Title
28 United States Code, Section 1864 (b) states that persons
who are summoned to appear for Federal Jury Service and fail
to appear may then be ordered to show cause why they should
not be held in contempt of court for non-compliance with the
court summons. Persons then failing to appear or to show cause
for non-appearance may be fined not more than $100.00 and/or
imprisoned for not more than three days.
Job
Protection
You are protected
by Federal Statute, Title 28 U.S.C. Section 1875, from being
discharged, intimidated or coerced by your permanent employer
because of your Federal Court jury service. Further information
is available from the jury office.
Electronic
Equipment Restrictions
Please note that cellular
phones, cameras, computers, recorders, etc., are not allowed
in the Federal Courthouse.
Message
To Employers
Your employee has been
summoned to jury duty in the United States District Court.
Jurors are obligated
to remain 'on call' for jury service up to 15 business days.
During that time, they may be called to serve on a jury. Jurors
normally serve from 9AM to 4PM. If selected to serve on a trial,
average trial time is 5 to 7 days. In most instances, the burden
of Federal Court jury service is not so overwhelming that it
could not be absorbed by business or other establishments with
relative ease.
You may not know that
in order to ensure that the serious need for federal court jurors
is met, in 1978 the "Protection of Juror's Employment Statute" Title 28, United States Code, Section 1875 was enacted. The
statute demonstrates the attitude of the United States Congress
toward assuring adequate representation and the corresponding
duty of employers to their employees and the justice system.
Financial hardship claimed as an excuse by an individual summoned
for jury duty is not usually a valid reason for the Court to
grant release from service. Unless there are some compelling
reasons for that excuse, it will not be granted.
If your employment policy
is against paying employees while they are on jury duty, you
are now asked to reconsider that policy. Federal jurors are
paid $40.00 per day for their service. Paying the difference
between your employee's salary and the juror attendance fee
is strongly encouraged, if possible.
Grand Jury
A federal grand
jury is a body of citizens consisting of twenty-three persons
who sit , in secrecy, to hear evidence concerning crimes against
the laws of the United States. Federal grand jury service ordinarily
lasts eighteen months. Jurors can generally expect to sit one
day each week between the hours of 9:30 to 4:00 P.M., with a
one hour break for lunch.
During a grand juror's
term of service, certain days off will be allowed for specific
reasons if the juror has been excused in advance from the Court.
Thus grand jury will not interfere with important business meetings,
planned vacations, or doctor's appointments. Absences, however,
should only be requested for truly important reasons since the
grand jury must have a quorum of at least sixteen members present
to conduct business.
Grand jurors are
compensated at the rate of $40.00 per day and 50.5 cents per
mile for each day of actual attendance. Jurors are also reimbursed
for all parking and toll fees. Juror checks are mailed to the
address of the juror. Certificates of attendance are prepared
for grand jurors on each day of actual attendance.
