How am I selected for jury duty?
After receipt of the Summons from your office, when should I
return the enclosed Juror Questionnaire?
Return the completed Juror Questionnaire immediately to the
Court, along with the bottom half of your Summons. Urbana, Springfield and Peoria
jurors
are on call for 1 month beginning with their first reporting date. Rock Island jurors are on
call for two months beginning with their first reporting date. Once you complete
your term it is unlikely you will be randomly selected again within a two-year
period for service in the Federal Court system.
How do I notify the Court if jury service will result in undue
hardship or extreme inconvenience?
Submit your request in writing to the Jury Clerk.
You may use the following e-mail addresses:
For Peoria:
jury.peoria@ilcd.uscourts.gov
For Rock Island:
jury.rockisland@ilcd.uscourts.gov
For Springfield:
jury.springfield@ilcd.uscourts.gov
For Urbana:
jury.urbana@ilcd.uscourts.gov
How will I be notified of the status of my hardship excuse
request?
The District Judge and/or Jury Clerk will review your written
request and you will be notified in writing if you are excused.
How will I be notified of my appearance date?
PEORIA:
It
is your responsibility to call our automated telephone system (1-800-659-0780)
every Wednesday while you are on call. If you are told to report for jury duty
you must then call when instructed to call for further instructions.
URBANA:
It
is your responsibility to call our automated telephone system (1-800-207-7207)
each week while you are on call. The recorded message is updated each Thursday
and is available after 6:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and all day Saturday and
Sunday. You should begin calling the 800# on the Thursday before the first date
listed on your Summons. You will hear a recorded message listing the juror
numbers for those selected to report and instructions about when to report or
when to call the 800# again.
SPRINGFIELD: It is your
responsibility to call our automated telephone system (1-800-860-8044) when
instructed to by written notice. You will receive this notice in the mail
approximately one week before you are required to telephone the 800#. You are
not required to call every week.
ROCK ISLAND: It is your
responsibility to call our automated telephone system (1-888-877-0972) when
instructed to by written notice. You will receive this notice in the mail at
least one week in advance of your jury service. You are not required to call
every week.
How long will I have to call in?
Peoria jurors are on call for one
calendar month.
Urbana jurors are on call for two
calendar months. You will call in every week for the months you are on call
unless instructed otherwise on the recorded message.
Springfield jurors are on call for
two calendar months, but only call when instructed to.
Rock Island jurors are on call for
two months commencing with your first reporting date and only call when
instructed to.
I live a long distance away. Do I need to report?
Yes. Jurors who live over 50 miles from the
Courthouse may travel the night before and will receive a per diem to assist in
covering lodging and meal expenses. You will need to provide the Jury Clerk with
an original hotel receipt which lists room charges and taxes. All jurors also
receive round trip mileage reimbursement.
Where is the Courthouse located and where should I park?
PEORIA:
Please click
here to view a map of the courthouse area.
Please park at any of the following facilities and bring your parking stub with
you:
1. The Associated Bank parking deck is located at Madison and
Hamilton on the southwest corner. You must enter from Madison Street.
2. The Twin Towers parking deck is located at Madison and
Fulton Streets. You may enter from Madison or Fulton Streets.
3. The Holiday Inn City Center parking deck is located on
Monroe Street, between Hamilton Boulevard and Fayette Street. You must enter
from Monroe Street opposite the Riverside Church (previously the Shrine Mosque).
4. The Commerce Bank parking deck is located at the corner of
Madison and Main Streets. You must enter from Madison Street.
5. The Jefferson and Fulton streets parking deck at civic
center is located at Jefferson and Liberty Streets. You may enter from Adams or
Jefferson Streets.
URBANA:
Please click here to view a map of the Courthouse area. Parking is provided
in Lot 10F of the Lincoln Square Mall parking lot. Written directions and a map
are provided on the back of the parking permit sent with your Summons. You will
need to place the parking permit on the dash of your car. Parking for jurors is
allowed only in Lot 10F. If you park in a space other than Lot 10F you may be
subject to a citation and/or fine for which the Court is not responsible.
SPRINGFIELD:
Please click here to view a map of the Courthouse area. We have arranged with
three downtown ramps for juror parking.
1. The First Municipal Parking
Ramp (near the Hilton Hotel) is located at Seventh and Monroe Streets on the
Northeast corner.
2. The
Herndon Municipal Ramp is located
at Sixth Street and Capitol Avenue on the Southeast Corner - the street directly
behind the Courthouse. You must enter from Sixth Street going North.
3. The Prairie Capitol
Convention Center Parking Ramp (near the Ramada Renaissance Hotel) is located at
Seventh and Washington Streets on the Southeast Corner. You must enter from
Seventh Street going South or from Washington Street going East. You will
receive a parking ticket upon entering the ramp. Bring your parking ticket with
you for validation.
ROCK ISLAND:
Please click here to view a map of the Courthouse area. When reporting for
jury service, enter the Courthouse on the 19th St. entrance and you
will be given a parking permit and instructions on where to park.
The Court is NOT responsible for any parking fines you
receive from parking at a meter or at any other unauthorized parking location.
What should I bring with me when I report for jury duty?
Please bring the top half of your Summons with you when you
report. Since the courtrooms tend to be cool, you may want to bring a sweater or
light jacket with you. Also, please be prepared to show photo identification
when entering the courthouse.
How much time will it take until I know if I am selected?
The selection time varies so you should plan on staying until
5:00 p.m.
If I am selected, what are the hours I would be expected to
spend at the Courthouse?
