If you’ve been summoned for federal jury duty in Texas, you’re legally required to respond. The summons comes from one of the state’s four federal judicial districts — Northern, Southern, Eastern, or Western — and the district printed on your notice tells you where to report. To serve, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18, and a resident of that district for at least one year. Ignoring the notice can cost you up to $1,000 and up to three days in jail, so the smart move is to read the summons carefully, respond on time, and know your options before your reporting date.
Who Qualifies to Serve
Federal law sets six requirements. You must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and have lived primarily in the judicial district for one year or more when you complete the qualification questionnaire. You also need to read, write, understand, and speak English well enough to follow proceedings and fill out the paperwork.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 US Code 1865 – Qualifications for Jury Service
Two things automatically disqualify you. A pending felony charge that could carry more than one year in prison bars you from serving, as does a past felony conviction if your civil rights have not been restored. A mental or physical condition that prevents you from serving adequately, and that the court cannot reasonably accommodate, is also disqualifying.2United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses
Whether an old felony still disqualifies you depends on the law of the state where you were convicted. Some states restore civil rights automatically once you finish your sentence; others require a pardon, expungement, or separate petition. If you’re unsure where you stand, call the clerk of the federal court listed on your notice before assuming you’re out.
Responding to the Questionnaire and Summons
The first thing most people receive isn’t a summons to appear — it’s a juror qualification questionnaire asking you to confirm your citizenship, age, residency, English proficiency, and criminal history, along with any condition that might prevent you from serving. You have ten days from receipt to return it.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1864 – Drawing of Names From the Master Jury Wheel
Federal courts in Texas encourage you to complete the form online through the eJuror system. Your mailed notice contains a participant number that lets you log in. If you’d rather mail it, a postage-paid envelope comes with the form. Don’t let the ten days lapse. If you never return the questionnaire, the court can order you to appear in person to complete it, and willfully lying on the form carries the same penalties as ignoring a summons.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1864 – Drawing of Names From the Master Jury Wheel
Automatic Exemptions
Three groups are exempt from federal jury service without needing to request an excusal:
- Members of the Armed Forces on active duty.
- Full-time members of any state or local police or fire department.
- Full-time public officers in the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of federal, state, or local government who are actively performing their official duties.
Even if you fall into one of these categories, complete the qualification questionnaire and mark your exempt status rather than ignoring the notice.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 US Code 1863 – Plan for Random Jury Selection
Requesting an Excusal or Deferral
If you aren’t automatically exempt but serving would cause a real problem, you can ask the court to excuse you or postpone your service. The legal standard is “undue hardship or extreme inconvenience,” evaluated case by case. Reasons courts commonly accept include a serious medical condition documented by a doctor’s letter, being the sole caregiver for someone who can’t care for themselves, and having recently completed federal jury service.
A deferral is usually easier to get than a full excusal. If the problem is timing — a scheduled surgery, final exams, a non-refundable trip — you can ask to move your service to a later date, generally within the same year. File the request through the eJuror portal or by mail with supporting documentation, and do it as soon as you know there’s a conflict. Courts respond much better to a timely request with a doctor’s note than to a call on the morning you were supposed to appear.
People 70 and older may request an excusal, though it isn’t automatic. Note your age on the questionnaire or summons response, and the court will typically grant it.
What Happens If You Ignore the Summons
Skipping a federal summons is where people get into real trouble. If you don’t appear, the court can issue an order requiring you to show up and explain yourself, and a U.S. Marshal may personally serve that order. Without a good reason, you can be fined up to $1,000, jailed for up to three days, ordered to do community service, or given any combination of those penalties.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels
The same penalties apply if you never return the qualification questionnaire or if you lie on it to avoid service.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1864 – Drawing of Names From the Master Jury Wheel Courts generally give people a chance to comply before moving to punishment, but “I didn’t get the letter” or “I forgot” rarely satisfies a judge.
Pay and Travel Reimbursement
Federal jurors are paid $50 per day for every day of attendance, including travel days at the start and end of service. Petit jurors sitting on a trial that runs longer than ten days may have their daily fee increased by up to $10, bringing it to a maximum of $60 per day for each additional day. Grand jurors become eligible for the same increase after 45 days of actual service.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1871 – Fees
The court also pays a mileage allowance for the round-trip distance between your home and the courthouse, using a rate set by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Tolls and reasonable parking fees are reimbursed as well, usually on presentation of receipts. Parking rules vary by courthouse, so check your district court’s website for the local details.
Your attendance fees are taxable income. If you receive $600 or more in fees during a calendar year, the court sends you a Form 1099-MISC. Even below that threshold, you’re required to report the income on your tax return.7United States District Court. Are Juror Attendance Fees Considered Reportable Income
Your Job Is Protected, but Your Wages May Not Be
Federal law makes it illegal for an employer to fire, threaten, intimidate, or coerce a permanent employee because of federal jury service. The protection covers your time in court and any scheduled attendance related to your service.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 US Code 1875 – Protection of Jurors Employment
An employer who violates the law can be ordered to pay lost wages and benefits, reinstate you if you were fired, and pay a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation per employee. If you believe your employer retaliated against you for serving, you can file a claim in the same federal district court. If the court finds the claim has merit, it will appoint an attorney to represent you at no cost.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 US Code 1875 – Protection of Jurors Employment
There’s an important gap. Neither federal law nor Texas law requires private employers to pay your regular wages while you’re on jury duty.9Texas Workforce Commission. Jury Duty Some employers continue paying salary voluntarily, and many larger companies have written jury duty pay policies. Check your employee handbook or ask HR before your reporting date so you know what to expect. The $50 daily federal fee will not come close to replacing a full day’s wages for most people.
Reporting for Service in Texas
Texas has four federal judicial districts, each covering a different region. The Northern District is headquartered in Dallas, the Southern District in Houston, the Eastern District in Tyler, and the Western District in San Antonio. Each district also runs division courthouses in smaller cities. Your summons specifies exactly where and when to report.
Most Texas federal courts put jurors “on call” for a set period, often one month. During that period you check a recorded phone hotline or the court’s website the evening before each potential service date to find out whether you need to report the following morning. If your group isn’t called, you don’t appear.
When you do report, arrive early enough to clear courthouse security. You’ll go through metal detectors, and your belongings will be X-rayed. Bring your summons and a government-issued photo ID. Weapons are prohibited. Cell phone rules vary by courthouse — some permit silenced phones, others restrict electronics in courtrooms entirely — so check your district court’s website ahead of time.
Most federal courts use a “one-day/one-trial” system for petit (trial) jurors: if you’re not selected for a panel on the day you report, you’re released and your obligation is complete. Jurors who are chosen serve for the length of that trial, which typically runs one to five days, though complex cases can go longer. Grand jury service is different: 16 to 23 members serve terms up to 18 months (extendable to 24), meeting a few days per month rather than sitting through a single continuous trial.10United States Courts. Types of Juries