Western District of Texas

INFORMATION ABOUT FEDERAL JURY SERVICE

Welcome to jury duty for the U. S. District Court, Western District of Texas. This page will assist in answering initial questions you may have about jury duty. When you report for jury duty you will receive instructions that explains your duties and obligations as a juror.

LOCATION:  The U.S. District Courthouse is located on the corner of Eighth Street and Franklin Avenue (800 Franklin Avenue) in downtown Waco. Please use the links to the right for a map of the downtown area.

FACILITIES:  You will enter the Courthouse from the Franklin Avenue entrance and proceed through the security checkpoint on the ground floor. The Court Security Officers will direct you to the Jury Assembly Room, where you will report for jury service. Please read the enclosed notice regarding court security so you will know which items are not allowed into the Courthouse. Restroom facilities are located within the Jury Assembly Room.

PARKING:  Parking around the Federal Courthouse is somewhat limited. There is a parking lot directly across from the Courthouse, which requires a fee of $5.00 per day, so please bring cash with you. The Court will reimburse all parking fees at the time the jury checks are issued. Please park in a non-reserved parking space in the parking lot. If you park on the street, please do not park in a 2-hour limit zone as these spaces are closely monitored.

REPORTING FOR JURY DUTY:  It is extremely important that all jurors be punctual when reporting for jury duty. Please be on time and allow the entire day for your jury service.

Enclosed is the Summons to Report for Jury Duty which instructs you to appear on a certain date and provides you with the juror panel and number to which you have been assigned (i.e., P-34-6, 115). Please read this summons carefully and follow the instructions as given. You must call the Code-A-Phone number listed on your summons each weekend after 5:30 p.m. on Friday, or at anytime during the weekend to see if your juror number is being called for service the following week. Jurors whose numbers are not called should not report, but will be instructed to call the Code-A-Phone again the following weekend and each weekend thereafter through the end of the panel’s term of service.

Also enclosed, you will find a Juror Qualification Questionnaire. A mailing label containing information used by this office is affixed to this questionnaire. Please do not remove it. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU COMPLETE THIS FORM AND RETURN IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE ANSWERED. It is extremely important that you include your Social Security number (SSN) and one-way mileage from your home to the Court, as well as your current mailing address. Once completed, please return the questionnaire to this office in the envelope provided in the summons packet. Please note that to be eligible to participate as a juror in this division you must reside in one of the following 13 counties: Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Leon, Limestone, McLennan, Milam, Robertson or Somervell. Clearly indicate your current county of residence on the juror questionnaire so we can easily determine if you meet the residency requirement for service in this Court.

LENGTH AND FREQUENCY OF SERVICE:  Your juror number may be called at any time during the three-month term of service, beginning with the date of your summons. Jury selection proceedings are scheduled for Mondays, with few exceptions. Jurors may be summoned more than once during the panel’s term and may also be selected to serve on more than one trial during that same period.

JUROR FEES:  A $40.00 attendance fee (not applicable to Federal Government employees) is paid for each day you report for jury duty, even if you are not selected to hear a case. You will also be reimbursed for round-trip mileage from your home to the Courthouse and back. Those of you residing more than 70 miles (one way) from the Courthouse may come to Waco the day before the scheduled jury selection date and spend the night in a hotel/motel of your choice. ** The Court will pay the $40.00 attendance fee for your travel day and will also provide you with a per diem amount for lodging. A receipt for the lodging expense must be presented to the jury clerk in order for you to receive this per diem amount. (THIS APPLIES ONLY TO THOSE JURORS WHO LIVE MORE THAN 70 MILES ONE WAY FROM THE COURTHOUSE). Please note that the expenses incurred for parking and lodging will be included in the check for jury attendance fees and will normally be issued 10 - 14 days after the date of jury selection.

** Please contact the Jury Clerk for the applicable per diem amount if you qualify for an overnight stay based on your distance from the Court. The per diem amount is a set fee. Any lodging and meal expenses in excess of the per diem amount will not be reimbursed by the Court.

CHANGE OF NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER AND/OR EMPLOYMENT:  Jurors who have a change of name, address, phone number and/or employment should submit these changes to the Jury Clerk as soon as possible. A juror submitting such changes must indicate his/her Panel Number and Juror Number along with the change. A current mailing address is required to ensure that your jury check can be delivered by the postal service. The U.S. Post Office will not forward jury checks. A current daytime phone number is also important in the event we need to contact you by telephone.

ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATES:  The Jury Clerk will give you an attendance certificate showing the dates you have served. If you are selected to serve on a jury, an attendance certificate will be issued at the end of the trial, inclusive of all dates served. Some employers may require this certificate.

EXCUSES:  All requests for excuses or postponements from service on this panel must be made in writing. This includes excuse requests for childcare responsibilities, scheduled vacations, trips, business meetings, doctor’s appointments, etc., which would interfere with jury attendance. Your written request must include the jury panel and juror number assigned to you and be submitted with as much advance notice as possible. The U.S. District Clerk’s Office will notify you by letter or telephone regarding the Court’s response to your request. You are NOT to assume that your request has been granted, as federal law governing the granting of excuses is very strict.

