Juror Frequently Asked Questions

Q. HOW AM I SELECTED FOR JURY DUTY?

A. Your name was randomly selected from the voters registration list for the State of Mississippi. Subsequently, you are mailed a qualification questionnaire to complete and return to the Court. After the Court determines that you are qualified to serve, your name is entered into a pool and you may be randomly summoned either as a grand or petit juror.

Q. WHAT IS A PETIT JURY?

A. A Petit jury is a trial jury for both civil and criminal cases. The Petit jury listens to the evidence offered during a trial, and returns a verdict. A verdict in a civil case may be a finding for the plaintiff or the defendant. A verdict in a criminal case finds the defendant involved guilty or not guilty.

Q. WHAT IS A GRAND JURY?

A. A Grand jury does not determine guilt or innocence, but whether there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed. The evidence is normally presented only by an attorney for the government. The grand jury must determine from this evidence whether a person should have formal charges filed by the government. If the grand jury finds probable cause, then it will return a written statement of the charges, called an indictment. Grand jurors sit on a panel of 16 to 23 jurors and generally serve one to three days per month for 12 months. Grand jury terms may be extended if necessary. For further information, please Introduction to Grand Jury Service.

Q. WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR JURY DUTY?

A. In deference to the Court, please dress neatly. 

Q. HOW LONG WILL I BE ON CALL?

A. Petit jurors for the Northern District of Mississippi are required to: (1) be on call for a period of two months after the first scheduled call, (2) be called for jury service no more than five times within that two month period, or (3) serve on one trial. Please see Introduction to Petit Jury Service.

Q. CAN I GET A POSTPONEMENT OR BE PERMANENTLY EXCUSED FROM JURY SERVICE?

A. If you would like to postpone your jury service, you may explain the reasons and the desired serving date on the questionnaire that you return to the Court. If you receive a notice to appear and it conflicts with an already scheduled appointment, you may call the Jury department and a member of the staff will postpone your service, if possible. If you would like to be permanently excused from Jury service, you must send the Jury Department a letter with a full explanation. If you would like to be excused for medical reasons, a letter from your doctor will be needed. Your letter(s) will be sent to a Judicial Officer, and you will receive notification of the Judges decision by mail.

Q. WHAT WILL I BE PAID FOR SERVING ON A JURY?

A. The U.S. District Court will pay you an attendance fee of $40.00 per day (unless you are a federal government employee), plus travel expenses of $0.485 cents per mile round trip from your home.   The attendance payment is taxable income and should be declared. The travel payment is not taxable. Jurors who earn in excess of $600.00 in attendance fees in one calendar year will receive a form 1099.

Q. MAY I RECEIVE PROOF OF MY JURY SERVICE?

A. After reporting for service, a certificate of attendance will be given to you upon request.

WHAT IF I FAIL TO APPEAR FOR JURY SERVICE?

Title 28 U.S.C. 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 noncompliance with the court summons. Persons then failing to appear or to show cause for nonappearance may be fined not more than $100.00 or imprisoned for not more than three days, or both.

Q. IS MY JOB PROTECTED WHILE I SERVE JURY DUTY?

A. Your job is protected under Title 28 U.S.C.A. Section 1875, which reads, in part:
  a. No employer shall discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate, or coerce any permanent
      employee by reason of such employees jury service, or the attendance or scheduled
      attendance in connection with such service, in any court of the United States.
  b. Any employer who violates the provision of this section:
     1. shall be liable for damages for any loss of wages or other benefits suffered by an
         employee by reason of such violation;
     2. may be enjoined from further violation of this section and ordered to provide other
         appropriate relief, including but not limited to the  reinstatement of any employee
         discharged by reason of his jury service; and
     3. shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.00 for each violation as to each
         employee.

A WORD OF THANKS
By serving jury duty you are participating in the administration of justice. There is no more valuable service that a citizen can perform in support of our democratic government than the good faith performance of jury duty. We hope you find your jury service to be an interesting and rewarding experience.

David Crews
Clerk of Court