The court understands if you are out of town or have other circumstances that may slow your response time.  We ask you to return the questionnaire/summons at the soonest date possible.

No longer living at this address?

If you can provide an updated/current address, please write the new address and return it to the court.  If you do not know the person or do not have a forwarding address, please write "Return to Sender" and return it to the court.

Deceased?

Please write "Deceased" on the envelope and return it to the court.

Is a student or in the military?

If the person is a student (in or out of state) and still has a permanent address in the Northern District of Iowa, they are still qualified to serve.  The student or military member may complete the questionnaire/summons online, or a parent/guardian may complete the form on their behalf, sign and date the document and return it to the court.

No longer lives in the Northern District of Iowa?

Please provide the updated/current address on the envelope and return it to the court.  We will remove the name from our list of potential jurors.

Upon request, you may be excused from jury service if you are over 70 years of age and do not wish to serve.  No additional documentation is required.

Any juror who fails to report for jury duty may be served by the U.S. Marshal's Service with an Order to Show Cause.  Jurors who fail to show adequate cause for their absence from jury duty can be held in contempt of court under the Jury Selection Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1966(g).  Penalties range from a fine of $100 to three days in jail or both.

1. Members of the Armed Forces of the United States who are on active duty.

2. Members of any governmental police or fire department (not including volunteer or non-governmental departments).

3. Elected public officials of the federal, state and local government, who are actively engaged in the full-time performance of public duties; or persons directly appointed by an elected official.

Anyone who is involved in a civil dispute or accused of a crime has a consitutional right to have a jury decide their case.  As a juror, you fulfill a civic obligation and help make important decisions affecting people's lives and issues that concern your community.  Jurors who have previously served have expressed how interesting and important their experience was and their willingness to serve again in the future.

There is nothing further you need to do at this time.  Every two years, the court refills its jury wheel and mails approximately 22,000 qualification questionnaires.  The mailing originates from Cedar Rapids, however, depending on the county or residence, prospective jurors will report in either Cedar Rapids or Sioux City.  The answers provided in the juror qualification questionnaire determines who is qualified to serve as a juror.  If your name is randomly drawn from our jury wheel, a Summons for Jury Service will be mailed to you.  It is not guaranteed that you will receive a summons for an upcoming appearance.

Your name was randomly selected from the certified list of registered voters, driver's licenses and state issued IDs obtained by the court from the State of Iowa.  Before potential jurors are summoned for service, their names are randomly selected and a juror questionnaire is mailed.  The juror questionnaire determines whether or not you met the legal qualifications for jury service. Individuals who receive questionnaires are required to complete and return the form to the Clerk's Office within 10 days, who then screens the completed questionnaire to determing eligibility for service.  For your convenience, this questionnaire can be filled out on this website by clicking eJuror.