Jurors serving in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in Cape Girardeau are selected from the residents of sixteen Missouri counties which are within the geographical boundaries of the Southeastern Division of the Court. The Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Sr. United States Courthouse is located at 555 Independence Street, at the intersection of Frederick and Independence Streets. It is accessible from Highway 61 and Interstate 55.
Jurors receive an attendance fee of $40 per day and are paid for each day they appear at the Court, whether or not they serve on a jury. Federal Government employees are not paid an attendance fee unless they appear for jury service on their day off. They must then present a signed statement from their supervisor verifying their leave status.
Regardless of the mode of transportation, you will be paid a travel allowance of 50.5 cents per mile for the distance from your residence to the Court and for the return trip home by the shortest practical route.
Parking is abailable in the public parking lot accessible of Frederick Street on the south side of the Courthouse.
A subsistence allowance for an overnight stay may be paid to a juror at the appropriate daily rate for travel or attendance if the juror's residence is at least 100 miles in distance one way from Court, or when authorized by the Clerk of the Court. The Clerk of Court may authorize a subsistence allowance if the Clerk determines that travel to a juror's home would be impractical. In making this determination, the Clerk will consider such factors as distance traveled, the time involved for the travel, the travel conditions, and the time when jurors are excused. A copy of your hotel/motel receipt is required in order to reimburse subsistence.
Checks in payment of service fees, travel, and subsistence allowance are mailed to jurors approximately twice a month. Mileage and subsistence fees are not taxable, but the $40 daily attendance fee is taxable and should be reported on your income tax returns. W-2 forms are not provided to jurors; each juror should keep account of the number of days of service and report fees on his/her income tax return forms.
If you have a change of address, phone number or change of employment please be sure to submit these to the Court as soon as possible. A current address is needed to mail your checks since the Post Office does not forward checks. A current phone number is also important when cases settle or to contact you by the court's automated phone system.
If your employer requires written verification of your attendance for jury service, you may obtain a certificate of attendance.
The term of service for the Southeastern Division is to be on call for three months. Actual jury service is very limited during the this period. Many of the trials in this Court last one to three days. You will be notified by mail approximately ten days in advance regarding specific reporting dates during the term. This written notice will contain instructions for reporting and calling the message phone to confirm whether or not you need to appear on a reporting date.
James G. Woodward, Clerk of Court