eJuror is the federal courts’ online portal for responding to a federal jury summons. Through it, you complete the Juror Qualification Questionnaire, update your contact information, request a deferral or excuse, and check whether you need to report on your assigned day. The web address is printed on the summons or questionnaire you received in the mail, and the whole process usually takes about ten minutes.1United States Courts. Summoned for Federal Jury Service
What eJuror Is
eJuror is run by the federal court system and lets you handle your summons online instead of mailing paper forms back. You can complete the qualification questionnaire that determines whether you’re eligible to serve, update personal information, submit a request to be excused or deferred, and check reporting instructions.1United States Courts. Summoned for Federal Jury Service The paper option still exists, but eJuror is faster and gives you an on-screen confirmation that your response was received.
One boundary to keep in mind: the “eJuror” name belongs to the federal system. State and county courts often have their own online jury portals with similar features, but different URLs and branding. If your summons came from a state court, use the web address printed on that specific summons.
Logging In to eJuror
The eJuror URL is printed on the summons or questionnaire postcard you received by mail. Go directly to that address rather than searching online, because each of the 94 federal district courts has its own eJuror page. To log in, you’ll need three pieces of information from your form:
- Your nine-digit Participant Number
- The first three letters of your last name
- Your date of birth
The Participant Number appears near your name and address on the document, and most login screens include a clickable example that points to its exact location.2U.S. Courts. eJuror Login
Lost the summons? Contact the jury staff at the court location where you were summoned. They can look you up and provide the credentials you need to access the portal.3United States District Court District of Idaho. Finding Your Juror Participant Number Don’t let a missing form become a reason to ignore the summons.
Completing the Qualification Questionnaire
Once you’re in, the portal walks you through the qualification questionnaire. The questions track the statutory criteria set by 28 U.S.C. ยง 1865. To be qualified for federal jury service, you must:4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1865 – Qualifications for Jury Service
- Be a U.S. citizen at least 18 years old
- Have lived in the judicial district for at least one year
- Be able to read, write, and speak English well enough to follow courtroom proceedings
- Have no disqualifying mental or physical condition that would prevent you from serving, though courts will consider accommodations
- Have no pending felony charges carrying more than one year of imprisonment, and no prior felony conviction unless your civil rights have been restored
Answer honestly. Providing false information on a federal questionnaire creates its own legal problems.
Requesting a Deferral or Excuse
After the questionnaire, eJuror lets you submit a request to defer your service to a later date or to be excused from service entirely. If a deferral is granted, you can usually select the alternate time through the same portal.1United States Courts. Summoned for Federal Jury Service
Each of the 94 federal district courts sets its own policies on what qualifies as a valid excuse, so there’s no universal list.5United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses Common grounds include serious medical conditions, caregiving responsibilities with no backup, and genuine financial hardship. Some courts accept supporting documents uploaded through the portal; others ask you to contact the clerk’s office directly. Follow the instructions your specific court provides during the request rather than assuming the procedure is the same everywhere.
After You Submit
When you submit the questionnaire, you’ll receive a confirmation on screen. Save it or take a screenshot. The court won’t send a separate notification that your response arrived, so that on-screen confirmation is your only proof of submission.6District Court of the Virgin Islands. eJuror Frequently Asked Questions Don’t close the browser window before recording it.
If you’re found qualified, you’ll later be assigned a reporting date. Before that date, check eJuror again or call your court’s automated jury message system to confirm whether you actually need to appear. Schedules change at the last minute, so checking the day before your report date matters: the message may tell you to come in, or it may tell you your appearance isn’t needed.7United States District Court District of Nebraska. Why Must I Check the Reporting Instructions After 12:00 PM the Day Before I Appear for Jury Duty
What Happens If You Ignore the Summons
A federal jury summons is a court order. If you fail to appear as directed, the court can order you to show up and explain yourself. Without good cause, you face a fine of up to $1,000, up to three days in jail, community service, or any combination of those penalties.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels
Courts don’t usually jump straight to the harshest penalty for a first missed summons; most send a follow-up notice before escalating. But the legal authority exists, and some districts enforce it more aggressively than others. The simplest way to avoid trouble is to complete the eJuror questionnaire promptly, and to use the deferral process if you truly can’t serve.
How to Spot a Jury Duty Scam
Because real jury service starts with a mailed summons and an online portal, scammers try to imitate the same process. They impersonate court officials by phone, email, or text, threatening prosecution, fines, or jail for supposedly missing jury duty. These communications are fraudulent.9United States Courts. Juror Scams The telltale sign is a demand for sensitive information, like Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, or bank account details. Federal courts never ask for that kind of information over the phone or by email.
Legitimate court contact almost always comes through the U.S. mail. If someone claiming to be a court official contacts you another way and asks for personal data, don’t provide anything. Call the Clerk of Court’s office for the U.S. District Court in your area directly, using the number on the court’s official website rather than any number the caller gives you. You can also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission.9United States Courts. Juror Scams