Why am I serving as a juror in Philadelphia if I don't live in Philadelphia?

• The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania's jury pool includes nine counties: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia.

Is daycare available?

• No. However, if you have children ten (10) years of age or younger that you are required to care for, during hours of jury service, you may be excused. Please email your request to be excused to ejuror@paed.uscourts.gov and the Court will make every effort to accommodate your request.

Where do I park for jury duty?

• Court Locations provides maps of courthouse locations and parking information.

What if I have a paid vacation and cannot attend jury service?

• You must write a request to the Court requesting a postponement of your jury service. Please include copies of relevant information concerning your vacation.

How long will the trial last?

• You will be informed of the approximate length of the trial when you appear before the judicial officer and counsel for the voir dire process. All jurors are randomly chosen, and we have no idea of which case they will be assigned until the time they are chosen.

What will happen to me if I fail to appear for jury duty?

• Any person summoned for jury service who fails to appear as directed may be ordered by the district court to appear forthwith and show cause for failure to comply with the summons. Any person who fails to show good cause for noncompliance with a summons may be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned for not more than three days, ordered to perform community service, or any combination thereof.

What is a grand jury?

• The function of a grand jury is to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that a federal crime was committed and that a specific person or persons committed it. If the grand jury finds probable cause, it will return a written statement of the charges called an indictment, and the case will proceed in the court.

How long does a grand jury sit?

• A grand jury usually sits once a week for a period of 18 months.

Will I be sequestered?

• Federal jurors are rarely sequestered.

I was recently a juror in my county and was told that I would be exempt for several years. Why am I being called for jury duty?

• You have been summoned for Federal jury duty. Your service in your county only satisfied your duty for county jury duty.

I am a veteran. Am I exempt?

• No. Only active service members are exempt.

How do I request a postponement or excusal for jury duty?

• Please email all requests to be excused to ejuror@paed.uscourts.gov , or in writing, within 5 days of receipt of the summons, or as early as possible. Requests to be excused will not be accepted by telephone. Requests to be excused for work-related reasons must be from the juror, not an employer. If you are requesting an excuse due to a medical condition, the court requires a current letter from your doctor advising that jury service would pose a medical threat to your health and wellbeing. Without a doctor's letter, your request to be excused for medical reasons will not be considered. Once you have been instructed to report for jury service, unless there is an emergency or extenuating circumstances, you may not be excused.

I was recently summoned for federal jury duty, but after calling the Court's Phone system I found that I was not required to report. Why am I being called again?

• Your federal jury duty is satisfied only after you physically appear in the U.S. Courthouse for jury selection. At the completion of such service, you will be excused for at least two years.

What is the dress code?

• Appropriate dress, such as business casual attire, is required. Tank tops, sweat pants and flip flops are not considered appropriate. You may wish to bring a light sweater or jacket as temperatures can vary in the courtrooms.

Where do I send my receipts for reimbursement?

• Please email all parking, toll and hotel receipts to fiscal@paed.uscourts.gov for reimbursement. Include your name and Participant # in the subject line.