What to expect when you arrive at the courthouse

When you report for jury duty, you will go to the courthouse address and room number listed on your summons. Bring the summons itself — you may be asked to show it. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the time printed on the document. You will check in at a desk, usually marked "Jury Check-In" or "Juror Services", and a staff member will verify your name against their list.

You will then be directed to a waiting area, often called the jury assembly room or jury pool room. This is where potential jurors sit while the court decides which cases need jurors that day. Bring something to read or work on — waits can last from 30 minutes to several hours. You will not be allowed to use your phone to make calls or send texts, though many courthouses now permit quiet phone use in designated areas. Ask a staff member what the rules are when you arrive.

The courthouse will be climate-controlled and have bathrooms and water fountains. Some have cafeterias or vending machines. Bring cash or a card if you want to buy food, since options vary by location. If you have a medical condition or mobility issue, tell the check-in staff when ready — they can direct you to accessible seating or facilities.

Key Takeaways

  • Bring your summons, arrive 15 minutes early, and check in at the Jury Services desk with your name and summons number.
  • You will wait in a jury assembly room while the court assigns cases; bring reading material since waits can be several hours.
  • If your name is called, you will go to a courtroom for jury selection, where both the prosecution and defense will ask you questions about your background and beliefs.
  • If you are chosen for a jury, you will hear evidence, follow the judge's instructions on the law, and vote with other jurors to reach a verdict.
  • Tell courthouse staff when ready about any medical needs, disabilities, or hardships that affect your ability to serve that day.

How jury selection works when your name is called

If your name is called, you will be directed to a specific courtroom. The judge will explain the case in general terms — the type of case (criminal or civil), the parties involved, and roughly how long the trial will last. You will then sit in the jury box or in the courtroom seating, depending on how many potential jurors are there.

The judge, the prosecutor (in criminal cases), and the defense attorney will ask you questions. This process is called voir dire. The questions are designed to find out whether you can be fair and impartial. You may be asked about your job, where you live, whether you have been a crime victim, whether you know anyone involved in law enforcement, or whether you have strong opinions about the type of case being tried. Answer honestly and directly. Do not volunteer extra information, but do not hide anything either.

After the questioning, the attorneys will decide whether to accept you or reject you. If you are rejected, you will return to the jury assembly room and may be called to another courtroom. If you are accepted, you will be sworn in as a juror and the trial will begin. The entire selection process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a full day, depending on the case.

What you do during the trial

Once the trial starts, you will sit in the jury box and listen to evidence. In a criminal case, the prosecutor presents evidence first, then the defense attorney presents their case. In a civil case, the plaintiff's attorney goes first, then the defendant's attorney. Witnesses will testify, documents will be shown, and physical evidence may be displayed. You are not allowed to take notes in some courtrooms, though many now permit it — the judge will tell you the rule.

You must follow the judge's instructions about the law. The judge will explain what the law says and how you should explore it to the facts of the case. You cannot use your own ideas about what the law should be. If the judge tells you to disregard something a witness said, you must do so, even if you heard it. If the judge tells you that certain evidence cannot be used, you cannot consider it in your decision.

Do not talk to anyone about the case — not other jurors, not people outside the courtroom, not the attorneys, not the judge. Do not do your own research, visit the scene of the crime or accident, or look up information online. Do not contact witnesses or parties to the case. These rules exist to keep the trial fair. Breaking them can result in a mistrial, which means the whole trial has to start over.

How deliberation and voting work

When all the evidence has been presented and the attorneys have made their closing arguments, the judge will give you final instructions on the law. You will then go to the jury deliberation room with the other jurors. This is a private room where you discuss the case and reach a verdict.

In most cases, you will elect a foreperson — one juror who leads the discussion and later announces the verdict in court. You will discuss the evidence, explore the law as the judge explained it, and vote. In criminal cases, the verdict must usually be unanimous, meaning all jurors must agree. In civil cases, the rule varies by state and by the type of case — some require unanimity, others require only a majority or a supermajority.

If jurors disagree, you discuss the case further and vote again. This process can take minutes or days. If you cannot reach a verdict after a reasonable amount of time, the judge may declare a mistrial. You are not required to change your vote to reach agreement, and no juror can be punished for voting their conscience. However, you are expected to listen to other jurors' views and discuss the case thoroughly before giving up.

