Jury FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What types of cases are tried in Federal Court?
What is a petit jury?
What is a grand jury?
Where did you get my name for jury duty?
Who is considered "qualified" for jury service?
How long is jury duty for?
How will I know which days to report for duty?
If asked to report, how many hours will I be at the courthouse each day?
What if I am late?
Will I ever have to spend the night?
Where do I report for jury duty in Honolulu?
What counties do you summon jurors from?
On the days I am not asked to report for jury duty, what do I do?
What are grounds for requesting a permanent excuse, and how do I request one?
What are grounds for requesting a temporary excuse, and how do I request one?
Does my employer have to pay me my normal wages if I'm serving on a jury?
Can my employer fire me for not being at work due to jury duty?
How much do you pay for jury duty?
Where should I park?
Are meals provided?
May I bring my children?
Is there a dress code?

Both civil and criminal cases are tried in the U.S. Courts. The specific kinds of cases are set forth in Article III of the U.S. Constitution and in federal statutes. These are, first of all, controversies to which the United States is a party, and controversies between two or more States. The federal court also decides cases involving constitutional rights, laws enacted by Congress, treaties, and laws relating to navigable waters. Suits between citizens of different states may be heard in the U.S. Courts only if the amount in controversy exceeds a certain amount. Typical criminal charges in a federal court are those involving violation of the income tax and narcotics' laws, bank robbery, mail theft, and counterfeiting.

A petit jury is also known as the trial jury. This is the group of people who determine any question or issue of fact in any civil or criminal trial according to law and the evidence introduced at the trial. In a criminal case, the jury determines whether the United States has proved the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In a civil trial, the jury decides which side has established by a preponderance of the evidence, and may also decide that property or money is owed to the prevailing party.

What is a grand jury?

A grand jury is a larger group of people than a trial jury, and serves for a longer period of time. The grand jury does not determine the guilt or innocence, but only whether there is probable cause to believe that a crime was committed and that a specific person or persons committed it. If the grand jury finds probable cause to exist, then it will return a written statement of the charges called an "indictment." After that the accused will either plead guilty or go to trial. In a sense the grand jury operates as both a "sword" authorizing the government's prosecution of suspected criminals, and also as a "shield" protecting citizens from unwarranted or inappropriate prosecutions.

This court randomly selects from a combined list of active voter registration records and drivers' license records.

This selection creates the court's "MASTER JURY WHEEL" (a term which originated in the days when names were placed in a large barrel-type wheel and turned around to mix them up; today, however, we use computers to randomly select names). Each person selected is mailed a qualification questionnaire to be completed and returned. Receiving a qualification questionnaire does not mean that you have been summoned for jury duty. Its purpose is only to develop a large "wheel" of qualified citizens, from which future juries will be summoned.

Those citizens who are deemed to be qualified to serve as jurors based upon their answers to the questionnaire are then placed into the "QUALIFIED JURY WHEEL." From this "wheel" the court will randomly select groups of prospective jurors and summon them over the course of a two-year period.

Every two years the court discards its old "master wheel" and "qualified wheel" and creates new ones.

To be qualified for jury service, a person must be a citizen of the United States; at least 18 years of age; able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language; and reside in the State of Hawaii.

Persons who may not serve as jurors include those who have pending criminal charges which may be punishable by more than one year in prison; have been convicted of a felony without having their civil rights restored; have a physical or mental disability that would prevent services as a juror; or hold certain occupations (full-time military, police, firefighters, and elected public officials).

Petit jurors are summoned for a 90-day on-call period. This does not mean that they serve on juries for 90 days, but rather than during that 90-day on-call period they are eligible to be summoned for service. Jurors are generally not asked to actually report more than twice during that time. If selected, they are expected to remain for the duration of the trial. The average juror serves approximately 4-6 days for one trial.

You should NOT report for duty unless you receive a notice or phone call assigning you to a jury panel and giving you a specific date to report.

Jury selections are always subject to change due to last minute pleas and settlements. When summoned to report for jury selection on a specific day, you are required to call the code-a-phone, toll-free 1-888-507-0362, after 5:00 p.m. on the last working day before your scheduled reporting date, or whenever you are asked to call. A recorded message will tell you if the jury selection will go on as scheduled, is canceled and not to report, or continued to a specific later date. Please listen carefully as reference will be made to the courtroom or room that you have been summoned to or by Panel 1 or Panel A, etc. IF YOU DO NOT CALL AS INSTRUCTED and appear when it is not necessary, you will not be paid the attendance and mileage fee, and neighbor island jurors will not be reimbursed for their airfare.

