury service, shall be reinstated to his position of employment without loss of seniority and is entitled to participate in insurance or other benefits offered by the employer pursuant to established rules and practices relating to employees on furlough or on leave of absence in effect with the employer at the time the individual entered upon jury service. (d) No action by an employee aggrieved hereunder shall be brought more than six (6) months after the alleged violation. (e) The court may award a prevailing employer a reasonable attorney's fee as part of the cost if the court determines that any action brought by an employee is frivolous, vexatious or brought in bad faith.
Source: WY Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title01.pdfFetched: 10/4/2026