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| Q
] Where do you get the names of potential jurors? |
| A ] |
Potential jurors
are randomly selected from lists of registered voters, holders
of drivers’ licenses or ID’s issued by the Division
of Motor Vehicles, New York State income tax filers, recipients
of unemployment insurance or family assistance, and from
volunteers. |
| Q
] Who must report? |
| A ] |
There are no automatic exemptions or excuses from jury service in New York State. Everyone who is eligible must serve. You are eligible to serve as a juror in New York State if you are:
1) a United States citizen,
2) at least 18 years old, and
3) a resident of the county to which you are summoned to serve.
In addition, jurors must
4) be able to understand and communicate in the English
language, and
5) not have been convicted of a felony
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| Q
] What happens if a juror does not report for jury service? |
| A ] |
Jury duty, like paying taxes, is mandatory. Skipping jury duty can result in civil or criminal penalties. In addition, anyone who skips jury service will be assigned a new date for future jury service.
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| Q
] What accommodations are available for jurors with disabilities? |
| A ] |
The court provides
services or aids to reasonably accommodate jurors with disabilities.
Aids that are generally available for hearing impaired people
include assistive listening devices, sign language interpreters,
and “real-time” captioning of court proceedings.
Courts may also be able to provide a reader for visually
impaired jurors. A juror who has a mobility impairment and
is sent to a courtroom with access problems may be reassigned
to a different location that has better access. TDD users
can call the relay service at 1-800-662-1220 to place the
call. Some courts may have a TDD or TTY in the Clerk’s
office. Access questions or requests for assistance should
be addressed to a jury commissioner, court clerk or judge. |
| Q
] Can jurors postpone
jury service for a later date? |
| A
] |
You can
postpone your service once by calling 800-449-2819 at least
one week before your date of service. Have your juror index
number (from your summons) with you when you call. Pick a
date between 2 and 6 months from the date on your summons
and you will be assigned the available date closest to your
choice. Any future postponement request or request for excusal
from jury service must be made by calling your local commissioner
of jurors office.
If you cannot serve even if granted
a postponement, you may contact your local commissioner of
jurors office and ask to be excused from service. The commissioner
may ask you to provide documentary proof of the reasons why
you need to be excused. |
| Q
] How long is jury service? |
| A ] |
Jurors
who do not sit on a jury may serve for as little as 1–2
days. However, even if not needed for a trial, a juror may
be asked to be available or on call for up to five days.
Those who are selected to serve on a jury are required to
serve on only one trial. The judge informs the jurors how
long the trial is expected to last. Length of service on
a grand jury may vary from two weeks to a month or more.
For more information about service as a grand juror see the
Unified Court System’s “Grand
Juror’s Handbook.” |
| Q
] Are jurors paid? |
| A ] |
The jury fee is $40
per day. If service extends beyond 30 days the court may
authorize an additional $6 per day per juror.
The fee is paid by the State or the employer depending on (1) the day of service
and (2) the size of employer. Employers’ jury fee obligations are explained
below. For help figuring out how the rules apply to your individual circumstances,
you can use the chart “Who Pays Your
Jury Fee?” |
| Q
] How long does it take for jurors to get paid? |
| A ] |
Four to six weeks. |
| Q
] What if my summons or questionnaire is lost? |
| A ] |
Contact your local Commissioner of Jurors. Find contact information by scrolling down at “Select County” in the box on the left menu. |
| Q
] Can I request an excuse from service due to a financial or
medical hardship? |
| A ] |
Yes.
Jurors are normally required to provide supporting documentation.
Contact your local Commissioner of Jurors. Find contact information by scrolling down at “Select County” in the box on the left menu. |
| Q
] Is there an age restriction for jurors? |
| A ] |
Jurors must be at least
18 years old. There is no upper age limit. |
| Q
] What happens if a juror does not report for jury service? |
| A ] |
Jury duty, like paying
taxes, is mandatory. Skipping jury duty can result in civil
or criminal penalties. In addition, anyone who skips jury
service will be assigned a new date for future jury service. |
| Q
] If I serve as a juror in federal court do I still have
to serve in state court? |
| A ] |
A person who serves
in a State or Federal court in New York—either by reporting
in person or by being available to serve via a telephone
call-in system—normally is not eligible to serve again
in the New York State courts for at least six years. A juror
who serves for more than ten days normally is not eligible
to serve again in the New York State courts for at least
eight years. Jurors who physically report to serve in Town
and Village courts are eligible to serve again in two years.
Just because a person is eligible to serve does not mean
they will be called. |
| Q
] If I served as a juror in New York State Court, do I still
have to serve in federal court? |
| A ] |
Each of the four federal district
courts in New York State treats the length of time for ineligibility
from service differently. The Eastern, Western, and Northern
Districts excuse from service anyone who has served within
two years. The Southern District excuses anyone who has served
within four years. If your service in the
Eastern District (Queens, Kings, Richmond, Nassau or Suffolk)
was limited to telephone standby you are not excused from federal
court service. In the Northern District (32 northern counties)
a summoned juror who attended a jury selection in state court
but was not selected to serve on a jury is not excused. For
specific information about each court’s practices go
to NYS
Federal Court Jury Rules.
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| Q
] How can jurors make comments regarding jury service? |
| A ] |
Write to: |
Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman
Continuing Jury Reform
25 Beaver Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10004 |
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E-mail: |
Send an E-mail |
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Call |
1-800-NYJUROR
[1-800-695-8767] or
212-428-2990 |
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