A jury summons is a court order, mailed to you by the clerk or jury commission of a court, telling you that your name has been randomly drawn as a possible juror and directing you to appear at a specific courthouse on a specific date.1U.S. Marshals Service. Juror Summons It does not mean you will sit on a jury. It means you are a candidate, and the court needs you to show up so the judge and attorneys can decide whether you are a good fit for a particular case. The summons carries the full weight of any other court order, so you cannot ignore it.
What the Document Looks Like
A real summons arrives by U.S. mail, usually as a formal letter or a postcard with the issuing court’s name on it. On it you will find a unique summons number that identifies you throughout the process, the date and time you need to report, and the address of the courthouse or jury assembly room. Many courts also print a barcode for electronic check-in. A judicial officer’s name or signature authenticates the order.
Attached to or included with the summons is a juror qualification questionnaire. It may be a perforated tear-off, a separate form, or a web link you complete online. That questionnaire is how the court confirms you are eligible and gathers the background information attorneys later use during jury selection.
Why You Were Picked
Federal law requires that jury pools be drawn at random from a fair cross-section of the community.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC Chapter 121 – Juries; Trial by Jury Every federal court starts with voter registration lists. When voter rolls alone do not produce a pool that reflects the local population, courts add supplemental sources, most commonly lists of licensed drivers.3United States Courts. Juror Selection Process The statute gives courts flexibility to add other sources when needed.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1863 – Plan for Random Jury Selection State courts work much the same way, often supplementing voter rolls with driver’s license records or state tax filings. Automated software handles the draw itself.
Who Qualifies to Serve
Not every person who gets a summons is eligible. Under the Jury Selection and Service Act, to serve on a federal jury you must:5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1865 – Qualifications for Jury Service
- Be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old.
- Have lived in the judicial district for at least one year.
- Read, write, speak, and understand English well enough to follow testimony and complete the qualification form.
- Have no pending felony charge and no felony conviction for which your civil rights have not been restored.
- Be able to render satisfactory jury service without being prevented by a mental or physical condition.
State courts impose similar requirements, though specifics like the residency period can vary.
Petit Jury or Grand Jury
The summons will indicate which type of jury you’re being called for, and that changes everything about the time commitment.
A petit jury, or trial jury, is the kind most people picture. A group hears a single civil or criminal case and delivers a verdict, and once the case ends, you are discharged. Many courts run a “one-day or one-trial” system: if you are not selected on your reporting day, you are done.6United States Courts. Types of Juries
A grand jury is a longer commitment. Grand jurors do not decide guilt or innocence; they review evidence from prosecutors and decide whether there is enough to formally charge someone. Federal grand juries can serve up to 18 months, with extensions possible to 24 months, though they do not meet every day.6United States Courts. Types of Juries
How to Respond
Your first obligation is the questionnaire. It asks for your full legal name, date of birth, and current address so the court can verify identity and eligibility, along with your occupation and educational background for use during selection.
You can usually return the completed form by mail in a prepaid envelope, or online through the court’s juror portal using your summons number. Online submissions produce a confirmation number that serves as your proof of compliance. Submit it by the deadline printed on the form. Ignoring the questionnaire is treated the same as ignoring the summons.
Getting Excused or Deferred
If serving would cause a real hardship, the questionnaire gives you a place to request an excuse or a deferral. A deferral moves your service to a later date; an excuse removes the obligation, at least for now.
In federal court, common grounds for a permanent excuse include being over 70, having served on a federal jury within the past two years, or being an active volunteer firefighter or rescue squad member.7United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses Courts can also grant temporary excuses for undue hardship: a medical condition, caregiving duties for young children or elderly family, or financial strain that service would make significantly worse. Expect to provide supporting documentation, such as a doctor’s note. The judge decides, and the court may deny the request or reschedule you to a different term.
What Happens on Reporting Day
Many courts run a call-in or standby system. The evening before your date, you check an automated phone line or the court’s website to see whether you actually need to appear the next morning. If your group is called, you report. If not, you may need to check again the following day for up to five business days.
When you do report, expect courthouse security screening similar to airport security. Leave weapons and large bags at home. Cell phone policies vary, so check your court’s rules. Bring something to read. You will likely spend time in a jury assembly room before being called to a courtroom.
Voir Dire
Once you are sent to a courtroom, the selection process called voir dire begins. A group of potential jurors is seated, sworn in, and questioned by the judge and sometimes the attorneys. The questions are designed to surface anything that might keep you from deciding the case fairly: a connection to the parties or witnesses, strong views on the subject, relevant personal experience.
Either side can ask the judge to remove a juror “for cause” when questioning reveals a clear basis for bias, and there is no limit on those challenges. Each side also gets a set number of peremptory challenges, which let them remove jurors without stating a reason. Being struck by a peremptory challenge is not a reflection on you; it is a strategic choice about the overall makeup of the jury. If you are not seated, you are usually dismissed and your service is complete.
Pay and Workplace Protections
Federal jurors receive $50 per day for each day of attendance.8United States Courts. Fees of Jurors and Commissioners Fiscal Year 2026 The judge can bump that daily fee by up to $10 for petit jurors serving more than 10 days on a case, and for grand jurors after 45 days.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1871 – Fees The court also reimburses travel at a per-mile rate set by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, plus tolls and, at the court’s discretion, parking. State pay varies widely, from as low as $15 to over $70 a day, and some states pay nothing for the first day.
Federal law makes it illegal for any employer to fire, threaten, intimidate, or pressure a permanent employee because of federal jury service. An employer who does so faces liability for lost wages, a court order to reinstate the employee, and a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1875 – Protection of Jurors Employment Most states have parallel laws for state court service. Federal law does not require employers to pay hourly workers for jury duty, though some do voluntarily or under a collective bargaining agreement.
What Happens If You Ignore the Summons
Skipping jury duty is not a gray area. A judge can order you to appear and explain yourself. If you cannot show good cause, federal penalties include a fine of up to $1,000, up to three days in jail, community service, or any combination of those.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels State penalties vary and some are harsher.
Courts often give first-time no-shows a second chance with a follow-up letter and a new date, but nothing in the statute requires that leniency. If you cannot make your assigned date, request a deferral through the court before the date arrives.
Watch Out for Jury Duty Scams
Scammers routinely impersonate courts and law enforcement, calling or emailing people to claim they missed jury duty and will be arrested unless they pay immediately. The problem is common enough that the federal court system has issued a public warning about it.12United States Courts. Juror Scams
A real court will never call demanding payment, and it will never ask for your Social Security number or bank details by phone or email. Legitimate summonses arrive by U.S. mail. Anyone threatening arrest and demanding payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a payment app is running a scam. Hang up and call the clerk of court directly to verify your status. You can also report the contact to the Federal Trade Commission.