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• Questionnaire a. Where did the district
get my name? • General Questions a. What is the difference between
a petit juror and a grand juror? • Requests to be Excused From Jury Duty a. How do I make a request to
be excused? • Term of Service a. When am I supposed to serve on
jury duty? • District Boundaries & Places of Holding Court a. What are the boundaries of the
Western District of Missouri? • Juror Fees a. What fees are paid to jurors? • Long Distance Travel & Accommodations a. What if I live a long distance
away and cannot travel to court the same day? • Code-A-Phone Messages a. What is the code-a-phone? • Court Hours and Length of Trials a. On the first day of jury duty,
what happens and how long will I be there? • Parking
WHERE DID THE DISTRICT GET MY NAME? The United States District Court currently obtains the names of our jurors from two sources: a list of registered voters from the Secretary of States Office and a list of licensed drivers over the age of 18 from the Missouri Department of Revenue. If you have moved, but still reside in the boundaries of your district, you will be subject to jury service.
Race and gender are not factors in determining your eligibility to serve as a juror. We ask these questions so that we can assure a proper racial and gender balance in our master jury wheel.
Yes. We need the information contained on your questionnaire for statistical purposes – even if you have been excused. However, if you are requesting an excuse, your written request may be returned with your juror information form in the same envelope.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PETIT JUROR AND A GRAND JUROR? A petit juror's responsibility is to determine issues of fact "beyond a reasonable doubt" in civil and criminal cases and to reach a verdict in conjunction with those findings. A grand juror's responsibility is to determine "probable cause" based on the facts and accusations presented by the prosecutor. If a grand jury finds probable cause, and indictment will be handed down. An indictment is the most common way a criminal case starts. WHAT TYPE OF CASES ARE HEARD IN FEDERAL COURT? We have both civil and criminal trials in Federal Court. Criminal trials consist of juries composed of 12 jurors plus alternates, and civil trials are composed of 6 to 12 jurors. Only 12 jurors can deliberate on any trial. WHO SHOULD I CONTACT IF I HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? General questions may be answered by calling (816) 512-5100. You can also telephone our Jury Administrators: Kelsee Pierce 816-512-5102 Elvia Farley 816-512-5101 Jury Clerk: Sherry Cleveland 816-512-5016 Our e-mail address: jury@mow.uscourts.gov.
HOW DO I MAKE A REQUEST TO BE EXCUSED? You may list your reasons, in your own words on a separate piece of paper and enclose it with your juror information form. A decision will be made promptly and you will be advised by return mail. All requests for excuse must be submitted in writing and should include your current panel designation and specific dates to be considered. Requests by fax will be accepted at (816) 512-5106. SHOULD I CALL THE COURT TO BE EXCUSED? No. You (not your employer) should submit a request to be excused in writing along with your juror information form. The only time you should call regarding an excuse is when you have a last minute emergency that cannot be handled through the mail. WHAT IF I HAVE VACATION OR IMPORTANT EVENTS SCHEDULED DURING MY TERM? Advise the jury office in writing and allowances will be made for such matters. Please advise of specific dates you wish to have considered. DOES MY EMPLOYER HAVE TO LET ME OFF FOR JURY DUTY? Under federal law, employers must allow their employees time off for jury duty. An employee cannot be punished by their employer in any way for jury service. However, under the law, the employer is not required to pay salary or wages while the employee is serving jury duty.
WHEN AM I SUPPOSED TO SERVE ON JURY DUTY? You should check your juror summons for a reporting date, time and location. HOW LONG IS MY TERM OF SERVICE? Your term of service defends on whether you are a petit juror or a grand juror, and where you have been summoned to serve. Term of Service for Petit Jurors All petit jurors serving in Kansas City, Jefferson City and Springfield are required to be on call for a period of one month. During that time, you may be called to serve on any of the dates listed on your initial reporting instructions.
Term of Service for Grand Jurors You will be asked to report for grand jury selection only once. If you are not selected as a grand juror, you will not be asked to report again, and your term of service is complete. If you are selected as a grand juror, the term of service is 18 months with no maximum number of times to report. In most instances, you will be required to report once a month until your term has expired. AFTER COMPLETION OF MY SERVICE, WHEN CAN I BE CALLED AGAIN? We change our jury wheels every two years. However, you do not have to serve a second time if you have served as a juror in federal or state court within the last two years and will be excused upon proof of service. IF I AM NOT SELECTED, HOW DO I KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT? You have been called to service for a period of one month, unless notified to the contrary, your service will be completed at the end of the month.
WHAT ARE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI The United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri is comprised of five divisions, namely: Kansas City, Jefferson City, Springfield, St. Joseph and Joplin Kansas City Division The Kansas City Division (Western Division) is comprised of the counties of Bates, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Ray, St. Clair and Saline. Jefferson City Division The Jefferson City Division (Central Division) is comprised of the counties of Benton, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole, Cooper, Hickory, Howard, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage and Pettis. Springfield Division The Springfield Division (Southern Division) is comprised of the counties of Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Howell, Laclede, Oregon, Ozark, Polk, Pulaski, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright. St. Joseph Division The St. Joseph Division is comprised of the counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, Davies, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Platte, Putnam, Sullivan and Worth. Joplin Division The Joplin Division (Southwestern Division) is comprised of the counties of Barry, Barton, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Stone and Vernon. Generally, petit jurors will only be asked to travel to the city in which the division holds court. However, the St. Joseph division jurors will be asked to report in Kansas City and the Joplin division jurors will be asked to report in Springfield. Grand jurors summoned to report in Kansas City will be drawn from the St. Joseph and Kansas City divisions. Grand jurors summoned to report in Jefferson City will be drawn from the Jefferson City division. Grand jurors summoned to report in Springfield will be drawn from the Springfield and Joplin divisions. The Western District of Missouri has one Special Grand Jury which sits in Kansas City and is drawn from all divisions in the Western District.
