WELCOME TO JURY DUTY

You have been summoned to appear for jury selection in the United States District Court for the District of Maine.  Serving as a juror is a fundamental obligation we all share as citizens of the United States.  Only by having individuals, such as yourself, participating in the process we can be ensured that all litigants in federal court will be afforded the constitutional right of having their case heard by a jury of their peers.  We appreciate your willingness to accept this important responsibility. The following information will answer many of your concerns; however, if you have additional questions after reading this, please feel free to call the Clerk’s Office.  We are here to help you.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How was my name selected?
Is jury duty mandatory?
What is my term of service?
How long is the typical trial day?
Will food or refreshments be provided?
Why must I call the evening before I appear for jury duty?
How can I request to be deferred or excused from jury service?
Does the law protect my employment?
What can I bring with me to the courthouse?
Is there a dress code?
Why must I serve in Portland or Bangor?
How will I be compensated?
Are juror fees reportable income?
What should I bring with me when I report?
How can I contact the court?
Where is the Courthouse located?
Will I have to pay for parking?
What is the penalty for failure to appear?

How was my name selected?
The names of prospective jurors were selected at random from all the voter registration lists in Maine.

Is jury duty mandatory?
Yes, unless you have been excused by the Court.  The United States Constitution guarantees the right to a trial by jury in both criminal and civil cases.  Your participation as a juror makes that possible.

What is my term of service?
If you have been summoned to appear in Portland
Your term of service is two months, which begins upon your first appearance.  During that two-month period, you may be notified to appear twice for jury selection, typically, the first Monday of each month.  If you are selected to serve on a case, your jury duty will continue until the case for which you were selected concludes.  If you are not selected as a juror you will be notified by mail when you should next report.If you have been summoned to appear in Bangor Your term of service is usually three to four months.  In that time period, you may be notified to appear once each month for jury selection.  If you are selected to serve on a case, your jury duty will continue until the case for which you were selected is concluded.  If you are not selected as a juror you will be notified by mail when you should next report.

How long is the typical trial day?
A trial day typically runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with no lunch break.  You will be given two or three short breaks during that period of time.  Impanelment days and jury deliberation days may run until at least 5:00 p.m.  Because delays in trial proceedings are unpredictable, you may want to bring items which can occupy your time:  books, magazines, needlework, etc.

Will food or refreshments be provided?
The only refreshments provided by the court are coffee, tea and hot chocolate.  Each jury room is equipped with refrigerators and microwave ovens for your use.  You should bring with you whatever you need to sustain you as you will not have time to run out and buy anything.  Meals will be provided for you during deliberation. 


Why must I call the evening before I appear for jury duty?
The court’s schedule sometimes changes at the last minute.  Rather than have you make a trip to the courthouse to find out if you are still needed, we ask that you call the Clerk’s Office the night before you are to report.  You will hear a recorded message.  The message may direct you to report as summoned or you may be notified that your appearance is not necessary.  If you are summoned to appear in Bangor call: 1-800-697-6907 at the message, press 1. If you are summoned to appear in Portland call: 1-800-578-5708 at the message, press 6. Those jurors who only have access to a rotary phone must call the jury clerk during the work day prior to your scheduled appearance to find out if there have been any changes to the court’s schedule.
If you do not call and court has been cancelled, you may not be paid for your appearance.


How can I request to be deferred or excused from jury service?
Temporary Absences or Deferments. The Court realizes that from time to time jurors may need to request a temporary absence or deferment from jury service.  The absences are generally for scheduled vacations, business obligations, graduations, etc.  If you need to be temporarily excused or deferred to another date, you must:

  • put your request in writing,
  • the written request must come from the juror, not your employer,
  • return the written request with completed questionnaires well before your scheduled appearance date,
  • you may also e-mail your request to sue@med.uscourts.gov for Portland, and brenda@med.uscourts.gov for Bangor.
The Court will make every effort to accommodate temporary absences; however, you should understand that these absences do not constitute a valid reason for being permanently excused.Hardship or Permanent Excuses If you need to be permanently excused on the basis of extreme inconvenience or undue hardship, you must:
  • put your request in writing,
  • the written request must come from the juror, not your employer,
  • return the written request with completed questionnaires well before your scheduled appearance date,
  • you may also e-mail your request to sue@med.uscourts.gov for Portland, or brenda@med.uscourts.gov for Bangor.

Does the law protect my employment?
Employment protection
Title 28 United States Code, Section 1875, provides that no employer may discharge intimidate or coerce any permanent employee because of jury service.  If you are experiencing difficulties with your employer, please contact the Court immediately.  You should understand that your employer is not required by law to compensate you when you miss work to perform jury service.
Attendance slips

Attendance slips for your employer will be provided upon request.

Are there restrictions on what I can bring into the courthouse?
For your protection, all persons entering the Courthouse must pass through the magnetometer and have their personal belongings (purse, bag, etc) x-rayed.  Please do not bring the following items to the courthouse:
Cell Phones Beepers
Cameras Radios
Mace Tape Recorders
Knives Pepper Spray

Leaving these items at home will speed your entry into the courthouse.

Is there a dress code?
While no formal dress code exists, jurors are requested to dress in a manner respectful to the litigants and the Court.  The courtrooms are generally very cool, you may want to bring a sweater or jacket.

