Juror Information Form

As a general rule, you will be required to appear in person three times unless you are selected to serve on a particular case. If you are selected as a juror, you will be exempt from further jury service in federal court for the next two years. If necessary, your jury service can be extended past your reporting date. For specific reporting instructions please call the toll-free number provided to you on your summons. When prompted please enter you participant number and listen to the recorded message.

The message about your reporting date will be posted by 6:00 p.m. on the evening before your reporting date. If you do not need to report on the summoned date you will be given updated reporting instructions.

If you have any questions, please call the jury section at (956) 726-2276 during normal business hours.

You may request to be exempt or excused from jury service or to have your juror service postponed. Your request must be done in writing and must include you Juror Information Form that was mailed to you. If you are checking to see if a decision on a request to be excused or postponement has been granted, please call the toll free number at 1-800-582-9109 and when prompted please enter your participant number.

You must appear unless you are notified that the Court has granted your request. Mail requests to: United States District Court, Attn: Jury Section, 1300 Victoria St, Ste. 1311, Laredo, Texas 78040 or fax to (956) 726-2289.

Exemptions

The Court may exempt you from service if you are:

• A member in active service of the armed services of the United States.
  
• A member of a fire or police department.
  
• An elected official actively engaged in the performance of official duties.

Excuses

The Court may excuse you from jury service if you are a:

• Person not employed outside the home, having active care and custody of a child under the age of ten whose health or safety would be jeopardized by their absence for jury service; or a person who is essential to the aged or infirm persons and who is not employed outside the home.
  
• Person who have served as a grand or petit juror in federal court within the past two years.
  
• Person over seventy years of age.
  
• Member of a federal law enforcement agency (like agents for Postal, FBI, Customs, etc.).
  
• Member of a volunteer safety organization and work in an official capacity without compensation (fire fighters, rescue squads or ambulance crews).
  
• Person for whom the jury service would cause undue hardship or extreme inconvenience. (medical excuses require a precise doctor's statement)

Postponements

The Court may postpone your jury service. Any request for postponement must show why the delay is unavoidable.

Jurors in the Laredo Division please report to:

United States Federal Courthouse
1300 Victoria Street
Jury Assembly Room
Laredo, Texas 78040

Counties in the Laredo Division:

Jim Hogg, LaSalle, McMullen, Webb, and Zapata

Federal law authorizes the following payments:

• $40.00 each day you come to the courthouse;
• 50.5 cents for each mile driven. The route driven must be the shortest practical one to and from the courthouse;
• $130.00 subsistence rate for lodging may be allowed if you live over fifty (50) miles from the courthouse and you must stay overnight in a hotel to attend court (you must attach the lodging receipt to the form);
• Other expenses including road tolls, parking and public transportation (you must turn in validated ticket to the jury clerk).
  

You will be paid at the end of your jury service. A United States treasury check will be issued and you should receive it within about four weeks.