Jurors serving in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in Hannibal are selected from the residents of the seventeen Missouri counties which are within the geographical boundaries of the Northern Division of the Court. The Court is located in the Federal Building (Post Office) at 801 Broadway in Hannibal (8th Street and Broadway).
Jurors receive an attendance fee of $40 per day and are paid for each day they appear at the Court, whether or not they are picked to serve on a jury. Federal Government employees are not paid an attendance fee unless they appear for jury service on their day off in which case they must present a signed statement to that effect from their supervisor.
Regardless of the mode of transportation, you will be paid a travel allowance of 50.5 cents per mile for the distance traveled from your residence to the Court and for the return trip home by the shortest practical route.
Parking is on the streets near the Federal Building. Do NOT park in front of the Federal Building, since there is a two hour parking limit there, and you will not have time to leave the court to move your vehicle.
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 your employer requires written verification of your attendance for jury service, you may obtain a certificate of service from the Courtroom Deputy Clerk.
The term of service in this court is to be on call for three months. However, actual jury service is very limited during this period. The Court attempts to minimize disruption to jurors' schedules. If you know of dates that you will be on vacation or out of town, please notify the jury clerks and you will not be scheduled to report at those times. Most of the trials last one to three days. If you report for jury duty and are not selected, you need not return until you receive another notice, unless otherwise instructed by the Courtroom Deputy. During your term
notices to report are sent usually two weeks in advance. This written notice will contain instructions for reporting and calling the court's automated phone to confirm whether or not you need to appear on a reporting date. The jury phone message may notify you that you have been rescheduled to report on a certain date; if so, you should follow the directions of the message.
If you are seeking an extension or to be excused from the term of jury duty for a valid reason, the request and explanation must be in writing and sent to the Court for consideration, along with your completed Juror Questionnaires. If you are seeking to be excused for medical reasons, you will need to enclose a statement from your doctor regarding your inability to serve. The request for an extension or an exemption should be sent within ten days of receiving your summons. If you submit a request, it is your responsibility to verify the court's determination on your request by calling the court's automated phone system at 1-866-237-3367. You will not be paid for appearing if excused on the day you report. Failure to obey this summons may be punishable by fine and/or imprisonment.
During your term of service, if you are scheduled to report and there is an emergency or special circumstances such as a scheduled vacation, sudden illness, family emergency, etc., please notify the jury clerk by phone at 314-244-7850 or toll free at 1-866-510-1925.
Proper attire is very important. Tank tops, shorts, and sweat pants are not permitted in the courtroom. You will be sent home without being paid or directed to return home and change at your expense if inappropriate attire is worn. Food and drink are not permitted in the courtroom. Jurors may not read personal materials while court is in session. Please observe proper courtroom etiquette at all times.
The Judges of this Court hope you will find your jury duty interesting and instructive.
James G. Woodward, Clerk of Court