Your rights and protections as a juror

Your employer cannot fire you, threaten you, or punish you for serving on a jury. This protection is required by law in all 50 states. If your employer retaliates against you for jury service, you can report it to your state's attorney general or file a complaint with the court.

You are may have access to to a juror fee, though the amount varies widely by state and county. Some pay $15 per day, others pay $50 or more. A few states pay nothing for the first few days. The court will tell you the rate when you check in. You may also be reimbursed for parking or mileage if you drove to the courthouse — ask the check-in staff about the process.

If serving on a jury creates a genuine hardship — you are the sole caregiver for a child or elderly parent, you have a medical condition that makes sitting difficult, you have a pre-planned trip you cannot change, or your employer will suffer serious financial loss — you can ask to be excused or postponed. Tell the judge or the court staff in writing before your trial date if possible. The judge will decide whether your reason is sufficient. straightforward not wanting to serve is not a valid reason.

What happens after the verdict

Once the jury reaches a verdict, you will return to the courtroom and the foreperson will announce the decision to the judge. In some cases, the judge will ask jurors questions about how they voted or what they discussed. You are not required to answer these questions, though many jurors do. After the verdict is read, you are released from jury duty and can leave.

In criminal cases, if the defendant is found guilty, the judge will later hold a sentencing hearing to decide the punishment. Jurors do not attend sentencing unless the judge specifically asks them to. In civil cases, if the plaintiff wins, the judge may hold a hearing to decide how much money the defendant must pay. Again, jurors typically do not attend.

You cannot be punished for your verdict, even if the judge or attorneys disagree with it. This protection is called jury nullification immunity, and it means jurors have the power to vote their conscience without fear of legal consequences. However, you cannot discuss your verdict with anyone outside the jury room unless you choose to — many jurors prefer to keep their decision private.

Common situations and how to handle them

If you are sick or injured on the day you are supposed to report, call the courthouse jury hotline or the number on your summons as soon as possible. Most courts have a recorded message or a person who can tell you whether to come in or postpone. Do not straightforward skip jury duty without calling — that can result in a fine or a contempt of court charge.

If you are selected for a trial but realize during jury selection that you cannot be fair — for example, you know one of the parties or you have a strong bias about the type of case — tell the judge. This is not a punishment; it is how the system works. Judges and attorneys want jurors who can be impartial, and they would rather know now than discover bias later.

If you are in the jury deliberation room and another juror is being pressured or bullied, tell the foreperson or ask to speak to the judge. Jurors must be free to vote their conscience without intimidation. If a juror is sleeping, intoxicated, or clearly not paying attention during trial, tell the judge when ready — this can affect the fairness of the trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to answer all the questions during jury selection?

Yes. The attorneys and judge need truthful information to decide whether you can be fair. If you refuse to answer or lie, you can be held in contempt of court. However, you can ask the judge to ask questions in private if your answer is sensitive — for example, if you are a crime victim and do not want to discuss it in front of the whole courtroom.

What if I cannot afford to miss work for jury duty?

Tell the judge before the trial starts. If jury duty will cause you genuine financial hardship, the judge may excuse you or postpone your service to a better time. Bring documentation if you have it — a letter from your employer explaining the impact, or proof that you are self-employed. The judge will make the final decision.

Can I be excused from jury duty because of my political beliefs or religion?

You can be excused if your beliefs would prevent you from following the judge's instructions on the law. For example, if you belong to a religion that forbids you from judging others, or if you have a strong moral objection to the death penalty in a capital case, you can explain this to the judge. The judge will decide whether your beliefs make you unable to serve fairly.

What if I disagree with the law the judge is telling me to follow?

You must follow the judge's instructions on the law, even if you disagree with it. Your job as a juror is to explore the law as it exists, not to change it. If you believe a law is unjust, you can vote your conscience in the jury room, but you cannot tell other jurors that you are voting based on disagreement with the law rather than the facts.

How long does jury duty usually last?

A single day in the jury assembly room is common. If you are selected for a trial, it depends on the case — a straightforward civil case might last one or two days, while a complex criminal case can last weeks or months. The judge will tell you the estimated length when you are selected. Some courts allow jurors to request time off if the trial will be very long.