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United States
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WELCOME TO JURY DUTY The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia summons jurors from the counties of BARBOUR, BERKELEY, BRAXTON, BROOKE, CALHOUN, DODDRIDGE, GILMER, GRANT, HAMPSHIRE, HANCOCK, HARDY, HARRISON, JEFFERSON, LEWIS, MARION, MARSHALL, MINERAL, MONONGALIA, MORGAN, OHIO, PENDLETON, PLEASANTS, POCAHONTAS, PRESTON, RANDOLPH, RITCHIE, TAYLOR, TUCKER, TYLER, UPSHUR, WEBSTER, WETZEL. Below are some frequently asked questions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Is jury duty mandatory? Yes. The United States Constitution guarantees the right to a trial by jury in both criminal and civil cases. Your participation as a juror helps make that possible.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- What if I receive a Juror Qualification Questionnaire? Juror Qualification Questionnaires are sent to people randomly selected from the voter rolls (these are not to be confused with the update cards mailed with your first summons). The questionnaires are used to determine who is qualified to serve jury duty. Please complete the form, sign it, and return it in the business reply envelope. There is a space on the back of the form if you wish to write a message. If you claim a medical hardship you must include a doctor's note. If you recently served jury duty in another court, you must include a copy of your jury certificate. If you are found to be qualified for jury service, you will receive a Summons to Jury Duty at a later date.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- How often must I serve? Under Federal law, a person cannot be required to serve jury duty more often than once every two years. If you have served 30 days or more in the United States District Court or a West Virginia State Court within the last two years, and wish to be excused, please mail a copy of your official jury certificate, together with our summons, in the return envelope.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- How long will I serve? Jurors for the Northern District of West Virginia are required to: (1) be on call for a period of three months after the first call, (2) be called for juror service no more than five times during the three months of service, except when necessary to complete service in a particular case, (3) to serve, after being sworn as a juror, on one petit jury. Or more simply put you will generally be required to serve for three months or one trial. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Why must I call the evening before I appear for jury duty? The Court's schedule sometimes changes at the last minute. Rather than have you sit in the jury room all day, we may change your date to report. It is therefore important to call the telephone number printed on your summons on the evening (or weekend) before the summons date. You will hear a recorded message, available after 5:00 P.M. the day before your scheduled date of service. The recording may direct you to report to the courthouse on the summons date, or it may delay your date to report by up to one week. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Can I get a postponement or permanent excuse? If you would like to postpone your jury service to a more convenient time, use the return envelope to mail the summons and a brief note indicating when you can serve within the next six months. However, if your summons states "No Further Postponements", then you have exhausted your postponements and must serve. If you are seeking to be permanently excused, mail the summons, the completed update card, a full note of explanation and any supporting documentation, such as a doctor's note, certificate of prior jury service or proof of a new address (yellow postal forwarding sticker, copy of a new drivers license or utility bill). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Why must I serve in Wheeling, Clarksburg, Martinsburg or Elkins? The Northern District Federal Courts has four federal courthouses that have been designated as "points of holding court" located in Wheeling, Clarksburg, Martinsburg, and Elkins. Each of the four divisions has a designated geographic area from which to draw jurors consisting of as few as four counties for the Martinsburg Division and as many as twelve for the Clarksburg Division. Therefore, where you serve as a juror depends on your county of residence. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Will I be paid for my jury service? The U.S. District Court will pay you, by check, an attendance fee of $40 per day plus a travel fee of 31 cents per mile, paid round trip, to your home town. The mileage fee will cover the costs of public transportation, and you do not need to submit receipts. Federal employees, instead of the attendance fee, will receive their regular pay. The attendance payment is taxable income and should be declared. The travel payment is not taxable. Jurors who earn over $600 in attendance income in one calendar year will receive a 1099 Form. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ What if I drive my car to jury duty? The Court will pay your parking costs, over and above the mileage. The Court does not own a parking lot for jurors. Park in a private or municipal parking lot. You will be given a parking slip to fill out so that you can be reimbursed for your parking.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Do I need any identification when reporting for jury service? Yes, you will need your driver's license or some sort of
picture ID to present to court security when entering the building, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Is there a dress code? While no formal dress code exists, jurors are requested to dress in a manner respectful to the Court. You will have to pass through a metal detector each time you enter the courthouse. Please leave excess metal and jewelry at home to speed your entry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Can I bring my cellular telephone, tape recorder, camera, beeper or computer? Cellular telephones, tape recorders and cameras are prohibited inside the courthouse and will be checked at the door. Computers, and beepers set on silent mode are permitted. Public telephones are available throughout the courthouse. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- How can I get proof of my jury service? When you finish serving, the Court will automatically mail a certificate of jury service to your home upon your request. It will arrive about one week after you complete your jury service. The certificate will list only the days you were present in the courthouse. After serving you are exempt from jury service in any other court for at least the next two years. Keep the original certificate, it is the only way to prove your jury service if you are summoned by another court. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- How can I speak to a jury clerk? To reach the jury department please call 1-800-333-5879 ext 241 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. You may also send an e-mail to the jury administrator Michele_Zirbs @wvnd.uscourts.gov . --------------------------------------------------------------------- Finally 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. |
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