Jury Information
Jury Administrator - Cindy Kimbrell (205) 278-1775
Jury Specialist - Cheryle Eiland (205) 278-1709
Jury Office - 1-800-222-8715 *(see note below)
Welcome to Jury Duty
It is the policy of this Court that all litigants entitled to trial by jury shall have the right to juries selected at random from a fair cross-section of the community in the Divisional Area wherein the Court convenes. It also is a policy of this Court that all qualified citizens within the district shall have the opportunity to be considered for service on the juries of this Court, and shall have a corresponding obligation to serve as jurors when summoned for that purpose. Further, no citizen shall be excluded from service as a grand or petit juror in this Court because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama summonses jurors from the following counties: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lawrence, Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Pickens, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston.
The names of persons to be considered for service as grand or petit jurors are randomly selected from official voter registration lists maintained by the State of Alabama or local election officials of the counties comprising the district for the most recent federal general election held in the fall of even-numbered years.
Potential jurors who want to learn more about jury duty and the importance of your role as a juror are encouraged to read the “Handbook for Trial Jurors Serving in the United States District Courts.” Potential grand jurors are encouraged to read the “Handbook for Federal Grand Jurors.”
* NOTE: The Jury Office number is an automated voice messaging system. You may use this system to obtain reporting instructions, to get the status of a request for excuse or deferral, to get general information regarding jury service, qualification questionnaires, courthouse locations, and parking information. If you need to speak with someone, please follow the prompts to transfer to the jury office.
You MUST have your 9-digit participant number [this number is printed just above your name and address (to the right of the bar code) on your Juror Qualification Questionnaire and/or your Summons for Jury Service] to access all information (with the exception of “general” jury information such as courthouse locations, parking information, etc.) via the automated voice messaging system and website.
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♦ Qualifications for Jury Service
♦ Exemptions from Jury Service
♦ Information regarding completion of the questionnaire
If you received a Summons for Jury Service, you must submit the “Jury Information Form,” (this form is the bottom half of your Summons for Jury Service) to the Court within 5 days. You may submit the form online at http://jury.alnd.uscourts.gov or by mail, NOT BOTH.
♦ Reporting Instructions
You MUST call or check our website on the date and time printed on your juror summons for reporting instructions.
Do not report to Court without calling or checking the website as directed. You will NOT be paid for an appearance if you were notified on the recording/website not to appear.♦ Term of Service
Petit (Trial) Jurors - Your term of jury service is approximately 2 weeks, unless otherwise stated on the letter/map mailed with your Summons for Jury Service. This does not mean you will be on jury duty everyday for 2 weeks. You will only be required to report on days in which a trial jury is being selected, or if you are chosen as a juror, you will be required to report each day the trial is in session. On the first day you report for jury service, you will be given the anticipated schedule for your term of court.
Grand Jurors - Your term of jury service can be 6 months or more. The information letter which was mailed to you with your Summons for Jury Service will tell you the anticipated term of service. In most instances, you will be required to report once a month for 1-5 days until your term of service expires.
♦ Requesting Excuse/Deferral from Jury Duty
♦ Juror’s Certificate of Service
Jurors may print their own “Certificate of Service,” at http://jury.alnd.uscourts.gov This certificate will reflect the day(s) in which you served as a potential juror/juror in this Court. If your employer requires a record of the date(s) in which you were serving on jury duty, you may provide them with a copy of this certificate.
A “Certificate of Service,” will be mailed to your home address with your check for jury service.♦ Failure to Report 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 $1000, imprisoned not more than three days, ordered to perform community service, or any combination thereof.
Northern Divisional Area of the Northern District of Alabama
Decatur
Florence
Huntsville
Eastern Divisional Area of the Northern District of Alabama
Anniston
Gadsden
Central Divisional Area of the Northern District of Alabama
Birmingham
Western Divisional Area of the Northern District of Alabama
Tuscaloosa