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Juror FAQs

  • If you have received a jury summons and have been instructed to report on a specific day, you may check your reporting instructions by calling our Jury Messaging System (1-866-847-4954) or by logging in to the eJuror program. You will need your 9-digit participant number to access our records.

  • Exemptions from jury service in federal court include active members of the military, public firefighters or police and public officials.  Public officials are limited to elected officials and some individuals who are appointed directly by an elected official.  If you qualify in one of these categories, please submit your information on eJuror and the court will process your exemption.

  • You may email the Jury Administrator at juryinfo@lawd.uscourts.gov.  Your 9-digit participant number should be included with all correspandence to the court. Your participant number is located on the front of your form or postcard above your name and address.

  • The Jury Plan for the Western District of Louisiana does not include professional excusals for doctors, dentists, teachers, or essential workers. Likewise, the Jury Plan does not allow excusals based on hardships.  Therefore, you must complete your qualification questionnaire postcard, form or summons. You may request a deferral based on a hardship. All deferral requests will be processed on a case-by-case basis.

  • Please fill out the remarks section eJuror or on the paper form to indicate "deceased", date of death, and include your name, and relationship to the decedant.

  • The court welcomes your service.  If, however, you are over 70, and you do not wish to serve as a federal juror, your must inform the court you do not wish to serve. We do not release jurors based on age.  However, you may ask to be excused.  To be excused, complete the qualification questionnaire or jury summons, on eJuror or return your form in the prepaid envelope with a note or remark stating you wish to be excused based upon your age. 

  • You will not be reimbursed for any expenses incurred if you report when the trial has been cancelled and you failed to call for the recorded message.

  • Having jurors call after 5:00 p.m. allows the court time to change the recording if there has been a schedule change for the reporting date.

  • In most cases, no. Jurors taking notes is a decision made on an individual trial basis by the court.

  • You may wear casual business attire. Shorts, t-shirts, sleeveless tops, old blue jeans or hats are not considered appropriate attire.

  • You will be required to report for the duration of the case. In most trials you should know by the end of the first day whether you have been selected to sit on the jury and hear the case. If you are not selected you will be released by the court with instructions as to when to call or report back. In most of our court locations jurors are subject to being instructed to report at any point in a two (2) week time frame.

  • A typical jury day begins at 8:45 a.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m.  Your schedule will depend on the court’s schedule.

  • In most cases this is correct.  There are times when it might be necessary for you to report for jury selection for another trial.

  • Yes, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana covers 48 parishes throughout the State of Louisiana thus requiring jurors to cross parish lines to report for jury duty.  This is Federal Court and not State/Parish Court.  We have jurors reporting in Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe & Shreveport.

  • All requests must be submitted to the court in writing OR by using the eJuror program.  All documentation sent to the court must include your 9-digit participant number.  After you submit your request, please be patient and allow the court a few days to process your information.  The submission of a medical letter or excuse does not guarantee the court will grant the request. Each request is processed on an individual basis.

    If you received a QUALIFICATION QUESTIONNAIRE POSTCARD, submit your request using the eJuror program.  Documentation in support of your request may be sent to the Jury Administrator via email to juryinfo@lawd.uscourts.gov or via fax at 318-676-3962. All documentation sent to the court must include your 9-digit participant number. 

    If you received a QUALIFICATION QUESTIONNAIRE Form, you may submit your request using the eJuror program or return your completed form with your request in the enclosed prepaid envelope.  Documentation in support of your request may be sent to the Jury Administrator via email to juryinfo@lawd.uscourts.gov or via fax at 318-676-3962.  All documentation sent to the court must include your 9-digit participant number. 

    If you received a JURY SUMMONS to appear for jury service on a specific date, you should refer to your court location instruction sheet enclosed with your summons packet. You should submit your request using the eJuror program or return your completed form with your written request in the enclosed prepaid envelope.  Documentation in support of your request should be sent to the court location of where you are scheduled to report.  Each court's instruction sheet includes the court location address, telephone number, fax number and email address. Court specific instruction sheets may be found on our website under the JUROR Tab titled as "Jury Duty - Location Division".

  • No. All requests must be submitted in writing to the court BEFORE the date you are scheduled to appear.  All correspondence with the court should include your 9-digit participant number.

  • Excusal requests are reveiwed on an individual basis and are not automatically granted. You must complete your questionnaire or summons information before the court will consider a request. You must elaborate your reasons for your excuse on a separate sheet of paper. Medical excuses require a recent letter from your doctor stating what your medical condition is and why it will prevent you from serving as a juror. All correspondence submitted to the court should include your 9-digit participant number.

    QUALIFICATION PROCESS: When the court grants or denys your request, the court will be unable to provide with excusal results. If the court determines your circumstance will prohibit you from serving for the duration of the four (4) year Jury Master Wheel, you will be disqualified. If the court determines your circumstance will not prohibit you from serving within the (4) year timeframe, you will be considered a qualified juror.

    JURY SUMMONS:  When the court takes action on your request regarding a jury summons, you will be notified by mail, e-mail or by phone. If you do not receive a response, you are required to report as instructed on the jury summons. You may call the Jury Messaging System (1-866-847-4954) to check on the status of your excuse. If you do not receive a response, you are required to report as instructed on the jury summons.

  • Yes, to avoid further delay, you should complete your information online using the court’s eJuror program. You may return the form in the self-addressed prepaid envelope. However, a late response provides the court less time to process your information. If you are requesting an excuse, the court may not get back to you on time. Include a daytime telephone number where you can be reached.

  • A grand jury is a group of 16 to 23 citizens who typically serve a term of 18 months. Grand jury members and proceedings are highly confidential and not disclosed. A grand jury is presented with case information from the federal government. The role of a grand jury is to determine whether there is probable cause to believe the individual committed a crime and should be put on trial.

  • A trial jury is also called a petit jury. This is a group of selected jurors, people who determine any question or issue of fact in a civil or criminal case according to law and the evidence introduced at the trial.

  • 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 must reside in the Western District of Louisiana.

  • Every four (4) years the Clerk of Court retrieves the voter registration lists from the Secretary of State to build a Master Jury Wheel.  After the Master Jury Wheel has been created, the court randomly selects names to build a qualified jury wheel in accordance with federal law.

  • Both civil and criminal cases are tried in U.S. District Courts. The specific kinds of cases are set forth in Article III of the U.S. Constitution and in federal statutes. These are controversies to which the United States is a party and controversies between two or more States. The federal courts also decide 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 $75,000.00. Typical criminal charges in federal court are those involving violation of income tax and narcotics laws, mail theft, crimes committed on federal property, and counterfeiting. The federal criminal code, including offenses involving violent crimes, property, drugs, firearms and explosives, sexual crimes, immigration, and justice system offenses.

  • Jury payments are processed after the jury trial has concluded. If a jury trial is expected to last more than seven (7) days, payments will be processed on a weekly basis. It may take at least 1 to 2 weeks to receive your payment.