On the first day of jury service, you will usually be asked to report at 8:15 a.m. This gives us time to complete orientation and paperwork before trial is scheduled to begin. Normal trial hours run from approximately 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., with time for lunch and possible breaks. While on trial, the number of hours may vary each day, and the trial judge will advise you when to leave and report back each day.

Please don't be late! It is extremely important to be prompt both in the morning and after lunch. Promptness is most important when serving on a trial since the entire proceeding can be delayed because of the tardiness of a single juror.

Will I ever have to spend the night?

It is not likely. The only time you would HAVE to spend the night is if your jury is sequestered, which is very rare in the District of Hawaii. Neighbor island jurors will receive an additional subsistence allowance if selected as a juror and are required to stay overnight in Honolulu.

When you are to report for jury duty, you will receive a notice assigning you to a panel and giving you a specific date and time to report. You will also be given instructions to call an automated voice recording to reconfirm whether or not your service is needed for that particular day.

	Address:	U.S. Courthouse Fourth Floor 300 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96850
	Phone:	(808) 541-3115 or 541-3116 or toll free at (1-888-507-0362)

We summon jurors from all counties. The U.S. District Court has jurisdiction over the entire State of Hawaii.

On days when your attendance is not required, you should continue your normal schedule of work, school, etc.

You can request a permanent excuse if you:

• Are more than 70 years of age
• Have already served as a grand or petit juror in a federal court within the last two years
• Serve as a volunteer firefighter or a member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew for any federal, state or local government agency
• Are a practicing Physician or Dentist

You must request the excuse in writing , and if the basis of the excuse is a permanent disability you must attach a doctor's statement. Please do not wait until the last minute to request an excuse . Allow time for the paperwork to be received and reviewed by the court before your reporting date.

Temporary excuses, also know as deferrals, can be granted for many types of temporary hardships, such as prior vacation plans, temporary medical problems and/or convalescence, students who are away at college, economic or family hardships, etc. A temporary excuse must be requested in writing . Attach a copy of your itinerary in the instance of prior vacation plans and a doctor's note in the instance of a temporary medical problem. Please do not wait until the last minute to request an excuse . Allow time for the paperwork to be received and reviewed by the court before your reporting date. You may fax your request to us at (808) 541-1328.

If your request for a temporary excuse is granted, your name will be placed back in the database of available jurors, and you may be randomly summoned again for jury duty.

No. However, many employers have policies which stipulate what they are willing or not willing to pay employees while they are serving. Please check with your employer regarding his or her normal procedures.

No. You have employment protection rights as a federal juror.

The court pays an attendance fee of $40.00 per day, plus mileage . We do not offer bus passes, but the travel allowance from your home to the courthouse usually covers the amount required for bus fare. Taxi fares will be reimbursed to neighbor island jurors from the airport to the courthouse (round trip) in Honolulu.

You should receive your juror check approximately five to six weeks following your appearance. The $40.00 attendance fee must be reported as income for tax purposes. Your should keep a record of the days of service and multiply it by $40.00 for the amount you must report to the IRS as income. No tax will be withheld by the Court. A 1099 form will be mailed to you if your attendance is in excess of fifteen (15) days.

Parking is very limited. If you choose to drive, please allow yourself ample time to find parking.

You will be responsible for any parking expenses incurred at any public or private lot. Those charges will be reimbursed to you at a later date if a receipt is turned in using the self-addressed stamped envelope provided by the Jury Office.

You may park in any metered stall except where there is a tow away sign. If you receive a parking citation, write your name, address, Social Security # and turn it in to the Jury Office or mail it in the self-addressed envelope provided upon request in the Jury Office within three working days. If you fail to fill in your name, address, social security number and birth date and return it within three working days, you will remain liable for the fine. Do not park in tow away zones, red zones, loading zones, restricted parking, State or State Court parking. If your car is towed away, you will be responsible for all expenses incurred.

No meals are not provided, although we do provide coffee, tea and juice. There is a cafeteria in the adjacent Federal Building. You may bring a lunch if you wish. We have a refrigerator and microwave for your use. Additionally, there are a number of restaurants convenient to the courthouse.

Please don't! We have no child care facilities available, and no adequate means for children in the court environment.

There is no formal dress code, but we ask that you dress within common sense standards of ordinary taste, respecting the fact that you are a key participant in court proceedings. Tank tops, shorts, and slippers are not allowed. Cameras or sharp-pointed objects are not allowed in the courthouse.

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