What is a petit or trial jury?
A petit or trial jury is a jury selected for the trial of a particular case. It may be a civil or a criminal matter. Such a jury will sit together, hear evidence, be given instructions as to the applicable law in their case by the presiding judge, and will retire to deliberate and return a verdict. A petit jury usually consists of twelve jurors plus alternates in a criminal case. Under federal rules, a petit jury in a civil trial may be composed of anywhere from six to twelve jurors.
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What if I have a planned vacation or other pre-paid travel or events during the time of my summons?
You will complete the response card and attach a letter stating the dates of your vacation or otherwise scheduled events. Attach a copy of your itinerary or other documentation showing that you have prepaid reservations or other obligations. You will be excused for the dates of your vacation or other obligation. You may remain on call for the other weeks of the term or you may be rescheduled to another court term depending on the court’s need for jurors.
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What if I have already served jury duty in the last two years?
If you have served jury duty within the last two (2) years in any other court and you wish to be deferred on that basis, you will need to provide us with a copy of your attendance certificate or pay stub from the other court. The document itself MUST include your name and the dates of your service. A copy of your summons for other court jury service
is not sufficient.
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What if my employer will not release me for jury duty?
You have been legally summoned for jury service and unless you are deferred or excused pursuant to the instructions provided in your summons, you must serve. Failure to report for service may be punishable as a contempt of court. You may be arrested and required to show cause as to why you did not appear for service. Pursuant to 28 U.S. Code Section 1866, potential penalties to you for failure to show good cause for failing to appear include a fine of up to $100.00 and or jail time for up to three days.

Your employment is protected pursuant to 28 U.S. Code Section 1875 which reads in part:
“No employer shall discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate, or coerce any permanent employee by reason of such employee’s jury service, or the attendance or scheduled attendance in connection with such service, in any court of the United States...” Any employer who violates the provisions of this section:

1) Shall be liable for damages for any loss of wages or other benefits suffered by an employee by reason of such violation;
2) May be enjoined from further violation of this section and ordered to provide other appropriate relief, including but not limited to the
reinstatement of any employee discharged by reason of his/her jury
service; and
3) Shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.00 for each
violation as to each employee.

Any juror, grand juror, or potential juror who experiences such behavior
should patiently listen to the employer and then contact the jury clerk or other court officer immediately.
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Can I be fired from my job because of jury duty?
Your employment is protected pursuant to 28 U.S. Code Section 1875 which reads in part:
“No employer shall discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate, or coerce any
permanent employee by reason of such employee’s jury service, or the attendance or scheduled attendance in connection with such service, in any court of the United States...” Any employer who violates the provisions of this section:
1. Shall be liable for damages for any loss of wages or other benefits suffered by an employee by reason of such violation;
2. May be enjoined from further violation of this section and ordered to provide other appropriate relief, including but not limited to the
reinstatement of any employee discharged by reason of his/her jury
service; and
3. Shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.00 for each
violation as to each employee.

Any juror, grand juror, or potential juror who experiences such behavior should patiently listen to the employer and then contact the jury clerk or other court officer immediately.
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Do I need a doctor’s letter if I am asking to be excused or deferred?
In general, if you are asking for an excuse or postponement of service for less than six months, a doctor’s note is not needed. Simply explain your situation in your own words. Give enough detail so that the judge or clerk can make a reasonably informed decision. For example, a simple statement such as “back pain” will not be sufficient. We can accommodate that type of problem by allowing jurors to bring pillows for sitting or by seating such jurors on the back row so that they may stand or stretch as needed.

