What happens when you get a jury summons
A jury summons is an official order from a court telling you to show up on a specific date. It arrives by mail and includes the court's address, the time you must arrive, and what to bring — usually a photo ID and proof of residence. The summons is not optional; ignoring it can result in fines or a court order to appear.
When you arrive at the courthouse on your assigned day, you check in at the jury assembly room. Court staff will verify your information against the summons and may ask basic questions about your availability. If the trial is expected to last longer than you can serve, you can request to be excused at this point, though the judge makes the final decision.
You will then wait with other potential jurors. Some cases settle or resolve before trial, so not everyone who shows up will be selected. The wait can be a few hours or most of a day. Bring something to read or work on, because the assembly room is not designed for comfort.
Key Takeaways
- A jury summons is a legal order to appear at court on a specific date; ignoring it can result in fines or contempt charges.
- The selection process, called voir dire, allows lawyers and the judge to question potential jurors and remove those with conflicts or bias.
- If you are selected, you swear an oath to decide the case based only on the evidence presented in court and the judge's instructions on the law.
- Jury deliberation is private; jurors discuss the case in a closed room and must reach a unanimous verdict in criminal cases or the verdict required by state law in civil cases.
- Employers cannot fire, threaten, or penalize you for serving on a jury, and many courts provide a small daily payment to jurors.
How lawyers and judges choose jurors
The selection process is called voir dire, a French term meaning "to speak the truth." During voir dire, the judge and the lawyers for both sides ask potential jurors questions to understand their backgrounds, beliefs, and any reasons they might not be fair. Questions might cover your job, where you live, whether you know anyone involved in the case, or whether you have been a victim of a similar crime.
Lawyers can remove jurors in two ways. A challenge for cause removes someone because the judge agrees there is a real reason they cannot be fair — for example, they work for the defendant's company or they have already decided the case is guilty. There is no limit to challenges for cause. A peremptory challenge allows each lawyer to remove a small number of jurors without stating a reason, though they cannot use this power to remove people based solely on race, gender, or other protected characteristics.
The process continues until twelve jurors (in most criminal cases) or the required number for a civil case are seated, plus one or two alternates who will step in if a juror becomes ill or must leave. Once the jury is sworn in, the trial begins.
What you do during the trial
Your job as a juror is to listen to the evidence and decide the facts of the case. The trial follows a set order: the judge explains the law, each side presents opening statements, witnesses testify and are cross-examined, physical evidence is shown, and each side gives closing arguments. You are not allowed to take notes in some courts, though many now permit it. You cannot speak to anyone about the case — not other jurors, not family, not the lawyers — until deliberation begins.
If you do not understand something, you cannot ask questions during the trial. The judge controls what evidence comes in and what the law means. Your role is to weigh the evidence, not to decide what the law should be. If the judge tells you to disregard something a witness said, you must follow that instruction, even if it is hard.
Trials can last one day or several weeks. You will be told each morning what time to arrive and when you can leave. If the trial is long, the court may give you a break in the afternoon. You are expected to be on time and to stay until the judge dismisses you.
How jury deliberation works
Once closing arguments are finished, the judge gives the jury instructions on the law. These instructions explain what the prosecution or plaintiff must prove, what the burden of proof is, and how the process works the law to the facts you heard. The judge then sends the jury to a private room to deliberate.
In the deliberation room, jurors discuss the case and try to reach a verdict. In a criminal case, the verdict must be unanimous — all twelve jurors must agree on guilty or not guilty. In a civil case, the requirement varies by state; some require unanimity, others require only a majority. If jurors cannot agree, the judge may give them an instruction to keep trying, but jurors cannot be forced to change their minds.
If the jury cannot reach a verdict after a reasonable time, the judge may declare a mistrial. The case may be tried again with a new jury, or the prosecutor or plaintiff may decide not to retry it. Deliberation is completely private; no one can listen in or ask jurors what they discussed. Even after the trial ends, jurors are not required to explain their verdict to anyone.
How long jury duty lasts
The length of jury duty depends on the case. A straightforward traffic or small claims case might take one day. A criminal felony trial might take one to three weeks. A complex civil lawsuit can last months. When you receive your summons, it will tell you the expected length of the trial, though that estimate can change.
Some courts use a "one day or one trial" system, meaning you serve for one day or until a trial ends, whichever is longer. Others require a longer commitment. If you have a genuine hardship — a medical appointment you cannot reschedule, a job that will fire you despite the law, or a dependent with no one to care for them — you can ask the judge to postpone your service to a later date or to be excused entirely. The judge decides whether your reason is strong enough.
Pay and employer protections
Most courts pay jurors a small amount per day, usually between $15 and $50, though the amount varies widely by state and court. Some courts pay nothing for the first few days and then increase the amount. Payment is usually mailed to you after the trial ends, not on the day you serve.
Federal law protects you from being fired, threatened, or punished by your employer for serving on a jury. This protection applies to both criminal and civil cases. If your employer fires you or threatens you because of jury service, you can report this to the court or to your state's labor department. Some states also protect you from being fired for being summoned, even if you are not selected.
If jury duty will cause you real financial hardship — for example, you are self-employed and lose income — explain this to the judge during voir dire or when you check in. Some courts will excuse you or postpone your service. Others may not, but it is worth asking.
What disqualifies you from jury duty
You cannot serve on a jury if you are not a U.S. citizen, do not speak English well enough to understand the trial, are under 18 years old, or have been convicted of a felony and have not had your rights restored. Some states also disqualify people who are not registered voters or who do not have a valid driver's license, though this is less common.
You can be removed during voir dire if you have a conflict of interest — for example, you know the defendant or the victim, you work for one of the parties, or you have a strong bias about the type of case. You can also be removed if you cannot commit to the length of the trial or if you admit you cannot follow the judge's instructions on the law.
Being on a jury is a civic duty, but courts understand that not everyone can serve at every time. If you have a legitimate reason you cannot serve, tell the court when you receive your summons or when you check in. The worst thing you can do is ignore the summons or lie during voir dire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be fired for serving on a jury?
No. Federal law prohibits employers from firing, threatening, or punishing you for jury service in any court. If your employer retaliates against you, report it to the judge or your state's labor department. Some states also protect you from retaliation for being summoned, even if you are not selected.
What happens if I ignore my jury summons?
The court can fine you, usually between $100 and $1,000 depending on your state. If you ignore a second summons, the judge may issue a contempt order, which can include jail time. If you have a legitimate reason you cannot serve, contact the court before your date and ask to reschedule or be excused.
Can I talk to other jurors during the trial?
No. You cannot discuss the case with anyone — not other jurors, not family, not the lawyers — until deliberation begins. Once you are in the deliberation room, you can discuss the case freely with the other jurors. After the verdict, you are not required to talk about it with anyone.
What if I think the law is unfair?
Your job is to explore the law as the judge explains it, not to decide whether the law is fair. If you believe the law is unjust, you can vote not guilty as a matter of conscience, but you cannot tell other jurors that this is your reason. After the trial, you can advocate for changing the law through the political process.
Do I have to reach a verdict, or can we just disagree?
In a criminal case, the verdict must be unanimous. If you and other jurors cannot agree, the judge may ask you to keep trying, but you cannot be forced to change your mind. If the jury cannot agree after a reasonable time, the judge declares a mistrial and the case may be retried. In a civil case, the requirement depends on your state's law.