Jury Service

The U.S. District Court tries both criminal and civil cases. Civil cases include actions involving prisoner litigation, contract actions, discrimination, etc. Criminal cases include such things as prosecution for immigration violations, drug activity, tax fraud, bank robbery, mail fraud, etc.

Trial Jury Service (non-grand jury service) in United States District Court for the Western District of New York is for a 90-Day-On-Call period. If you are selected as a trial juror on a case, you must serve until the conclusion of the case, even if it is longer than the time described above.

Your name was randomly selected from county voter registration lists and licensed motor vehicle operator lists for the State of New York. Names are entered into a pool and you may be randomly summoned either as a grand or petit juror. You will be mailed a summons form with a date to report and a qualification questionnaire to complete and return within ten (10) days to the Court.

Laptop computers, electronic devices and  cell phones are not allowed in the courtroom -- please do not bring them into the courthouse.  If they are brought to the courthouse, they will be checked at the door and you will be requested to leave these items with Security until you are released for the day.  Public phones are available throughout the Rochester Courthouse only.

The counties that make up the Western District of New York are divided into the following office locations:

Buffalo

• Allegany
• Cattaraugus
• Chautauqua
• Erie
• Genesee
• Niagara
• Orleans
• Wyoming

Rochester