If you’ve been called for federal jury duty in New Jersey, you’ll report to one of three United States District Court courthouses in Newark, Trenton, or Camden. Petit jurors are placed on call for a two-week term, earn $50 a day plus mileage and tolls, and are protected by federal law from being fired or penalized at work for serving. The rules below are federal; New Jersey’s state jury duty rules do not apply.
Where You’ll Report
New Jersey is a single federal judicial district with three courthouse locations: the Martin Luther King Building in Newark, the Clarkson S. Fisher Building in Trenton, and the Mitchell H. Cohen Building in Camden.1United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. District of New Jersey The court assigns you to whichever division is closest to your home address, so the commute stays manageable. Every federal trial and grand jury proceeding in the state happens at one of these three buildings.
Who Qualifies and Who Doesn’t
To serve on a federal jury you need to be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and a resident of the District of New Jersey for at least one year. You also have to read, write, speak, and understand English well enough to complete the qualification form.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1865 – Qualifications for Jury Service
A pending felony charge or a past felony conviction without restored civil rights disqualifies you. So does a mental or physical condition that would prevent satisfactory service, though the court will consider reasonable accommodations.3United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses
Three groups are exempt entirely, even if they otherwise qualify: active-duty members of the armed forces or National Guard, full-time professional firefighters and police officers (volunteers don’t count), and full-time public officers who were elected or appointed by an elected official.3United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses
The Questionnaire Comes First, Then the Summons
Names are drawn at random from state voter registration lists, supplemented by other sources such as driver’s license records when needed to produce a representative pool.4United States Courts. Juror Selection Process If your name is picked, the first thing you’ll get in the mail is a pink qualification questionnaire, not a summons. You complete it through the court’s secure eJuror system, or by requesting a paper copy at 1-844-238-0864 and returning it within 10 days.5United States District Court. eJuror Questionnaires
The questionnaire tells the court whether you meet the basic eligibility rules. You won’t hear anything back if you’re disqualified, excused, or exempt. If you qualify, a formal summons with a specific reporting date may arrive later, sometimes much later.5United States District Court. eJuror Questionnaires
Postponing or Being Excused
Once your summons arrives, you can ask for a postponement or excuse through eJuror. Complete the summons information form online, click the postpone/excuse link, and allow five to seven business days for a decision. You can check status through the automated juror information line at 1-866-363-8154.6United States District Court. How Can I Make a Hardship Request
Courts commonly grant excuses for serious medical conditions, caregiving responsibilities that can’t be shifted, and previously booked travel that would be costly to cancel. A busy stretch at work usually isn’t enough on its own, though a real scheduling conflict can often be handled with a deferral to a later date. If you haven’t received an answer by your reporting date, you’re still expected to appear.
What Reporting Day Looks Like
Your summons will tell you to call a phone number or check the court’s website the evening before your reporting date. Trials get rescheduled at the last minute all the time, and if the trial isn’t going forward you won’t need to come in. Always confirm before you leave the house.
When you do report, you’ll sit through an orientation that walks through the process. You may then be sent to a courtroom for voir dire, the questioning by the judge and attorneys that decides which prospective jurors can be fair and impartial in a specific case.4United States Courts. Juror Selection Process Some people are excused based on their answers; the rest form the jury.
Pay, Mileage, and How Long You’re On Call
Federal jurors earn a flat $50 for each day they report, including travel days at the start and end of service. If a petit jury trial runs longer than 10 days, the judge can raise the rate by up to $10 for each additional day, bringing it to as much as $60.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1871 – Fees Jury pay is taxable, and if your employer keeps paying you and requires you to hand over your jury check, you can deduct the amount you turn back on your federal return.8Internal Revenue Service. Publication 525 – Taxable and Nontaxable Income
On top of the daily fee, you’re reimbursed for driving. The 2026 mileage rate is $0.725 per mile in a privately owned vehicle.9General Services Administration. Privately Owned Vehicle Mileage Reimbursement Rates10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1871 – FeesJuror Pay
In the District of New Jersey, petit jurors are placed on call for a two-week term.11United States District Court – District of New Jersey. General Jury FAQs During those two weeks you may get called in for a trial, or you may never need to report. If you finish the term without being seated on a trial, your service is done. If you are seated, you stay until the trial ends, even if that runs past the two weeks.
Your Job Is Protected
It is illegal under federal law for your employer to fire you, threaten to fire you, or otherwise penalize you because you were called for federal jury service. The protection covers every permanent employee summoned to any federal court.12Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1875 – Protection of Jurors Employment An employer who violates the law can be ordered to pay lost wages and benefits, reinstate you with full seniority as if you’d been on leave, and face a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation per employee along with possible community service. A winning employee can also recover reasonable attorney’s fees.
If you think your employer retaliated against you, you can file a claim directly in federal district court. If the court finds probable merit, it will appoint an attorney to represent you at no cost.12Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1875 – Protection of Jurors Employment
One thing federal law does not do: it does not require your employer to keep paying your regular salary while you serve. Some employers do it voluntarily, and some New Jersey workplaces provide jury leave pay under company policy or a union contract, but there’s no federal mandate.
What Happens if You Ignore the Summons
Skipping federal jury duty is a real problem. A juror who fails to appear can be ordered into court to explain the absence, and without a good reason the penalty is a fine of up to $1,000, up to three days in jail, community service, or some combination of those.13Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels The same penalties apply if you don’t return the qualification questionnaire. If the timing doesn’t work, request a postponement. Don’t just not show up.
Grand Jury Service Is Different
Some summonses are for grand jury service, which is a very different commitment. A federal grand jury reviews evidence from prosecutors and decides whether there’s enough basis to bring criminal charges; it does not decide guilt or innocence. The standard term is 18 months, extendable in six-month increments up to 36 months, though the court can discharge a grand jury earlier once its work is finished.14Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 3331 – Summoning and Term Grand jurors don’t come in daily; sessions are typically held a few days each month. Pay starts at $50 a day, and after 45 days of actual service the judge may raise it to as much as $60.15United States Courts. Juror Pay Mileage, tolls, and parking are reimbursed on the same terms as petit jury service.