Most Frequently Asked Questions on the Jury Line

1. When do I get paid? Jurors are paid within 7-10 business days of the end of the one-week term in the Eastern Division and within 2 weeks after their first appearance in the Western Division.
   
   
2. May I still mail in my summons even though my five days to return it to your office have elapsed? Yes, you may return your information sheet after the five days have passed; however, this will give the Court less time to process your request. If you are requesting to be excused or postponed, please fax your completed information sheet and written request to (312) 554-8673 for Chicago and (815) 987-4291 for Rockford. Why did I receive a follow-up letter, if I returned my information sheet to your office as requested? You were ordered to appear and did not follow instructions. A follow-up letter is automatically sent out to all jurors who are absent on their reporting dates. You are expected to appear UNLESS after you called 1 (800) 572-4210 you were excused, postponed or told not to appear. If qualified, you must call 1 (800) 572-4210 after 5:00 P.M. the night before your reporting date and every evening during the one-week term for Chicago or every Friday before your possible reporting date in Rockford. Failure to abide by the reporting instructions will result in a follow-up letter. Failure to abide by the follow-up letter may result in a $100.00 fine, 3 days in prison or both [28USC 1886(g)].
   
   
3. May I change my jury service to another court? Requests to be transferred to a closer location (County Court) cannot be accommodated. There are two divisions in the Northern District of Illinois. They are located in Chicago and Rockford. In most situations you have been summoned to appear at the Federal Court closest to your home.
   
   
4. May I request an excuse or postponement over the telephone? No. In order to maintain an official record, requests to be excused or postponed must be submitted in writing.
   
   
5. If I serve on a trial, is my service over after the trial is completed? Yes. If you serve as a juror on a trial, at the end of the trial (regardless of its duration), your service will be concluded for the one-week term for Chicago.
   
   
6. What time will I leave at the end of the day? A typical jury day begins at 9:00 A.M. and ends at 5:00 P.M. Your schedule will depend on the Court's schedule.
   
   
7. What should a juror do if he cannot make it to jury duty on the day he was required to appear? For Chicago, you are expected to contact the jury section at (312) 435-5684, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. so that we may be aware of your situation. For Rockford call (815) 987-4354.If you are a juror on a specific trial you will be given a least one emergency contact number. It is absolutely necessary that you call if you are going to be late or absent. A trial cannot proceed unless all jurors are present. Failure to appear as scheduled may result in a bench warrant.
   
   
8. May I request an accommodation if I am deaf, hearing impaired or have a communications disability? The court will provide reasonable accommodations to jurors who are deaf, hearing impaired or have communications disabilities and are deemed legally qualified to serve the court. For more information or to request an accommodation after receiving a jury summons, visit the court’s Accessibility Information page.
   
   

As a petit juror (trial juror) in the Eastern Division you will be ON CALL to serve for a one-week period beginning on the date that appears on your summons.

You will call 1 (800) 572-4210 after 5:00 p.m. on the evening prior to reporting to verify your appearance and each evening after 5:00 p.m. for the remaining of the one-week term. If you are not available, you must contact the Jury Section in writing prior to your report date. The court has an Automated Jury Information System (AJIS) which provides current information regarding your status. If you need further assistance, you may contact the Jury Section in Chicago at (312) 435-5684 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. In Rockford dial (815) 987-4354. If your service is not required and you nonetheless appear, you may not be entitled to any fees.

In the Western Division jurors are given several different specific dates which may extend over a 2 month period. You will call 1 (800) 572-4210 after 5:00 p.m. the Friday evening prior to each possible reporting date to verify whether your appearance is required or not.

Days that you are not available during your availability period may be accommodated,provided you have not been selected to be on a trial. Your jury service will then be extended accordingly.

Be prepared to stay until 5:00 p.m. on your first day. On most days you will appear between 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Please bring your summons, a pen and reading materials with you. Please dress for an office type setting. You may use your laptop and cellphone in the jury lounge only.

As a juror you are entitled to:

• $50.00 for each day of attendance.
  
  
• 54.5 cents per mile, round trip. Mileage is calculated from residence to courthouse using the shortest practical route.
  
  
• These fees will be included in your juror paycheck, which will be mailed to you within 7-10 business days after the one-week term. A voucher, mailed separately, will be provided for proof of service and should be used for tax purposes.
  
  
• If you served in the Western Division, your fee will be mailed to you within 2 weeks after your appearance.
  
  
• Federal employees, except the Postal Service, are not entitled to attendance fees, but will receive mileage.
  
  

Title 28 United States Code, Section 1864(g) 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 good cause for noncompliance may result in the imposition of a $1,000 fine, imprisonment for not more than three days, an order to perform community service, or any combination thereof.

You are protected by Federal Statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1875, from being discharged, intimidated or coerced by your permanent employer because of your attendance for service at this Court. Further information is available from the jury clerk. Also see MESSAGE TO EMPLOYERS in the Jury Information menu.

Your employee has been summoned to jury duty in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Jurors are obligated to remain on call for jury service for a one-week period in Chicago. Jurors in Rockford are given up to 4 separate dates over a 2 month period for possible jury service. The average time a juror will serve in Rockford is 3-5 days. During that time, they will be called for specific cases and are usually released for the day by 4:30 p.m. In the one-week period, the average time a juror will serve is 3-5 days in Chicago.

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 insure that the serious need for federal 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 to 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 especially if the individual is working regularly in a permanent position with a salary or set hourly rate. 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. As you may know federal jurors are paid $50.00 per day for their services, paying the difference between your employee's salary should not be overly burdensome.

A Federal Grand Jury is investigatory or accusatory in contrast to a petit jury, which is a trial jury. If you have been randomly selected as a prospective grand juror for the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, you will be notified by mail when and where to report. Upon receipt of the summons, complete the information form and return it to the U. S. District Court within five days in the postage paid envelope provided.

A request for an excusal or postponement must be in writing and attached to your completed information form. If you were summoned, you may call the Automated Jury Information System (AJIS) to verify whether your request has been approved. To receive information regarding your status, call 1 (800) 572-4210 no earlier than ten business days prior to your scheduled reporting date. Please do not call the automated system if you have not returned your completed information sheet.

Letters from employers requesting that their employee be excused from Grand Jury Service will only be considered if accompanied by a letter from the prospective juror.

Requests for excusal or postponement will not be handled over the telephone.

A DOCTOR'S STATEMENT must be attached to your completed information form if you are requesting an excuse due to medical reasons. The statement must indicate whether the condition is temporary or permanent.

You CANNOT be transferred from the United States District Court, Chicago or Rockford to any county court.

If you ask for an excuse on impanelment day and are granted an excuse or postponement, you will not be paid mileage or attendance. If your request is denied, be prepared to participate and remain for the grand jury selection, which will end at approximately 1:00 P.M. In the Western Division, selection usually begins at 1:00 p.m. and ends at approximately 3:00 p.m.

Selection Procedures

The clerk will randomly select 23 members to be grand jurors. The remaining individuals will be selected as alternate grand jurors and will take the place of a member who must be permanently excused. In the Western Division, 23 members are randomly selected to be grand jurors with 10 individuals selected as alternates.

If you are selected as a Grand Juror or alternate, please expect to remain throughout most of the day. The selection process and following instruction will require your attendance.

Length Of Service

Grand Jury Service is for a period of eighteen months. If selected on a grand jury, you will appear once per week at the U. S. District Court. Advance notice will be available by telephone.

If selected to serve in the Western Division, you will appear once every two weeks.

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