Jury FAQ

What do I need to reveal before I am selected as a juror for a case?

Every two years, in the year following a federal election, the rolls of voters from each county in the Eastern District of New York are used together with a list from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles from the same counties to create a master list of potential jurors within the District. A random selection of names from that master list is drawn from as jurors are needed by the Court. If you received a questionnaire or summons then you appear on one of these lists.

If you have served within the past two years, send the court that has summonsed you a copy of the proof of service or certificate of attendance you received from the court you served at. However, if you were only a telephone standby juror, and never had to physically appear for jury service, you may still be eligible to serve at the court who is summoning you to appear now.

Please Update your address on the Juror Response Form at the bottom of your summons, and mail the form back to the court as soon as possible.

If you served any time within the past two (2) years, you must contact (or go to) that courthouse where you previously served and get proof that you served.

Proof must be provided in writing before the summons date. All proof should be accompanied with a copy of the summons and sent to the address on the face of the summons.

Proper court attire is mandatory. No jeans, shorts, tank tops, sweats or other very casual attire is permitted. Dress "business casual" or "business" for your appearance.

Do not wait until you are selected on a trial to reveal that you are:

• -a full time student
• -an ill person with medical problems
• -have plane tickets scheduled within a week's time -have a recent criminal record
• -do not speak enough English to understand what is being said in court
• -you are a full-time mother with no means of child support after the first day of service

Unless you receive a notice from this Court granting you an excuse or postponement, or unless the Court notifies you in writing or by phone to report at a different time, you 
must attend as directed in the summons.
Failure to obey the summons may be punishable by fine and/or imprisonment.

Your employer is not entitled to the travel expenses incurred during your term of service.

There will only be one check, covering your travel expenses and jury service fees, and it will be mailed directly to you.

No, public transportation is computed automatically. Only parking, bridge EZPass and/or toll receipts are needed. Please print your name, address and summons date on the back of all receipts that you submit.

When you receive your monthly bill, itemize the days in which you served at the court and mail it in. Make sure you include your name, address, and summons date on the receipt.

Your check should be mailed to you in less than 8 weeks.

Payment is computed automatically by your zip code.

Court is not in session for jury selections on the weekend.

Depending on when all jury selections have been completed, in most cases, you will be released before 5:00pm.

Proof of service showing each day you reported will be mailed immediately at the end of your term of service.

After you have reported for jury service, you will be given detailed instructions as to what you should do. Federal Jury Duty is two-week telephone standby. Please do not come to the court unless you have been chosen for a case or the automated telephone instructions instruct you to do so.

Write down the instructions that the Judge gives you. Make note of the Judge's name, courtroom and time you are to report and name of the case. There will be a sign-in sheet on the table in the jury office each day that you are to report for the trial. Please sign-in - EVERYDAY - -so that you will be given credit and paid for reporting that day.

We do not accept postponements or excusals via email. Please contact the Jury Office at (800) 587-6775 for further information.

All requests for postponements or excusals must be made IN WRITING no less than 10 DAYS prior to the summons date. Please use the postage-paid envelope provided with your summons and include a copy of your summons along with the request.

After you have reported for jury service, you will be given detailed instructions as to what you should do in case of an emergency.

After you have reported for jury service, you will be given detailed instructions as to what you should do in case of an emergency.