District of Idaho

For the jury system to work, it is essential that courts and employers work in partnership to ensure that all employees are available to serve jury duty when summoned. Without cooperation from the business community, we risk losing a fundamental principle upon which we, private and corporate citizens alike, depend. Cooperation from employers is vital in maintaining a strong jury system; and your participation is necessary.

We realize that even the temporary absence of an employee can create a hardship for any business.  Juries are the bedrock of our legal system.  That legal system, and the rule of law which it preserves, is critical to the success of our economic institutions and the preservation of our individual rights.  It is this reason, that we ask for your sacrifice and cooperation.

Please accept our sincere appreciation for allowing your employee to serve as a juror in the District of Idaho.

Businesses frequently benefit directly from our legal system. The federal civil litigation system in particular is filled with a variety of business-related disputes. These may include actions concerning contracts, copyrights, trademark infringement, antitrust and unfair competition, employment discrimination, and environmental issues.

Employers and businesses are encouraged to support the jury system by continuing to pay their employee while serving on jury duty.  If, together, we can decrease the financial hardship caused by jury service, it allows us to ensure juries that are representative of our community.

It is the policy of this Court that all litigants in the Court, entitled to trial by jury, shall have the right to petit jurors selected at random from a fair cross section of the community in the division where the Court convenes. All qualified citizens who reside in the District of Idaho and are not exempt or disqualified, shall have an obligation to serve as jurors when summoned for that purpose.

Pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1875, an employee is protected from being discharged, threatened, intimidated, or coerced by their employer because of their federal jury service. 

An employer violating this provision is subject to:

Liability for damages to the employee;

• An injunction prohibiting further such violations and providing appropriate relief including the reinstatement of such employee;

• A civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each violation on each employee; and

• An order to perform community service.

1. Jurors claiming that their employers have violated their employment protection rights may apply for appointment of counsel to bring such a claim. Upon the court finding probable merit in such a claim, the Court may appoint counsel to represent the juror 28 U.S.C. § 1875(d);

2. District courts have jurisdiction over civil actions brought for the protection of jurors' employment rights. 28 U.S.C. § 1363.

Names of grand and petit jurors serving in this Court will be selected by randomized procedures from the merged lists of licensed drivers, holders of state identification cards, and registered voters. The names of registered voters will be obtained from the general election as maintained in the books, lists, or automated voter registration systems of each county, as being the correct number by the Secretary of State. The names of licensed drivers and state identification card holders will be obtained from the lists or automated systems from the Department of Motor Vehicles.  Such lists, as described above, represent a fair cross section of the community within the district.

The United States District Court for the District of Idaho is divided into three divisions that have been designated as points of holding court.  Each of the three divisions are made up of the surrounding counties listed in the table below.

Except otherwise ordered by the Chief Judge, petit jurors in all divisions shall serve for a one (1) month term of service, one appearance, or one (1) trial, regardless of length.

Grand jurors shall serve for a term not in excess of twelve (12) months, unless otherwise extended by the Court. No one shall be required to serve on more than one grand jury or serve as both a grand and petit juror.