Jurors perform a vital role in the American system of justice. The protection of our rights and liberties is largely achieved through the teamwork of judge and jury who, working together in a common effort, put into practice the principles of our great heritage of freedom. The judge determines the law to be applied in the case while the jury decides the facts. Thus, in a very important way, jurors become a part of the court itself. 

Automated Jury Information System

Summoned jurors are required to call the Automated Jury Information System (AJIS) at 1-866-560-4756, or log in to the eJuror system, to determine when they should report for service. When you call the toll-free number at the date and time designated on your summons, our automated jury information system (AJIS) will provide you with current information specific to your status such as the date, time, and location for you to report for your jury service or when you should call in again for further instructions. This same procedure will continue during the entire time you are summoned.  

Should any changes be made to the summons, every effort will be made to inform jurors as soon as possible. However, in the event that contact is not made, it is the juror’s responsibility to call the toll-free number the night before scheduled service to verify that his or her presence is required. You must have your 9-digit participation number from the front of your summons in order to use this system.

Summoned jurors should not report to the courthouse without first calling 1-866-560-4756 or logging into eJuror.  Please note that both AJIS and eJuror will require jurors to enter the 9-digit juror participant number found on the front of their summons. 

Locations

The Northern District of Florida is separated into four divisions, which may require jurors to travel to a courthouse some distance from one's home.  The courthouses of the Northern District of Florida are located in Gainesville, Panama City, Pensacola, and Tallahassee.  Each courthouse serves the surrounding counties.

Courthouse Entry

Please note that due to heightened security at all federal courthouses,  photo ID is required to enter the building.

Please leave all metal objects and electronic equipment at home, including cellular telephones, electronic media devices, e-readers, laptops, cameras, pagers, recorders, knives, and other metal objects which will activate the metal detectors located at the courthouse.

All visitors are prohibited from bringing liquids into the courthouse.

Reading material is NOT allowed in the courtroom.

Accessibility

If you have a disability that requires special accommodation, such as a hearing impairment that requires a sign language interpreter or a wheelchair restriction that requires ramp access, please contact the Jury Administrator at least two weeks prior to your reporting date so arrangements can be made.

Notification of Jury Duty

Persons are notified of jury duty by mail when they receive an official Summons to appear for a term of court. The summons mailing contains a pamphlet of jury duty information, directions to the courthouse, information regarding parking, and a juror information form which must be completed and returned to the court within five days, in the included pre-addressed envelope. 

Summoned jurors may complete their juror information online, using the eJuror system. 

Types and Terms of Service

Petit Jurors are summoned to serve on civil and criminal jury trials held in the District Court. A civil jury consists of six to twelve members. Criminal trials require twelve jurors with a minimum of one alternate. All juries are drawn on the first day you report. If you are not selected, your jury service will be over that day. If selected, a juror serves an average of three to five days during a term of court.

Grand Jurors determine whether a person shall be tried for a serious federal crime alleged to have been committed.  The grand jury convenes monthly for one to three days during the 18 month term of service. The sessions are held in secrecy to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant a true bill of indictment. This is the initial stage of a criminal proceeding. 

Juror Payment

All Federal jurors are paid $50.00 per day as an attendance fee and receive payment for round-trip mileage from their home address to the courthouse address each day that they serve. Mileage is at the  current GSA-mandated rate for privately owned vehicles.  Parking fees, tolls, and public transportation costs, if incurred, will also be reimbursed.

United States government employees will not receive an attendance fee for jury service (U.S. Postal Service employees excepted).

A check for attendance, mileage and subsistence, if any, will be mailed to your home address approximately three weeks after completion of jury service. If you have served as a juror in the Northern District of Florida and are awaiting payment, you may submit a juror payment inquiry to check on the status of your payment.

After completion of your term of service, the Jury Staff will, upon request, provide you with an attendance certificate showing the dates you served.  You can obtain the attendance certificate online, using the eJuror system. 

Overnight Stays

Failure to Report for Jury Service

A juror who fails to report as directed can be ordered to appear before the court to show cause for his/her failure to comply with the summons. Any person who fails to appear pursuant to such order or who fails to show good cause for noncompliance with the summons under the Jury Selection Act (18 U.S.C. 1866(g)) may be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned not more than three days, ordered to perform community service, or any combination thereof.

Information for Employers

Federal jurors are protected against discharge or coercion by employers as a result of being called for jury duty. District courts have jurisdiction of these civil actions. A mechanism is provided for the appointment and compensation of counsel for jurors claiming violation by their employers and whose claims are found to have probable merit.

The Protection of Jurors Employment Status Act includes both the protection of the status of employment after jury duty as well as during the period of jury service, Costello v. United States, 350 U.S. 359, 362 (1956). Thus, among other rulings, courts have determined it is unlawful for an employer to:

• React with hostility to the news of the employee's jury duty, withdraw customary assistance to the employee; criticize, reprimand or discharge the employee without cause, but rather for reasons related to the jury service. ( Hill v. Winn- Dixie Stores Inc., 934 F 2d 1518 (11th Cir 1991)).
• Pressure an employee to submit a materially misleading statement to the court in an attempt to avoid jury duty. (U.S.A. ex rel Perkins v. Sara Lee Corp., 839 F. Supp. 393 (W.D.Va.1993), vacating on other grounds, 852 F Supp1321 (1994) (stipulation of Dismissal vacating judgment)).
• Coerce an employee into requesting postponement of the jury duty until the employee has earned sufficient vacation time for it. (Jones v. Marriott Corp., 609 F Supp. 577 (D.D.C. 1985)).
• Cut back the work hours, change work assignments or conditions and/or discharge an employee serving on jury duty because his absences upset the employer.

Juror Attire and Courtroom Etiquette

Appropriate dress, casual business attire, is required. Shorts, jeans and t-shirts are not considered appropriate. Our courtrooms are generally very cool and you may wish to bring a sweater or light jacket. Since you will be passing through a metal detector, please leave excess metal and jewelry at home to speed up your entry into the building.

In addition, please note that jurors may not bring weapons of any kind or electronic devices of any kind into the courthouse, including but not limited to: cell phones, smart phones, radios, PDA's, recording devices, portable computers, cameras and portable music players.

Prior to arriving at the courthouse, jurors should familiarize themselves with proper juror conduct and courtroom etiquette.  Jurors are expected to conduct themselves with reserve and courtesy.

Hardship Excuse

If your jury service will result in undue hardship or extreme inconvenience, you should notify the court in writing. Be sure you include in your notice the reasons why you cannot serve, and indicate when you would be able to serve. You can send your request to the Jury Administrator by U.S. mail, fax it to (850) 521-3677, or email it using the hardship request form. 

You may request to be excused from jury duty, either temporarily or permanently, if you meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Over 70 years of age
• Chronic physical problem (deafness, blindness, wheelchair bound, etc.)
• Already served on federal jury within last 2 years
• Volunteer emergency worker
• Having custody of, and actively caring for, mentally or physically disabled person(s), and not working outside of the home
• Having custody of, and actively caring for, a child or children under 10 years of age, and not working outside of the home.
• Actively caring for terminally ill parent(s), and not working outside of the home
• Physician, dentist, RN, or pharmacist who is the only professional in the geographical area
• Sole proprietor of a business
• Full-time student