If you are asking to be excused or postponed for a period longer than six months, a doctor’s note will be needed. If your condition is long-term or chronic, the doctor’s letter
should state this fact. Letters that leave the excuse period non-defined or ill-defined will result in your name being subject to recall after six months.
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What if I have changed my name?
Update your name and any other information on the response card. The cards are tracked by the bar code on the bottom. Once the card is received, the information will be updated in the computer.
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What if I have moved out of North Carolina?
Complete the top three lines regarding your name and new address. Sign the card and check the moved/relocated exemption on the back of the card. You will be mailed an excuse letter upon our entry of the new data.
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What if I have moved to a county other than one of those listed in my summons instructions?
Complete the entire card and return the same. Upon entry of the new data, an appropriate response letter will be mailed to you either excusing you or moving your service to another city within the district. If your service is moved to one of the other cities within the district, such service will be at a later date and you will receive a new summons when
your name is drawn again.
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Is there a dress code?
There is no formal dress code in our court. We recognize that jurors come from widely varying circumstances. That is as it should be. We do ask that people remember that court is a solemn and dignified place and that the proceedings taking place there may have an enormous impact on the lives of those persons involved. We ask that you dress with this in mind.
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Can I bring my cell phone?
You will need to leave all cell phones and pagers in your car on the first day of jury service. After you have been selected for a trial, the presiding judge will advise you whether or not you are allowed to bring a cell phone or pager with you.
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Can I bring a laptop?
No.
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Can I bring reading materials?
Check the instruction sheet sent with your summons.
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What if I need an unscheduled bathroom break during jury service?
Our judges try to take regularly scheduled restroom and snack breaks. Even so, the individual needs of people sometimes do not follow regular schedules. If you need an unscheduled break during jury service, simply raise your hand. The judge will recognize you and stop the proceedings so that you may use the facilities or stop so that everyone can have a break. Do not hesitate to do this. Your job as a juror is to listen and if your are sitting there worried about the next break, you are not doing
your job.
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What if I am over 70 years of age?
You are still welcome to serve if you wish. If you do not wish to serve, complete the response card and mark the over 70 exemption on the back. Upon entry of your data, an excuse letter will be mailed to you.
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Who sees all of the information requested on this card?
Only the jury clerk and the judge(s). On rare occasion, after a special showing of need to the presiding judge, the attorneys in a particular case may be allowed to review the response cards of jurors actually appearing at that particular trial. In that event, the attorneys are required to review the response cards in the presence of either the presiding judge or the deputy clerk. No one is allowed to copy any information and the cards are not allowed to leave the room. The plaintiffs and defendants in cases are not allowed to see the cards.

Electronic records created by the court in relation to jury matters are also protected by restricted access and by various computer security measures.
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What if I refuse to complete and return the response card?
28 U.S. Code Section 1866(g) provides in part that “...any person who fails to show good cause for noncompliance with a summons may be fined not more than $100.00 or imprisoned not more than three days, or both.”
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What if I refuse to or fail to report for jury service?
28 U.S. Code Section 1866 provides: “Any person summoned for jury service who fails to appear as directed shall be ordered by the district court to appear forthwith and show cause for his/her failure to comply with the summons. Any person who fails to show good cause for noncompliance with a summons may be fined not more than $100.00 and or imprisoned not more than three (3) days.”
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What is this 800 number I am supposed to call?
The 1-800 number is provided in your summons package and it is utilized to allow flexibility in our system. The court’s business sometimes changes at the last minute. By using the 800 number, we can easily bring in only the number of jurors we actually need on any given day within a court term. This avoids unnecessary expenditures for us and avoids the need for jurors to report only to sit in the jury lounge all day or to be told to go back home and possibly report again. The number also provides an easy communication tool in the event of severe or inclement weather.

When you call the 800 number, follow whatever instructions may be recorded as they may differ from what was originally stated in your summons. You are instructed to call the 800 number after 6:00 p.m. on the last business day immediately preceding the date for which you are summoned to serve. If there is severe weather the morning you are instructed to report, call the 800 number again between 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. for any updated instructions.

When you call the 800 number, you will be given a series of communication options. Listen to the system. You will be instructed to enter your Juror Participant Number. This is the nine-digit number located on your summons just to right of the bar code immediately above your name. The number will begin with 100 and follow with six more numbers.

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How many times will I have to report for service and how long will I be there?
Generally, unless there is a severe shortage of jurors, you will only have to report for jury selection once. We do our best to make sure that we have enough jurors on standby to maintain this policy. There are times however when the very best made plans go awry and we do have to require jurors to report for selection more than once in a given term.

Our trials generally average 3-5 days each. This necessarily means that some trials are longer and some are shorter. On the day of jury selection, the presiding judge will give you instructions as to the estimated trial time for the case on which you are serving. Please remember that this instruction will be an estimate only. If more than one jury is selected on a given day, the judge will tell you when to return for the start of your trial.

