Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of Judge Morton Denlow and our staff, I welcome you to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. We sincerely appreciate your participation as a prospective juror and we hope that you will find the experience to be rewarding. Whether or not you are selected to sit as a juror today, you are a very important part of our system of justice.
Very shortly, you will be examined by Judge Denlow as to your qualifications to serve as a juror. All of these questions are intended to focus on your ability to be totally objective and completely free from prejudice about the issues in controversy, the parties and their attorneys. Thus, it will be extremely important for you to advise Judge Denlow of anything (e.g., bias, conflict of interest, physical or emotional problem, etc.) which, in your judgment, may adversely affect your ability to serve as a juror in this case. Remember that honesty and candor are crucial to a fair trial.
During the questioning period, Judge Denlow will ask each of you to stand (beginning with the first juror to be called) and to provide him with the following information:
1. Your name.
2. The community or neighborhood (not the street address) and any other places where you have lived in the past 10 years. Do you rent or own?
3. Extent of your formal education (how far did you go in school?).
4. Your employment or self-employment information for the past 10 years, with such details as:
(a) name and place of employment or self-employment;
(b) title of your position, or a general description of your work activities and responsibilities; and
(c) length of time of your employment, self-employment or unemployment.
5. Other family and employment information:
(a) if married, your spouse’s name and the same employment (or self-employment) information as listed above for the past 10 years;
(b) if you have children, their names and ages and the same employment (or self-employment) information during the past 10 years for each of them, and if any of them is married, the same employment (or self-employment) information about each daughter-in-law or son-in-law; and
(c) if any other adult lives in your household (any parent, brother, sister, fiance, boyfriend or girlfriend or anyone else), the same employment (or self-employment) information about each such person during the past 10 years.
6. Your major outside interests or hobbies -- things that you spend a great deal of time on outside of work (e.g., clubs, groups, watch tv).
7. Your military status. If you served in any branch of the United States Armed Services, please give the branch of service, highest rank and type of discharge.
8. Prior jury experience in federal court, state court or on the grand jury. (Where, when and type of case.)
9. Prior experience as a witness in court, hearing or deposition. (Question and answer session by lawyers with court reporter.)
10. Legal training and experience. (Formal classes or through experience on-the-job.)
11. Party to civil lawsuit (other than divorce). Whether you, a relative or close friend have ever sued someone or been sued. Include any lawsuit that you have been involved in related to your employment or occupation.
12. Are you aware of any reason why you cannot be a fair and impartial juror in this case?
13. Will you follow the Court's instructions on the law and suspend judgment until you have heard all of the evidence in this case?
DONNA KUEMPEL
Courtroom Deputy Clerk to
United States Magistrate Judge Morton Denlow