The main differences between federal and county jury duty come down to five things: the kinds of cases you’ll hear, how much you’re paid, how long you serve, how many jurors sit with you, and which law protects your job while you’re gone. Federal jury duty pays $50 a day, pulls from a wide multi-county district, and handles a narrow slice of cases Congress has assigned to federal courts. County jury duty is run under state law, usually pays far less, draws only from your county, and covers the everyday criminal and civil disputes most people picture when they think of a courtroom.
The Cases You’ll Hear Are Different
Federal courts have limited jurisdiction. They only hear two main types of cases: federal question cases, which involve federal law or the U.S. Constitution (bank robbery, immigration fraud, federal civil rights claims), and diversity cases, which involve parties from different states where more than $75,000 is at stake.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1332 – Diversity of Citizenship, Amount in Controversy, Costs A federal civil trial can involve something as ordinary as a contract fight, but only because the companies are in different states.
County courts have general jurisdiction and hear nearly everything else. Assault, burglary, DUI, drug possession, car accident lawsuits, divorces, landlord-tenant disputes, smaller contract claims — these all land in county court. If you get a county summons, odds are strong you’ll hear a local case rather than a complex federal prosecution.
What You’ll Be Paid
Federal jurors earn $50 per day for every day of service.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S.C. 1871 – Fees If a trial runs longer than 10 days, the judge can raise your pay to $60 per day for each day after the tenth.3United States Courts. Juror Pay Federal courts also reimburse mileage at a rate set by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, cover tolls in full, and may reimburse reasonable parking fees with a receipt. If you have to stay overnight, you receive a subsistence allowance for meals and lodging.
County pay is set by state law and is almost always lower. Daily rates across the states range from nothing at all to about $50, with most states paying somewhere around $15 to $25. Some states pay nothing for the first day or first few days. Mileage reimbursement exists in about half the states and nowhere in the rest. Budget accordingly: county service rarely covers a full day’s lost wages.
Does your employer have to pay you?
Neither federal nor state law generally requires private employers to keep paying you while you serve. A few states do require it; most don’t. Check your state’s rule and your employer’s own policy before your report date.
How Long You’ll Serve
Most county courts use a “one day or one trial” system. If you aren’t seated on a jury the day you report, you’re done. If you are seated, you serve through that one trial, which in county court often wraps up in one to three days. After service, most jurisdictions exempt you from another summons for at least a year.
Federal service tends to run longer. Most federal trials take three to four days, but complex cases — financial fraud, drug conspiracies, large civil class actions — can run for weeks.4United States Courts. Jury Service – What to Expect When Answering the Call Some federal courts use an on-call system where you stay available for a set period, commonly two months, checking in to see whether you need to appear. Federal law caps your total service at 30 days within any two-year window, unless you’re already in the middle of a trial when that limit hits.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S.C. 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels
Jury Size and Verdict Rules
Federal criminal trials require 12 jurors, and the parties can only agree to fewer under limited circumstances.6Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 23 – Jury or Nonjury Trial Federal civil trials seat between 6 and 12 jurors, and the verdict must be unanimous unless both sides agree otherwise.7Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 48 – Number of Jurors, Verdict, Polling
County rules vary by state. Most states require 12 jurors for serious criminal cases but allow smaller panels, often six, for misdemeanors and civil trials. Some states permit non-unanimous verdicts in civil cases. Your county jury may be smaller and operate under looser verdict rules than a federal jury would.
Getting Excused, Deferring, or Skipping
Both systems let you request an excuse or a postponement, but the categories differ. In federal court, most districts permanently excuse people over 70, anyone who served on a federal jury within the past two years, and members of certain groups such as volunteer firefighters or rescue squad members. Temporary deferrals are available for genuine hardship.8United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses Work inconvenience doesn’t qualify; medical emergencies, pre-paid travel, and caregiving responsibilities do.
County courts handle excuses under state law. Some states automatically exempt doctors, nurses, or active-duty military. Others evaluate every request individually. Nearly all county courts allow deferral for a scheduling conflict, usually through a phone call or online form.
Skipping a summons is a bad idea in either system. In federal court, you can be ordered to appear and explain yourself; without a good reason, you face a fine of up to $1,000, up to three days in jail, community service, or any combination of the three.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels County penalties depend on state law. Fines in most states range from a few dollars to over $1,000, and some states authorize short jail terms for repeat offenders. Many county courts send a second summons before pursuing penalties, but counting on that is risky. If you can’t make it, request a deferral.
Your Job Is Protected Either Way, Under Different Laws
Federal law makes it illegal for any employer to fire, threaten, or pressure a permanent employee because of federal jury service. An employer who violates this can be ordered to reinstate the employee, pay lost wages and benefits, and face a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S.C. 1875 – Protection of Jurors Employment A reinstated employee is treated as if on a leave of absence, keeping seniority and benefit eligibility.
For county jury duty, employment protection comes from state law. Nearly every state prohibits firing a worker for serving, but penalties and enforcement vary. Pay-while-serving is also a state question, and in most states the answer is no.
Who Qualifies, and How You Were Picked
To serve on a federal jury you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18, a resident of the judicial district for at least one year, and able to read, write, and speak English well enough to follow proceedings. A pending felony charge or an unresolved felony conviction where civil rights haven’t been restored disqualifies you.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1865 – Qualifications for Jury Service
County qualifications are set by state law and generally look similar, but some states disqualify anyone with a felony conviction regardless of restoration, and a few set the minimum age at 21 rather than 18. Your qualification form will spell out the local rules.
Federal courts also draw from a much wider area. A single federal judicial district can span dozens of counties, so a federal summons may mean a long drive — part of why federal jurors get mileage reimbursement. County jurors come from inside county lines, so the commute is usually shorter.
Phones, Security, and Courtroom Rules
Federal courthouses enforce stricter security than most county courthouses. Expect airport-style screening at the entrance. Rules on personal electronics vary by district: some federal courthouses ban phones and laptops entirely past security, others allow them in the jury assembly room but not in the courtroom. If you need your phone for childcare or work coordination during breaks, check your district’s rules before you arrive.
County courthouses generally allow phones in the building and the assembly room. In both systems, devices must be off inside an active courtroom, and jurors cannot research the case or post about it on social media during trial. Violating that rule can trigger a mistrial and sanctions against you personally.