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 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. 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 $50.00 per day for their service. Paying the difference between your employee's salary and the juror attendance fee is strongly encouraged, if possible.