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Tribal Law and Policy Institute

Jury Composition

The Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA) requires that no tribe shall “deny to any person accused of an offense punishable by imprisonment the right, upon request, to a trial by jury of not less than six persons.” 1 In addition, the Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction (SDVCJ) of the 2013 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) requires “an impartial jury that is drawn from sources that reflect a fair cross-section of the community; and do not systematically exclude any distinctive group in the community, including non-Indians.” 2 This requirement exists in cases where imprisonment of any length of time is possible.