On the first day you are instructed to report (jury selection day), you should plan to be at the courthouse all day.
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What are the court’s daily business hours?
The court’s business hours are set by the individual judge and the nature of the particular trial. Generally, business hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This is subject to change.
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What if I have special needs?
Write a letter and return it with your summons response card. Explain your situation and how we might accommodate your special needs. The jury clerk will respond to you either by phone or by letter to discuss whether accommodations can be arranged. If the jury clerk has not contacted you by 6:00 p.m. on the Wednesday immediately preceding your summons day, you should call the juror help line at the number listed on your summons instruction sheet.
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What is voir dire and what will happen on jury selection day?
The term comes from Old French and roughly means to speak the truth. In the legal environment it means a preliminary examination concerning the competence of a prospective witness or juror.

On jury selection day, you will report to the courthouse as instructed. You will go through security at the entrance. There will be a metal detector. You will then go to the courtroom or the jury lounge where either a deputy clerk or the jury clerk will check your attendance. You will update any missing or unclear information on your response card. You will be given general instructions as to what is going on for the day, where restrooms and break rooms are located, and any other necessary information.

When you report to the courtroom or when the judge comes into the courtroom, the voir dire process will begin. You will be asked to take an oath or an affirmation. Jurors will then be “called into the box” from the audience. You will be seated and the presiding judge will ask you questions. Keep your seat and just respond to the questions. Nothing in the questioning process is designed to be embarrassing or intimidating. That does not mean that delicate issues will not be addressed at times. If a particular question does cause you concern, raise your hand and ask the judge to allow you to respond at the bench. The judge will probably call the attorneys up to the bench as well.

During the process, jurors will be excused from the box and others will be called in until the jury is selected. Jurors who are excused from the box should return to the audience and have a seat because they may be used in another jury selection that same day.
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How much and when will I be paid for my jury service?
Jurors are paid $40.00 per day for attendance fees and 40.5 cents per mile round trip from your home to our place of holding court. If parking fees are involved, you will be reimbursed parking as per the instructions sent with your summons. Checks are normally cut and mailed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Your attendance information is entered as soon as possible after receipt in our Raleigh office. Generally, you should have
your check within one week of the completion of your service.
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What if my employer wants proof of my service?
You should ask for an attendance certificate from the deputy clerk who is working with you on reporting day. If you forget and need one later, you may call the juror help line as noted on your summons instruction sheet.
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Does my employer have to pay me while I am on jury duty?
There is no federal statute requiring employers to pay jurors their regular salary or wage while they are performing jury duty. Some employers, of their own choosing, do follow such practice.
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What if I live a long distance from the courthouse?
If you live more than 70 miles one way from the courthouse, we can provide you with a hotel at our expense. You will also receive a food allowance. If you wish to take advantage of this option, you should return a note with your response card so advising the jury clerk. The jury clerk will make arrangements and be back in touch with you. If you have not been contacted by 6:00 p.m. on the Wednesday immediately preceding your reporting date, you should contact the jury clerk at the juror help line number listed on your summons instruction sheet.
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Will I be sequestered or will I be able to come home at night?
Whether or not a jury will be sequestered is a frequent concern of those being called to jury duty. It does sometimes happen; however, it is a rarity in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
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How long must I serve?
Our terms of court run for three weeks and your service may be at any time within the term. Your service could extend past the three-week period if you are selected for a trial that does not finish within the term or if you are selected for a trial that starts late in the term. This does not mean that you will automatically serve for three weeks or that you will be reporting every day for three weeks. Our trials generally average 3-5 days each. Our terms of court almost always involve more than one trial. Once you are selected for a trial, the presiding judge will instruct you as to the anticipated trail length and when to report for continued service.
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What about severe/inclement weather situations?
The jury clerk and the judges keep attuned to anticipated weather conditions. We keep weather issues in mind when reporting instructions are activated in our 1-800 number auto-attendant.

If you are summoned, have not yet had to actually report for service, and are calling the 800 number the night before an anticipated reporting date, the recorded message will advise you of any delays or cancellations due to weather conditions.

If you have already reported for service and have been selected to serve on a jury, then you must follow whatever instructions the presiding judge may have issued.
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What if I need to ask to be excused from or have my jury service rescheduled?
Jury service is a civic right and a civic duty. It is just as important as voting or paying your taxes. If however, the jury service for which you are summoned will result in undue hardship or extreme inconvenience because of a grave illness in your family or another similar, serious problem, you may ask for a temporary excuse. In your letter, you should note a more convenient time when your service might be rescheduled. Please be aware that work is usually considered a hardship for everyone and that only extenuating circumstances will be considered with regard to work related issues.

