Juror Qualification Questionnaire - Frequently Asked Questions                       
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How was my name selected?

Your name was randomly selected from the list of registered voters maintained by the Secretary of State, Election Division for the Southern District of Indiana.

What is the purpose of the Juror Qualification Questionnaire and am I being asked to appear for jury service?

The purpose of the Juror Qualification Questionnaire is only to establish if you are qualified to serve as a prospective juror for the United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana.  If you are deemed qualified to serve, you may receive additional information from the court regarding jury service.  If you are deemed not qualified to serve, you will receive no further correspondence from the court.  You are not being asked to appear for jury service at this time and no further action is required by you once the Jury Qualification Questionnaire is completed and returned.

Can I complete my Questionnaire online?

Not at this time.  However, the court may offer this option in the future.

What if I did not receive a return envelope?
The court apologizes for this oversight.  The Juror Qualification Questionnaire can be mailed to:

U. S. DISTRICT COURT
46 E. OHIO STREET, ROOM 105
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46204
ATTENTION: JURY

What are the qualifications to serve as a juror?

The Jury Selection and Service Act specifies that a person is qualified to serve on grand and petit juries in the district court unless he/she:

  •  Is not a citizen of the United States eighteen (18) years old who has resided for a period of one year within the judicial district;

  •  Is unable to read, write, and understand the English language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to fill out satisfactorily the Juror Qualification Form;

  •  Is unable to speak the English language;

  •  Is incapable, by reason of mental or physical infirmity, to render satisfactory jury service; or

  •  Has a charge pending against him for the commission of, or has been convicted in a state or federal court of record of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year, and his civil rights have not been restored.

Am I exempt from serving?

The Jury Selection and Service Act specifies that the following persons are barred from jury service on the grounds that they are EXEMPT if they are employed on a FULL TIME basis as a:

  •  Public official of the United States, state or local government who is elected to public office or directly appointed by one elected to office.

  •  A member of any governmental police or regular fire department (not including volunteer or non-governmental department).

  •  A member in active service of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Can I be excused from jury service?

The Jury Selection and Service Act specifies that certain groups of persons may be EXCUSED only if the court finds that any member of such groups would suffer “undue hardship or extreme inconvenience” if required to perform jury service.  This court finds that the members of the following groups shall be excused upon individual request:

  •  A person over 70 years of age.

  •  A person who has served as a grand or petit juror for federal court within the last two years.

  •  Volunteer safety personnel.  (“Volunteer safety personnel” are individuals serving a public agency in an official capacity, without compensation, such as firefighters or members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew.)

  •  A person having active care and custody of children under 10 whose health and/or safety would be jeopardized by your absence for jury service; or a person who is essential to the care of aged or infirm (frail) persons.

  •  A person whose services are so essential to the operation of a business, commercial, or agricultural enterprise that it must close or cease to function if such person is required to perform jury duty.

I have already served in county court.  Do I have to serve in the federal court too?

Yes. County courts and federal courts operate separately from one another, so your service in county court does not satisfy your obligation to serve in federal court.

What if I have a medical condition that would keep me from serving as a juror?

You may be excused from jury service for a medical condition if you submit a current doctor’s statement stating that you are unable to serve. If you are unable to obtain a doctor’s statement within the mandated ten days, please submit your Questionnaire as soon as you obtain the statement.  Please do not have your doctor fax your statement to the court.  Enclose, but do not attach, the doctor’s statement with your Questionnaire. 

Is there an age limit for prospective jurors?

There is no age limit.  However, you may request to be excused if you are 70 years of age or older.  If this applies, please complete the Juror Qualification Questionnaire, making sure that you have included your date of birth and age in Question 2 and that you have filled in circle number 1 on Question 14.

What if I am not available to serve?

You do not need to provide dates you are not available to serve at this time.  You will be given an opportunity at a later date to provide any unavailable dates if you are deemed qualified to serve based on the information provided in the Qualification Questionnaire.  The court will honor any reasonable requests at that time.

What if the person who received the Questionnaire is deceased?

Please write “deceased” on the Questionnaire and send it back to the court in the postage-paid envelope provided.  We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation in updating our jury records.

What if I am a student?

If you are a student in or out of state and still have, or use, a permanent address in the Southern District of Indiana, you are not exempt from jury service in this Court.  Complete both sides of the Questionnaire and return it as directed.  A family member may complete the Questionnaire on your behalf.  In doing so, they should sign the Questionnaire, indicating their name and relationship and explain why such action was necessary on the reverse side in the “Remarks” section.

I no longer live at the address listed on the Juror Qualification Questionnaire.  What should I do?

If your permanent address has changed, please strike through the wrong address on the front side of the Qualification Questionnaire, write your new address in the space beside it.

The Questionnaire must be completed and returned in order for the court to determine if you are still qualified to serve for the U. S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana.  

What if I have received a Juror Qualification Questionnaire for a person who no longer permanently resides at this mailing address?

If you can provide a current address, place a line through the old address, put the new address beside it, and send it back to the court.  If you do not know the person or do not have a forwarding address, please write “return to sender” on the outside of the window envelope and return it through the postal service.