How to learn about you are summoned for jury duty

You have jury duty if you received a jury summons in the mail from your court. The summons is an official document that tells you which court, which date, and what time to show up. It comes from the clerk's office of a state or federal court in your area, not from a private company or online service.

The summons will have your name, a case number or juror number, and instructions for what to do next. Some courts ask you to call a phone line or check a website the day before to confirm whether you actually need to come in — many cases settle or get postponed, so not every summoned person ends up in a courtroom. The summons itself will tell you how to check.

If you did not receive a paper summons in the mail and no court has contacted you directly, you do not have jury duty. Scam emails and texts claiming you have jury duty are common; courts send official summonses by mail, not by email or text.

Key Takeaways

  • A jury summons is a mailed document from your court's clerk's office that tells you the date, time, and location you must appear.
  • Courts select jurors from voter registration lists, driver's license records, and sometimes tax rolls, so you may be summoned even if you did not volunteer.
  • Many courts let you call or check online the day before to see if your case is still scheduled, since cases often settle or get postponed.
  • Ignoring a jury summons can result in fines or a court order to appear, so contact the court if you cannot attend on the scheduled date.
  • You can ask to be excused or rescheduled if you have a genuine hardship, but you must request this through the court before the date arrives.

Where jury summonses come from

Courts pull names from public records to build a jury pool. The most common source is your state's voter registration list. If you are registered to vote, you are in the system courts use. Some courts also pull from driver's license records, and a few use tax rolls or other government databases.

You do not need to have voted recently or even to be an active voter to be summoned. straightforward being registered is enough. If you have moved and updated your address with the DMV but not with your voter registration, you might receive a summons at an old address — which is why it is worth updating both when you move.

Federal courts and state courts both summon jurors. Federal summonses come from the U.S. District Court in your area. State summonses come from your county or district court. The summons itself will tell you which court is calling you.

What happens if you ignore a jury summons

Ignoring a jury summons is not safe. Courts take this seriously. If you do not show up and do not contact the court beforehand, the judge can hold you in contempt of court, which can result in a fine (amounts vary by state and court, but can range from $100 to $1,000 or more) or an order to appear at a later date.

In some cases, the court will send a second notice or a sheriff's deputy may visit your home. The consequences get worse if you ignore multiple summonses. Even if you think you have a good reason not to go, contacting the court directly is always better than straightforward not showing up.

If you received a summons and cannot attend on that date, call the court's jury office or respond to the summons as instructed. Most courts will reschedule you or let you explain your situation. Courts understand that not everyone can drop everything on short notice, but they need you to tell them that rather than disappear.

Reasons the court might excuse you from jury duty

Courts can excuse you from jury duty for genuine hardship, but you have to ask. Common reasons include serious illness, a medical procedure you cannot postpone, being the sole caregiver for a child or elderly parent with no backup, or extreme financial hardship from missing work.

The court will not automatically know about your situation. You need to respond to the summons and explain why you cannot serve. Some courts have a form you fill out; others ask you to call. The summons will tell you how to request an excuse. Do this as soon as you receive the summons, not the day before.

Being busy at work, having vacation plans, or not wanting to serve are not reasons courts typically accept. Courts understand that jury duty is inconvenient, but they consider it a civic duty that most people can manage. If you have a real hardship, explain it clearly and early — courts are often willing to reschedule you to a better time instead of excusing you entirely.

The difference between a summons and a subpoena

A jury summons tells you to show up as a potential juror. A subpoena tells you to show up as a witness or to bring documents to court. They are different things, and the rules for each are different.

If you received a subpoena, you are being called to testify or provide evidence in a specific case, not to serve on a jury. Subpoenas usually come from a lawyer or the court and name the case and the specific date you must appear. Ignoring a subpoena also has serious consequences, but the process for requesting to be excused is different.

If you are not sure which one you received, look at the document. It will say "jury summons" or "subpoena" at the top. If it says you are a juror or potential juror, it is a summons. If it says you are a witness or asks you to bring records, it is a subpoena.

What to bring and expect on your first day

On the date listed in your summons, bring the summons itself, a photo ID, and proof of citizenship (a driver's license, passport, or birth certificate usually works). Wear neat, casual clothing — courts do not require formal dress, but they do expect you to look respectful. Avoid very casual clothes like gym wear or clothes with offensive language.

You will check in with the jury clerk, who will verify your information and may ask you questions about your background, your job, and whether you know anyone involved in the case. This is called voir dire, and it helps lawyers and judges decide whether you can be fair and impartial.

Bring something to read or do, because you may wait several hours. Courts often have many potential jurors show up at once, and the selection process takes time. You will not be allowed to use your phone during jury selection or while in the courtroom, so a book or notepad is a good idea. Courts usually provide breaks.

How long jury duty lasts

The length of jury duty depends on the type of case. A criminal trial might last a few days to a few weeks. A civil case could be shorter or longer. Some cases settle before trial starts, which means jurors are dismissed and do not serve at all.

If you are selected for a jury, the judge will tell you how long the trial is expected to last. You are required to stay for the entire trial, from opening statements through the verdict. You cannot leave early or miss days once you are sworn in.

If you are not selected during jury selection, you are usually dismissed the same day. Some courts call jurors back for future cases, but this varies. The summons or the jury clerk will tell you whether you might be called again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be excused from jury duty because of my job?

Having a demanding job is not usually enough to be excused. However, if your job is so specialized that your absence would cause serious harm — for example, you are a surgeon with scheduled surgeries or the only person running a small business — you can request to be rescheduled to a less busy time. Contact the court as soon as you receive the summons and explain the situation.

What if I did not receive my jury summons?

If you think you should have received a summons but did not, call the jury office of your local court and give them your name and address. They can tell you whether you were summoned and where it was mailed. If you have moved recently, the summons may have gone to an old address. Update your voter registration and driver's license address to prevent future issues.

Do I get paid for jury duty?

Most courts pay jurors a small amount, usually $15 to $50 per day, though this varies widely by state and court. Some courts pay nothing for the first few days and then start paying. The summons or the court's website will tell you the pay rate. Employers cannot fire you for serving on a jury, though they do not have to pay you while you are away.

Can I defer my jury duty to a later date?

Yes, most courts allow you to request a postponement if the date is inconvenient. You must ask before the date arrives, usually by calling the jury office or responding to the summons. Courts often have a limited number of dates you can choose from, but they understand that some times work better than others. Ask as soon as you receive the summons.

What if I am not a U.S. citizen?

You must be a U.S. citizen to serve on a jury. If you received a summons and are not a citizen, contact the court and let them know. You will be excused. Courts pull names from voter registration and driver's license records, so non-citizens should not be on these lists, but errors happen.