Jurors serving in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in St. Louis are selected from the residents of fifteen Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis.
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.
You will also 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. In St. Louis, arrangements have been made for jurors to park in the Stadium West Garage located between 8th and 9th Streets and Walnut and Clark Streets. Campers, trucks, and vans will not clear the entrance at this parking garage because the clearance is only 6 feet 7 inches. If you cannot park at Stadium West Garage you will be paid the same daily rate when parking elsewhere. Be sure to let the Jury Clerk or Courtroom Clerk know that you paid to park. Parking stubs must be validated by the Jury Clerk or the Court Cashier.
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 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 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 jury service is set by the Chief Judge for a two week period. Many of the trials in this Court average three days long. You are instructed to call the automated message phone on the date and time indicated on your summons. You will continue calling for instructions as directed for the duration of your jury term. You may be required to report to the courthouse on more than one occasion. The number of times will vary depending on the needs of the court. Jurors instructed to report are rotated within the jury pool to help minimize the number of appearance dates. If you are selected to serve for a trial which exceeds the service period, you will be required to serve until the completion of the trial. When you report you need to allow a full day for jury service.
If you are seeking an extension or to be excused from 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 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. Information received by the jury clerks is updated in our telephone system daily. You will not be paid for appearing if excused on the day you report. Failure to obey this jury summons may be punishable by fine and/or imprisonment. During your term of service, if there is an emergency, etc., please notify the jury clerk by phone as soon as possible 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 courtrooms. Jurors may not read personal materials while court is in session. Smoking is not permitted in the Thomas F. Eagleton Courthouse. 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