The attendance fee is $40.00 per day, unless you are employed by the Federal Government. Jurors will be reimbursed for their round trip mileage from their round trip mileage and parking. WHEN WILL I RECEIVE PAYMENT FOR MY JURY SERVICE? Jury checks are mailed to your home address weekly for that week's service. DO YOU HAVE A STUB ON THE CHECK BREAKING DOWN THE AMOUNT PAID? We do not have a stub itemizing your days of service. However, upon request, the Clerk's Office will furnish you with a certificate stating the date you reported and that you were paid $40.00 attendance fee. We do not list the parking or mileage that you were paid since it is a direct reimbursement of your expenses and it is not recoverable by your employer. ARE JUROR ATTENDANCE FEES CONSIDERED REPORTABLE INCOME? The IRS considers juror attendance fees to the Other Income and must be reported on Line 21 of the 1040. At the end of the year, a 1099 MISC will be mailed to all jurors who earn $600 or more in attendance fees in the calendar year. DOES MY EMPLOYER HAVE TO PAY ME OR AT LEAST MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE WHEN I SERVE? At this time, there is no law requiring them to do so. The majority of employers at least make up the difference.
WHAT IF I LIVE A LONG DISTANCE AWAY AND CANNOT TRAVEL TO COURT THE SAME DAY? Jurors who live 75 miles or more from your requested reporting city, may travel to the court the evening before you are due to report and spend the night. You will be paid an attendance fee for the day you travel as well as the day you report, plus subsistence for that night. In some instances, if you live less than 75 miles, this requirement may be waived if you show good reason for having to travel the night before. If you stay in a hotel/motel, you must turn in a receipt to be paid per diem. If you stay with friends or relatives, you must advise the jury staff of this. IF I AM ASKED TO REPORT AND MUST TRAVEL LONG DISTANCE, WHERE DO I SPEND THE NIGHT AND HOW DO I PAY? You should make your own reservations and pay your own bill. When you make your reservations, please advise the hotel that you are a federal juror and you should receive the government rate. You will be reimbursed the subsistence rate on your jury check. Listed are some of the hotels located in the general area of each federal courthouse: KANSAS CITY: SAVOY HOTEL AMERICAN INN/INTERSTATE INN HYATT REGENCY HOTEL COMFORT INN & SUITES-DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD: HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS HOTEL & SUITES OASIS HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTER BEST WESTERN COACH HOUSE INN JEFFERSON CITY: CAPITAL PLAZA HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL DE VILLE DOUBLE TREE/formerly Hampton Inn The subsistence rate for Kansas City is $152.00, Springfield is $112.00 and Jefferson City is $109.00, provided you stayed in a hotel/motel and turned in a receipt to the jury office. If you stayed with friends or relatives, you must advise the jury office of this, and you will be paid $39.00. CODE-A-PHONE MESSAGES The code-a-phone is a pre-recorded message machine which is used to inform our jury panels of their final reporting instructions. Jurors must call this phone as instructed on their summons to receive their reporting instructions. Messages will be available after 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and throughout the entire weekend. Each time you are given a reporting date, you should call the code-a-phone as instructed to see whether there have been any changes to your reporting instructions. The number to call is 1-800-488-0679. COURT HOURS AND LENGTH OF TRIAL ON THE FIRST DAY OF JURY DUTY, WHAT HAPPENS AND HOW LONG WILL I BE THERE? Juries will be selected on the first day you report for jury duty. If you are selected to serve, you will most likely begin the trial that day. There are no standard court hours. If you are not selected to serve, you could be dismissed by noon or early afternoon. WILL I EVER BE REQUIRED TO SERVE LATE IN THE EVENING OR BE SEQUESTERED? Sometimes trials will run into the evening hours. If that happens, you will have ample time to make any necessary arrangements and advise your family. Sequestration is always a possibility, however, you will be informed of that possibility on the day of selection. HOW MANY DAYS DO THE TRIALS LAST? Jury trials can last anywhere from less than one day to many weeks in length. The majority of our trials in the Western District of Missouri last two to three days. If you were subject to a lengthy trial, you will have an opportunity to advise the court that a long trial would be a problem for you.
Kansas City Division The courthouse in Kansas City does not open until 7:00 a.m. Public parking lots in area: 9th St between Locust and Cherry, 8th & McGee Sts, Admiral (7th Street) at McGee, 9th & Oak Sts, 11th & Oak Sts (Standard Garage) Do not use metered parking on the street and do not park at the UMB Parking garage. Designated handicap parking spots are available to jurors, within the Federal Employee Parking Lot located west of the courthouse. Entrance on 9th St. If you need to use a wheelchair while in the Courthouse, one will be made available by contacting (816) 512-5100. Jefferson City Division There is one parking garage located on Madison Street, which is one block east of the courthouse. The rate is $.50 per hour. There are also 10-hour meters located on McCarty and Washington Streets. These meters take quarters only. Two-hour meters will not allow sufficient time to select a jury. Springfield Division Park in any lot available. Do not park on the street.
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