PETIT JUROR'S GUIDE

U.S. District Court
Western District of Pennsylvania

Jury Administration Office
Room 136

Jury Administration Telephone
453-4829
Code-a-phone number 454-0897
( Toll number 1-800-745-0356)

PETIT JUROR GUIDE

Welcome to the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Your term of jury service is determined by the court. During your term of service, we ask that you use good judgment in attire (no shorts or tank tops) and observe the rules of etiquette in the courtroom.

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HOURS

Generally, your duty hours will be between 9 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday thru Friday. However, the jury clerk or a judge will inform you daily as to the time to report for jury service the next day. You will normally be released by a jury clerk or a courtroom deputy at the close of the day. You are not to leave until officially dismissed. Your lunch break will be announced by a jury clerk or a courtroom deputy.

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JUROR PAY

Jurors receive $40.00 for each day in attendance. Jurors also receive compensation for travel as measured in miles from their residence to the courthouse at the current government rate (round trip). Parking fees will be reimbursed up to $10.00 per day upon submission of a validated receipt. Jurors staying in hotels due to a lengthy commuting distance (60 miles or more), will receive a subsistence payment of $100.00 per day (This fee may vary). Travel fees (mileage to and from the hotel/motel to the Courthouse) will not be paid to jurors who must stay overnight in a hotel. Jurors who stay with friends or relatives will receive a reduced subsistence payment ($38.00 per day). Please see the jury clerk if you have any questions about your pay. Checks for jurors are prepared and mailed at least twice each month.

You will receive a statement along with your pay. This statement can be used as verification of days of service and the amount of jury pay that you received. If you need other information for your employer, see the jury clerk at the end of your jury service. The attendance fee that a juror receives ($40.00 per day) is taxable income and must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service.

The Clerk's Office is unable to arrange hotel accommodations for you. Therefore, you should personally contact a hotel of your choice for reservations. The list of hotels enclosed is in no way an endorsement, as there are many quality hotels in the area. Please be certain to state that you are a Federal juror to receive any lower government rate that may be available.
The map in this guide shows the location of the Federal Courthouse.

If you are a Federal employee, please let the jury clerk know this information at the time of check-in.

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PROTECTION OF JUROR'S EMPLOYMENT
U.S. CODE 28 USC 1875 SECTION (a)

"No employer shall discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate, or coerce any permanent employee by reason of such employee's jury service or attendance in connection with such service, in any court of the United States."

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JURY ASSEMBLY ROOM (Room 136)

The Clerk's Office continously strives to make your wait in the assembly room as comfortable as possible. There is instant coffee and tea for you to drink while in the assembly room. A small refrigerator is available in the jury assembly room if you would like to bring your lunch or cold drinks with you. Smoking is permitted ONLY in the smoking area. Restrooms are located in the rear of the jury room and jurors are not permitted to leave the room without the consent of a jury clerk.

Should an emergency arise in the assembly room, immediately notify one of the jury clerks. Should a personal problem arise which you feel might impair your service as a juror, please bring this information to the immediate attention of the jury clerk. Should an emergency arise during the evening, or while you are on your way to the courthouse in the morning, please call (814) 453-4829 after 8:00AM. If you are serving on a jury panel, be sure to mention this.

The Clerk's Office cannot be responsible for items lost or stolen while you are on jury service.

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REPORTING DATE

Although your summons states 30 days in length, this does not mean that you will be serving every day for that period of time. What is DOES mean is that you are ON CALL to report when needed for that period of time. Please advise your employer of this fact. After jury selection is completed for a particular trial, only those people selected will report each day until completion of that particular trial. Those people that are not selected will be excused until jury selection is scheduled for any further cases. You will not be paid for the days that you are excused.

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PARKING

Two city parking ramps/lots are located closely to the courthouse as follows:

Between W. 7th and W. 8th on Peach St.
Between W. 8th and W. 9th and Peach and
Sassafras Sts.

DO NOT PARK AT A PARKING METER, YOU ARE REIMBURSED FOR PARKING BUT NOT FOR PARKING VIOLATIONS. PLEASE BRING YOUR PARKING TICKET (you will receive this in the morning when you park in a ramp or lot) INTO THE COURTHOUSE WITH YOU TO BE STAMPED SO THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE A DISCOUNT.

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REQUESTS FOR EXCUSAL

Requests for an excuse because of an illness should be submitted immediately and be accompanied by a statement from a doctor. Requests because of business or family hardship must be received in this office no later than 5 working days prior to the scheduled appearance date. Requests received after that time cannot be considered. If you have prearranged travel plans, please notify us when sending in your information card. We are usually able to accommodate your request.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR JURY SERVICE, PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY ALL THE DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED BEFORE CALLING THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

PLEASE DO NOT BRING ELECTRONIC DEVICES OR LEGAL WEAPONS INTO THE COURTHOUSE. THEY WILL BE CONFISCATED AT THE DOOR.

Please open the enclosed summons, complete the information card, and return it to this office in the enclosed, self-addressed, franked envelope.

Please visit our website at www.pawd.uscourts.gov

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LIST OF HOTELS/MOTELS

The Clerk's Office is unable to arrange for accommodations for you for overnight stays, therefore, you should personally contact a hotel or motel for a reservation. Be certain to state that you are a federal juror in order to obtain the best commercial rate.

CHECK THE CURRENT PRICE WHEN YOU CALL FOR A RESERVATION.

There are many other hotels/motels in the area. This is in no way an endorsement of the following hotels/motels. There are many other hotels/motels in the area. Below is just a short list for your convenience.

*Within walking distance of Federal Courthouse

*Super 8 456-6251 205 W. 10th St.
*Holiday Inn 456-2961 18 W. 18th St.
*Avalon Hotel459-2220 16 W. 10th St.
Microtel 864-1010 Rt. 19 & I-90
Tally-Ho Hotel868-0879 I-90 & Rte. 97
Red Roof Inn 868-5246 I-90 & Te. 97
Comfort Inn 866-6666 I-90 & Rte. 19
Days Inn 868-8521 I-90 & Rte. 97
Super 8 1-800-800-8000 I-90 & Rte. 97
Quality Inn 864-4911 I-90 & Rte. 97
Ramada Inn 825-3100 I-90 & Rte. 8
Motel 6 864-4811 I-90 & Peach St.
Residence Inn 864-2500 I-90 & Peach St.
Econo Lodge 866-5544 I-90 & Peach St

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MAP OF ERIE

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FEDERAL COURT INFORMATION

To find out more about Federal Court and Jury Service, go to www.fjc.gov, Educational Programs and Materials.

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