Trials are usually held between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and
5:00 p.m., unless the Judge informs you otherwise. These hours are always subject
to change, depending on how the trial is progressing.
After a trial is over, am I finished or am I still on call?
This will depend on the needs of the Court and the number of
cases tried during your term of service. The Court makes every effort to fully
utilize each pool and will call those who served on a trial only when no other
pool members are available.
In PEORIA and URBANA you must continue calling as directed
until the end of your service term. In SPRINGFIELD and ROCK ISLAND you dont
need to call until you have received another written notice in the mail.
May I be late?
It is important that you report promptly for jury duty. If an
emergency arises, please notify the Clerks office of the circumstances and when
you expect to arrive.
Peoria:
309-671-7117
Urbana: 1-800-207-7202
or 1-217-373-5830
Springfield:
217-492-4706
Rock Island:
309-793-5778 or 1-888-877-0972
What if my employer wants proof that I was serving on jury
duty?
There will be a Certificate of Attendance available from the
Jury Clerk at your request. Know that federal law
prohibits employers from firing or disciplining employees because of their
service as jurors.
Will I be paid for my jury service?
You will be paid $40.00 per day for each day of jury
attendance plus round-trip mileage. The checks are
mailed approximately two weeks after your appearance. Federal Government
employees are not entitled to an attendance fee unless that person is in non-pay
status during all or part of his/her jury service.
What happens if I dont report for jury duty?
Any juror who fails to report for jury duty may be served an Order to Show
Cause. The Court may then hold a hearing on the Order to Show Cause. Jurors who
fail to show adequate cause for their absence from jury duty can be held in
contempt of court under the Jury Selection Act (18 U.S.C. 1866 (g)). Penalties
range from a fine of $100 to three days in jail, or both.
Will I serve on civil or criminal trials?
While the U.S. District Court conducts trials in both civil
and criminal cases, there is no way to know what type of case a juror might be
assigned to until the day they report for service.
Are jurors given breaks? Are there lunch facilities available
or will we be expected to bring our lunch?
Jurors are usually given a break in the morning, at lunch, and
in the afternoon. There are several restaurants within walking distance of the
Courthouse and still others that are a short drive away. Jurors are also welcome
to bring their lunch. There is a microwave in the jury deliberation room. The
Court provides soft drinks for the jurors, as well as coffee and sweet rolls or
doughnuts in the morning. Jurors are only provided free
meals (lunches/dinners) while they are deliberating (deciding what their verdict
will be).
Will the Court pay for my parking?
Yes.
PEORIA and
SPRINGFIELD jurors
please bring your parking stub with you to the
Courthouse when you report for service.
URBANA jurors are to park in Lot 10X
of the Lincoln Square Mall parking lot. Lot 10X is an open lot and the spaces
are not metered. A parking permit is mailed with your Summons. Please place the
permit on the dash of your car.
ROCK ISLAND jurors will be given a
parking permit and instructions on where to park when they report.
May I leave the Jury Assembly Room or Courtroom?
If you need to leave the Jury Assembly Room, please notify
someone in the Clerks office. Once you are in the courtroom, you may only leave
when the Judge allows for a break.
May I smoke?
Smoking is prohibited within the confines of the courthouse.
Smoking is only permitted outside of the building.
May I bring a friend or members of my family?
It is best to leave family, friends and children at home while you serve on
jury duty.
How can my family reach me in case of an emergency?
Your family may call the Clerks office and staff will then
give you the message. The numbers to reach the Clerks office are
Peoria: 1-309-671-7117
Urbana: 1-800-207-7202 OR
1-217-373-5830.
Springfield: 1-217-492-4706
Rock Island: 1-309-793-5778 OR
1-888-877-0972
How can I contact the Jury Clerk?
You may reach the Jury Clerk at the numbers listed in the
previous question.
Can I bring a cell phone, pager or laptop computer into the
Courthouse?
Peoria: Everyone
who enters the Courthouse must have a photo identification and must pass through
a magnetometer, which senses metal. Cell phones, pagers and
laptop computers are allowed in the Courthouse and may be used in the Jury
Assembly Room. Once called into the courtroom, they must be turned off.
Urbana: Cell phones, pagers and
laptop computers may not be used in the courtrooms. Everyone who enters the
Courthouse must have a photo identification and must pass through a
magnetometer, which senses metal. To expedite going through the security check
station, please have your ID available and do NOT bring the following items with
you (this list is by no means totally inclusive): cellular phones; pagers; any
and all knives; mace or pepper spray; footwear with safety steel toes; scissors;
box or letter openers; cameras and other electronic devices; and large amounts
of jewelry. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but the security
measures are for everyone's safety.
Springfield:
Everyone who enters the Courthouse must have a
photo identification and must pass through a magnetometer, which senses metal.
Jurors should not
bring cell phones, pagers or laptop computers to the Courthouse. If you do bring
them our Court Security Officers will keep them at the front desk and you may
pick them up at lunchtime or at the end of the day.
Rock Island: Everyone who enters the
Courthouse must have a photo identification and must pass through a
magnetometer, which senses metal.
Cell phones, pagers and
laptop computers are allowed in the Courthouse and may be used in the Jury
Assembly Room. Once called into the courtroom, they must be turned off.
Why do we spend so much time sitting around before the actual
selection process occurs?
While many jurors may see this time as wasted, it is time
being used by the Judge and attorneys on unexpected events that must be dealt
with outside the presence of the jury. This time is also used to provide
orientation to jury service in the Federal Court.
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