Serving as a grand juror is a fundamental obligation we all share as citizens of the United States. Federal law requires that a grand jury be selected at random from a fair cross section of the community in the district in which the federal jury convenes. Thus, all citizens have an equal opportunity and obligation to serve. We hope you will find your service an interesting and rewarding experience.
| Complete and return your Jury Information Form (JIF) within 5 days using eJuror. You will need your nine-digit Participant Number (ex. 100023456) to log-in. If completing the form online, please do not mail or fax the paper copy. |
A Grand Jury is comprised of 23 people selected from qualified individuals out of all five divisions
in the Western District of Arkansas; namely: El Dorado, Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Northwest, and
Texarkana.
Grand jury sessions are held in Fort Smith.
TERM OF SERVICE
You are on call as a grand juror for 18 months. Your term may be extended an additional six months, if
so ordered by the court. The grand jury meets every 5-6 weeks for about two days at a time in Fort
Smith.
REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS & INFORMATION
Cell phones, weapons, and electronic devices are NOT permitted in the courthouse.
You will need your Summons and photo ID with you when you report.
A total of 23 grand jurors will be selected along with alternates on your initial summons date. If you are
selected as a grand juror, please be prepared to serve consecutive days, as a grand jury session will
be scheduled to follow the selection process. A total of 16 of the 23 grand jurors must be present for a
session to take place. If you are selected as an alternate, you are subject to being activated at a later
time during the 18 month term of service, or longer if so ordered by the court, to fill a vacancy created
by the loss of one of the original 23 grand jurors. Once activated, you will continue to receive summons
notices until the term of service is complete.
***Please be sure to check-in at the Clerk's Office, Room 1038, each day that you report, so that your
attendance can be recorded for payment purposes.***
JUROR PAY AND REIMBURSEMENT
The attendance fee is $50.00 per day. Federal employees are paid an attendance fee only during the
hours they would not be at work. Note: Employees of the U. S. Postal Service are not considered
employees of the U. S. Government.
You will be reimbursed for round-trip mileage from your home to the courthouse at a rate of 67¢ per
mile.
Jury checks are processed and sent to your mailing address as soon as possible after the
completion of a session. Upon request, we will provide a Certificate of Attendance listing the date(s)
you reported and your attendance fee. Your mileage reimbursement and subsistence, if applicable,
are not listed because it is a direct reimbursement of your expenses and not recoverable by your
employer, nor should it be claimed for tax purposes.
A Form 1099 will be mailed to you by January 31 for the previous calendar year, if you earned $600.00
or more in attendance fees. If you earned less than $600.00, a statement will be mailed to you from
the court. Jury attendance fees are reportable on your Income Tax as miscellaneous income.
TRAVEL & HOTEL INFORMATION
If you reside 60 miles or more (one-way) from the courthouse and must travel the day before in order to be here by the specified date and time, or if you must stay the night you are summoned and reside 60 miles or more (one-way), overnight accommodations may be necessary. When an overnight stay is required, you will be reimbursed $159.00 total per day to cover your hotel cost and subsistence allowance for meals and incidentals. We strongly encourage you to ask for the government rate ($98) when booking a hotel room and mention that you’re a federal juror. Below are suggested hotels within walking distance from the courthouse, but where you stay is completely up to you. A hotel receipt will be required for reimbursement.
The DoubleTree by Hilton, 700 Rogers Ave – Phone 479-783-1000
The Courtyard by Marriott, 900 Rogers Ave – Phone 479-783-2100
REQUESTING AN EXCUSE
Requests for excuse must be submitted prior to your report date either by eJuror, email, or regular mail.
Letters for excuse submitted by your employer will NOT be accepted. Please do not wait
until you report to request an excuse. If you wait until you report to request an excuse and your request
is granted, you will not be paid an attendance fee or mileage reimbursement. Please include such
requests and/or additional information with your JIF for faster processing.
Once you are selected as a grand juror, partial/temporary excuses may be approved.
EMPLOYMENT PROTECTION
Under federal law, employers must allow their employees time off for jury service. An employee
cannot be punished by their employer in any way for jury service, as provided in statute 28 U.S.C. §
1875. At this time, there is no law requiring employers to pay you or at least make up the difference
when you serve on a jury. Please check with your employer to find out about their policy.
PARKING
The City of Fort Smith has authorized jurors to park in the Public Meter Parking Lot across from the
Fort Smith Convention Center in the 800 block of Rogers Ave (look for the green sign with white
lettering to identify the lot). You do not have to put money in the meter.
Do not park in the parking garage!
You may also park at any of the metered spaces on the streets near the Judge Isaac C. Parker Federal
Building. If you park at a meter and receive a yellow parking meter violation notice, please bring it back
to the courthouse so that it can be voided.
You will be responsible for any traffic citations that you may receive for improper parking, such as
parking in a restricted space or in the parking garage.
When a large number of jurors report for service, parking may be a problem. Please leave home early
enough to allow time to find adequate parking.
MISCELLANEOUS COURTHOUSE INFORMATION
You should dress appropriately for the courtroom/grand jury room. Business casual is encouraged
such as; collared shirts, slacks, skirts, and blouses. Shorts, t-shirts, tank-tops, and flip-flops are NOT
appropriate. You may want to bring a sweater or light jacket, as the grand jury room can be chilly.
Refigerators and microwaves are available if you bring your lunch or snacks. Coffee and soft drinks
are provided for your refreshment.
There is a no smoking ploicy in the courthouse. Smokers will be allowed to step outside of the
courthouse during breaks.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
U. S. District Judges are:
Honorable Susan O. Hickey, Chief District Judge
Honorable P. K. Holmes, III
Honorable Timothy L. Brooks
U. S. Magistrate Judges are:
Honorable Mark E. Ford, Chief Magistrate Judge
Honorable Barry A. Bryant
Honorable Christy Comstock
Please send any and all paperwork to:
U. S. District Court
Judge Isaac C. Parker Federal Building
30 S. 6th Street, Room 307
Fort Smith, AR 72901-2437