Federal Jury Duty in California: Pay, Job Protection, and Scams

Federal jury duty in California is run by one of four United States district courts — Northern, Eastern, Central, or Southern — and the rules are set by federal statute, not state law. Jurors earn $50 per day, keep their jobs by law, and can be fined up to $1,000 for ignoring a summons. Everything else depends on which district summoned you and what kind of jury you’re called to.

Who Qualifies to Serve

Federal eligibility comes from the Jury Selection and Service Act. You qualify if you’re a U.S. citizen, at least 18, have lived primarily in the judicial district for at least one year when you fill out the qualification questionnaire, can read, write, speak, and understand English well enough to follow proceedings, and don’t have a mental or physical condition that would prevent satisfactory service.

Two groups are automatically disqualified: anyone currently facing felony charges that carry more than one year of imprisonment, and anyone previously convicted of a felony whose civil rights have not been legally restored.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1865 – Qualifications for Jury Service

Three professional categories are barred from serving even when otherwise qualified: active-duty members of the armed forces and National Guard; professional (not volunteer) police officers and firefighters working for non-federal departments; and full-time public officials who were elected or appointed by an elected official.2United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses

Which Court Will Summon You

Your summons comes from the district where you live, and you report to a courthouse inside that district.

The summons tells you which courthouse to report to, typically the one closest to your home inside the district.

Responding to the Summons

A federal jury summons is a court order. Your first task is the Juror Qualification Questionnaire, which decides whether you’re legally eligible. Most districts let you complete it online through eJuror, and you can request a paper copy from the jury office listed on the summons.7United States Courts. Summoned for Federal Jury Service

Postponing

If you’re willing to serve but the timing doesn’t work, request a postponement through eJuror or by calling the jury office. Courts generally grant one postponement for scheduling conflicts like a pre-planned vacation or a work deadline and reschedule you for a later date in the same term or a future term.

Being Excused

Getting excused entirely takes more than a scheduling conflict. The legal standard is “undue hardship or extreme inconvenience,” and the request must be in writing with supporting documentation.2United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses

A medical excuse needs a letter from your treating provider identifying the condition and explaining why it prevents service. Generic notes that just say “excused from jury duty” are routinely rejected. For financial hardship, you’ll typically document your income, work arrangements, and how many days (if any) your employer will pay during service. If you’re the primary caretaker for a child or dependent, the court will want details about the care you provide, the ages of the dependents, and why alternative arrangements aren’t feasible.

Checking Whether to Report

Most districts don’t require you to physically appear on the first day of your term. You’ll call an automated line or check eJuror the evening before your reporting date to find out whether you actually need to come in. Trials settle or get continued at the last minute, and this system keeps jurors home when they aren’t needed. The summons spells out when and how to check.

When You Arrive at the Courthouse

Every federal courthouse runs visitors through a security checkpoint staffed by Court Security Officers. Expect a metal detector and X-ray for your bags. Weapons of any kind are prohibited, pocket knives included. Photography and audio or video recording of proceedings aren’t allowed, and some courthouses restrict cell phones and other electronics entirely.8U.S. Marshals Service. What To Expect When Visiting a Courthouse Federal courthouses generally don’t have lockers, so leave anything questionable in your car or at home.

Once you reach the courtroom, selection begins with voir dire. The judge (and sometimes the attorneys) will question prospective jurors about backgrounds, potential biases, and ability to be impartial. You’ll hear a brief description of the case and learn who the parties and attorneys are. Either side can ask the judge to dismiss a juror “for cause” if questioning reveals a bias or conflict, with no cap on those challenges. Each side also gets a set number of “peremptory challenges” that let them dismiss jurors without giving a reason. The process continues until the required number of jurors and alternates are seated.

Petit Jury or Grand Jury

Most people summoned for federal jury duty serve on a petit jury, which decides the outcome of a single trial. Federal courts typically use a “one day or one trial” system. If you aren’t selected the day you report, your service is done. If you are selected, you serve for the length of that trial, anywhere from a few days to several weeks. The overall on-call period usually runs two to four weeks, during which you may need to check in periodically without sitting in a courtroom every day.

Grand jury service is a much bigger commitment. A federal grand jury has 16 to 23 members and can serve up to 18 months, extendable to 24 months if a judge approves.9United States Courts. Types of Juries Grand jurors don’t decide guilt or innocence. They review evidence presented by federal prosecutors and decide whether there’s enough to formally charge someone through an indictment. At least 12 grand jurors must agree before an indictment is returned.10Justia. Fed. R. Crim. P. 6 – The Grand Jury Sessions might occur once a week or a few times a month, which offsets the long overall term but still adds up.

What You’ll Be Paid

Federal jurors earn $50 per day for each day of actual attendance. If a petit juror serves more than 10 days on a single trial, the presiding judge can raise that to $60 per day for each additional day. Grand jurors become eligible for the same increase after 45 days.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1871 – Fees

You’ll also get a mileage allowance for driving to and from the courthouse, at a rate set by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, calculated for the shortest practical route. Bridge, tunnel, and toll road charges are reimbursed in full. Parking may be reimbursed at the court’s discretion with a valid receipt. If you take public transit and the mileage allowance doesn’t cover the fare because the distance is short, the court can reimburse your actual transit expense instead.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1871 – Fees

Jury duty pay is taxable income, reported on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8h. If your employer keeps paying your regular salary during service but requires you to hand over your jury pay, you can deduct what you turned over on Schedule 1, line 24a, so you aren’t taxed on money you didn’t keep.12Internal Revenue Service. Publication 525 – Taxable and Nontaxable Income

Your Job Is Protected, But Not Necessarily Paid

Federal law makes it illegal for an employer to fire, threaten, intimidate, or pressure any permanent employee because of jury service. The protection covers both petit and grand jurors.13Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1875 – Protection of Jurors’ Employment

The law does not require your employer to pay you while you’re out. Whether the absence is paid or unpaid is entirely at the employer’s discretion, so check your handbook or ask HR before service begins.

If your employer retaliates, a federal court can award damages for lost wages and other benefits, impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation, and order the employer to perform community service.13Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1875 – Protection of Jurors’ Employment

What Happens If You Ignore the Summons

If you don’t show up or don’t respond at all, the district court can order you to appear and explain yourself. Without good cause, you face a fine of up to $1,000, up to three days in jail, an order to perform community service, or any combination of those penalties.14Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels

Courts don’t usually jump straight to jail. The more common path is a follow-up letter, then an order to show cause, then a hearing. But the statutory authority is real and federal courts do use it. If you have a legitimate reason for not responding, contact the jury office right away rather than hoping the court forgets. It won’t.

A Word on Jury Duty Scams

Scammers impersonate court officials or law enforcement, calling or emailing people to claim they missed jury duty and have a warrant out. The pitch always involves paying a “fine” immediately by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. Two facts to hold onto: federal courts never demand payment over the phone, and they never ask for sensitive personal information like your Social Security number by phone or email. A real federal jury summons arrives by mail. If someone calls demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest, hang up.15Federal Trade Commission. Did You Get a Call or Email Saying You Missed Jury Duty and Need To Pay? Its a Scam