The following occupational classes or groups of persons for whom jury service would entail undue hardship or extreme inconvenience may be granted upon individual request:

1. Persons over 70 years of age.
2. Any student enrolled in a public or private secondary school and any full-time student enrolled at an institution of higher education.
3. Persons who serve without compensation as a volunteer firefighter or member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew for a federal, state or local governmental agency.

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE CODE-A-PHONE CALLS YOUR JUROR NUMBER TO ASK TO BE EXCUSED!

Please send all jury service excuse requests to:

Clerk, U.S. District Court
Attention: Jury Clerk
800 Franklin Ave., Room 380
Waco, TX 76701

The completed Juror Qualification Questionnaire form must be received in the U.S. District Clerk's Office before the Court will make a decision concerning any request for excuse or postponement.

EXEMPTIONS FROM JURY SERVICE:  The Court finds that the exemption of members of the following occupational classes or groups of persons is in the public interest, consistent with law, and not inconsistent with the Act, and as such, members of the following groups are barred from jury service:

1. Members in active service in the Armed Forces of the United States.
2. Members of the fire or police departments of the State or any subdivision thereof.
3. Public officers in the executive, legislative or judicial branches of the government of the United States, or of any State, district, territory, or possession or subdivision thereof, who are actively engaged in the performance of official duties. ("Public Officer" shall mean a person who is either elected to public office or who is directly appointed by a person elected to public office.)

Jurors who have not been excused by the Court and who fail to report for jury duty may be served a Show Cause Order by a Deputy United States Marshal. Those jurors may be ordered to appear before the Court to show cause why they should not be held in contempt of the Jury Service and Selection Act. Contempt penalties range from a $100.00 fine to three (3) days imprisonment, or both.

If you have additional questions regarding your service to this Court, please feel free to contact the jury clerk by calling (254) 750-1502 (local call) or toll-free at 1-800-755-7730 during normal business hours. We hope that you will find your term of jury service to be an interesting and satisfying experience. When reporting for jury duty, you will receive instructions which will more fully explain the duties and obligations of a juror. Thank you for your cooperation.

WILLIAM G. PUTNICKI
Clerk of Court

SECURITY MEASURES:  Due to increased security at all Federal Courthouses and buildings, it will be necessary for you to pass through a metal detector as you enter the court facility. Additionally, all purses, bags, and briefcases brought with you into the building will be x-rayed at this time.

To expedite your entrance into the building, it is recommended that you wear as little jewelry as possible and leave any excess metal objects at home. The following list includes some items which are not allowed in the U.S. Courthouse and should be left in your vehicle or at home.

• Cellular Telephones
• Cameras (still or video)
• Mace/Pepper Spray/Stun Guns
• Tape Recorders
• Aerosol Cans (e.g. Hair Spray)
• Knives (including pocket knives and metal nail files)
• All Firearms or dangerous weapons (Title 18 U.S.C. §930)

DIRECTIONS TO THE U.S. COURTHOUSE (WACO DIVISION)
(ADDRESS: 800 FRANKLIN AVENUE)

1. FROM THE NORTH (IH-35): Travel South on IH-35 and exit at 4th and 5th Street. Remain on the southbound access road until 8th Street. Turn right on 8th Street and continue on 8th Street to Franklin Avenue.
2. FROM THE SOUTH (IH-35): Travel North on IH-35 and exit at 4th and 5th Street. Stay in the far left lane and immediately turn back under IH-35 and travel south on the access road. Turn right on 8th Street and continue on 8th Street to Franklin Avenue.
   
   FROM THE SOUTH (U.S. Hwy 77): Travel North on U.S. Hwy. 77 past the Waco Traffic Circle to IH-35 North and exit at 4th and 5th Street. Stay in the far left lane and immediately turn back under IH-35 and travel south on the access road. Turn right on 8th Street and continue on 8th Street to Franklin Avenue.
3. FROM THE EAST (STATE Hwy 6): Travel West on State Hwy. 6 to Waco to IH-35 South and exit at 4th and 5th Street. Remain on the southbound access road until 8th Street. Turn right on 8th Street and continue on 8th Street to Franklin Avenue.
   
   FROM THE EAST (U.S. Hwy 84): Travel Southwest on U.S. Hwy. 84 through Bellmead and get on IH-35 South. Exit at 4th and 5th Street. Remain on the southbound access road until 8th Street. Turn right on 8th Street and continue on 8th Street to Franklin Avenue.
4. FROM THE WEST (U.S. Hwy 84): Travel East on U.S. Hwy 84 to Waco. Stay in the right hand lane and when Hwy. 84 splits into Franklin Ave. and Waco Drive, stay on Franklin Avenue all the way until 8th Street.
   
   FROM THE WEST (STATE Hwy 6): Travel East on State Hwy. 6 into Waco and exit onto IH-35 North. Proceed north on IH-35 and exit at 4th and 5th Street. Stay in the far left lane and immediately turn back under IH-35 and travel south on the access road. Turn right on 8th Street and continue on 8th Street to Franklin Avenue.

These directions are only suggested routes of travel utilizing several main highways into Waco. If you are familiar with travel to Waco, you may wish to travel on an alternate route of your choosing.

Please do not become confused and report for jury duty at the McLennan Co. Courthouse.

The U.S. Courthouse is located on the corner of 8th Street and Franklin Avenue.