You must submit your request in writing. Please explain your situation so that the Judge or Jury Clerk can make a reasonably informed decision. If you are asking for an excuse or delay of service, please advise the court as to a later date when you will be available for rescheduling. Submit your request immediately upon receipt of your summons or immediately upon learning of any such serious problem. You may fax your request if time is an issue. The fax number is located on your summons information sheet. Please mail the original. You will be advised as to the outcome of your request by letter or phone call on or before 6:00 p.m. on the Wednesday immediately preceding your summons date. If you have not been so advised, please call the juror help line listed in your summons package.
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Where do I send my excuse or postponement request?
Send your letter back with your completed response card in the enclosed, postage-paid envelope. If you have already mailed the response card or you have lost the envelope or you did not receive a business reply envelope, you should mail the materials to:

Office of the Clerk
U.S. District Court
Eastern District of North Carolina
P.O. Box 25670
Raleigh, N.C. 27690-7109
Attn: Jury Clerk
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How will I be notified if my excuse or postponement request has been allowed?
If you have been summoned for a term of court starting before April 1, 2008, you will receive written notification the week prior to your scheduled service. If you have been summoned for a term of court starting after April 1, 2008, you will call the automated attendant at the 1-800 number included in your summons package. You will be instructed to enter your nine-digit Juror Participant Number. This is the nine-digit number located on your summons to right of the bar code printed just above your name. The number will begin with 100 and follow with six more numbers. Continue to follow the prompts given by the system. If they system does not recognize your Juror Participant Number after three attempts, remain on the line and the system will automatically transfer you to one of the jury clerks.

Please note, mail generally takes two-three days to reach our office. Processing time may take another 24-48 hours before we can enter an answer into the system.
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What areas does the Eastern District of North Carolina cover?
United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina encompasses approximately one-third of the state, forty-four counties in all. Look at a map and draw a vertical line from Virginia through Raleigh to South Carolina. All counties through which and to the right of where the line passes, including Robeson County, belong in the Eastern District. Within the district, we hold court in Elizabeth City, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Greenville, New Bern, and Wilmington. The location of your particular jury service is based upon your county of residence. Click on the city name to find the counties from which jurors may be called for service.
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What if I have submitted a request for excuse or postponement of jury service and I have not received a response by the deadline noted in my summons package?
If they system does not recognize your Juror Participant Number after three attempts, remain in the line and the system will automatically transfer you to one of the jury clerks.

Please note, mail generally takes two-three days to reach our office. Processing time may take another 24-48 hours before we can enter an answer into the system. Once we receive your returned summons, we will update the system to reflect that is has in fact been received. Once we have an answer, we will update the system to reflect whether or not your excuse or deferral request has been allowed.

If the system has not been updated with an answer for you by 12:00 noon the last business day immediately preceding the date for which you have been summoned, you should call the jury help desk number listed in your jury summons instruction package.
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How are excuse requests presented on the date of jury selection handled?
The summoning process provides jurors with the opportunity to request excuses from or postponement of jury service in advance of their scheduled service date(s). This process operates on the premise that routine, normally foreseeable problems will be identified and addressed prior to the date of jury service. The court tries to limit the number of jurors actually reporting on selection day for two reasons. First, we try to be conservative so that we do not waste the time of jurors who we really have no likelihood of using. Second, we try to avoid the costs incurred by having an overly large panel of jurors reporting for service. This being said, the court also recognizes that the unexpected does happen and that sickness or ill health may strike at any time. Taking all of these issues into account, excuse or postponement requests presented on the date of jury selection will normally be denied unless the request is based upon a sudden illness or a life-threatening emergency on the part of a juror or a juror’s immediate family member.
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Where do I send the completed response card for my summons?
Return the completed response card, along with any letters or doctor’s notes, in the postage-paid business reply envelope. If you have lost the envelope or one was not included with your summons, mail the card to:

Office of the Clerk
U.S. District Court
Eastern District of North Carolina
P.O. Box 25670
Raleigh, N.C. 27690-7109
Attn: Jury Clerk
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