Why must I serve in Portland or Bangor?
There is only one federal court (U. S. District Court) in the State of Maine, but there are two places of holding court.  Portland
Jurors who reside in the following counties serve at the Portland location:
Androscoggin Oxford
Cumberland Sagadahoc
Knox York
Lincoln  
Bangor
Jurors who reside in the following counties serve at the Bangor location:
Aroostook Piscataquis
Franklin Somerset
Hancock York
Kennebec Waldo
Penobscot Washington

How will I be compensated?
Attendance Fee
A $40.00 attendance fee is paid for each day you are required to report for jury duty.  Federal employees will not receive any attendance fee since they will continue to receive their regular pay while they are performing jury service. 
Mileage
Mileage is paid at a rate of 50.5 cents per mile round trip from your residence to the court, or the cost of public transportation.  Please check your odometer readings on your first trip so that you can furnish the court with the number of miles traveled upon your arrival.  You will also be compensated for any tolls that you incur round trip between your residence and the courthouse.
Overnight
If you travel more than one hundred miles from your residence to the courthouse, you may stay overnight on the evening prior to your report date, and while you are serving.  You are responsible for payment of any bills you receive for lodging and meals, and you must submit your hotel receipt to the jury clerk in order to be reimbursed at the current per diem rate.
Payment
Typically your check for jury service will be mailed to you within one week from the completion of your service.

Are juror fees reportable income?
The IRS considers juror attendance fees to be Other Income and must be reported.  At the end of each year, a 1099 MISC form will be mailed to all jurors who earn $600 or more in attendance fees in the calendar year.  This applies only to the “attendance fee” and not for reimbursement for travel expenses (mileage, tolls, etc).

What should I bring with me when I report?
Please bring the top portion of your Jury Summons which includes your Jury Badge, this expedites your entry into the courthouse.  You may also want to bring a sweater or light jacket as it is often cool in the courtrooms. 

How can I contact the Jury Clerk?
Portland Bangor
Susan Durst Brenda DeRoche
Jury Administrator Jury Clerk
U. S. District Court
156 Federal Street
Portland, Maine  04101
U. S. District Court
202 Harlow Street
Room 357
Bangor, ME  04401
(207)780-3356 ext 2207
(800)578-5708
(207)945-0575 ext 3223
(800)697-6907
sue@med.uscourts.gov brenda@med.uscourts.gov

Where is the Courthouse located?
Portland
The Edward T. Gignoux Courthouse is located at 156 Federal Street, Portland, Maine.When traveling on Interstate 295:Exit on Franklin Street Arterial
At the fourth traffic light turn right onto Congress Street
At the first light take a left onto Pearl Street
Take the first right onto Federal Street
The courthouse will be on your left.


Bangor

The Margaret Chase Smith Courthouse is located at 202 Harlow Street, Bangor. 

From the North:
Take I-95 South to Union Street Exit #184
Turn right onto Union Street
Turn right onto 16th Street
Turn right onto Ohio Street
At the first traffic light turn left onto 14th Street Extension
14th Street becomes Harlow Street
Continue on Harlow Street, the courthouse is on your right at the first traffic light.

From the South:
Take I-95 north to the Ohio/Union Street Exit #184
Turn right onto Union Street
At the first traffic light turn left onto 14th Street Extension
14th Street becomes Harlow Street
Continue on Harlow Street, the courthouse is on your right at the first traffic light.

From Route 1: Take either 395 to I-95 North, following the above directions, or:
Route 1 to Chamberlain Bridge into Bangor
Turn right onto Main Street
Turn right at the third traffic light
Turn left at the next light
Continue through the next light (Harlow Street)

Will I have to pay for parking?
Portland
No.  In Portland free parking for all federal jurors is available at one of two parking facilities.  

Cumberland County Parking Garage – Entrance on Newbury Street
Traveling on Interstate 295Exit on Franklin Street Arterial
At the fourth traffic light turn right onto Congress Street
At the first light take a left onto Pearl Street
Take the first left onto Federal Street
Follow this to the parking garage, take the second entrance.
Temple Street Parking Garage – Entrances on Exchange Street and Temple Street
Traveling on Interstate 295
Exit on Franklin Street Arterial
At the fourth traffic light turn right onto Congress Street
At the second traffic light take a left onto Temple Street
Between Bagel Works and Nickelodeon Movie Theater, turn left into parking garage. Bring the parking ticket issued at the garage with you when you report for jury duty so that it can be validated when you check in.  You should not park on the street or at a parking meter.  You will not have time to leave the courthouse to pay meter charges and the court is not responsible for reimbursing you for any parking violations you may receive..

Bangor
In Bangor free parking for all federal jurors is available at Abbott Square parking lot, which is 100 yards beyond the Federal Building across from the Bangor Library.You should bring the parking slip issued at the parking lot with you for validation.
You should not park on the street as you will not have time to feed the meter and the court will not be responsible for parking violations.

What is the penalty for failure to appear? Any person summoned for jury service who fails to respond or appear may be ordered by the Court to appear at their own expense to show good cause for their failure to comply with a summons.  Any person failing to show good cause for non-compliance with the jury summons may be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned for not more than three days, or both, pursuant to Title 28,United State Code, Section 1866.


 
Supporting Documents