You are here

PUBLIC NOTICE CONCERNING JURY SELECTION PROCEDURES

 

 

 

 

Robert H. Jackson
United States Courthouse
2 Niagara Square
Buffalo, New York 14202
Phone: 716-551-1700
Fax: 716-551-1705

OFFICE OF THE CLERK

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

MARY C. LOEWENGUTH
CLERK OF COURT

PATRICK J. HEALY
CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK

  

 

 

 Kenneth B. Keating
Federal Building
100 State Street, Room 2120
Rochester, New York 14614
Phone: 585-613-4000
Fax: 585-613-4035

 

 PUBLIC NOTICE CONCERNING

JURY SELECTION PROCEDURES

 

 This Notice constitutes compliance with the Judicial Administration & Technical Amendments Act of 2008 (Pub. L.No.110-406) and informs the general public of the procedures by which juror names are periodically and randomly drawn for potential jury service at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.

Prior to the use of computers and automated processes, the selection of jurors for potential jury service within the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York began with a procedure whereby names were manually selected from County Voter Registration and Department of Motor Vehicle lists randomly.  Now, however, the selection of juror names is performed using computerized, automated processes.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 1861, all litigants “have the right to grand and petit jurors selected at random from a fair cross section of the community.”  Effective with the 2008 Master Jury Wheel refill – jurors will be drawn from official voter registration listings as supplemented by New York State licensed drivers.  These two source lists form the basis of the Court’s “Master Jury Wheels.”  All potential juror names will be stored in an electronic format and will reside in an automated database.  Based upon the needs of the Court, names of potential jurors will then be randomly drawn from the Court’s Master Jury Wheels.  Individuals selected will be mailed a one-step jury qualification questionnaire and summons.  Individuals are required to complete and return the jury questionnaire in order to determine if the individual is legally qualified and available to serve as a juror.  Once qualified, individuals are expected to report for jury service.  All of the jury selection processes used by the U.S. District Court, Western District of New York are performed using a properly-programmed electronic data processing system based upon pure, randomized selection procedures.  The pure randomized process ensures that the mathematical odds of any single source name being picked are substantially and mathematically equal.