States
Jury duty in California: pay, employer rules and excuses
Independent site, not a court. Answer your summons and ask for an excuse only through the court that summoned you.
Find out why California pays nothing on day one, what $15 a day adds up to over a trial, and which hardship excuses rule 2.1008 accepts.
What jury duty in California will pay you
You receive for 3 days
$30
| Court fee | $30 |
| Employer, by law | No duty to keep paying wages under this law |
| A normal 3 days of work | $600 |
| Income lost | $570 |
| Age rule | no age exemption |
California: No fee on day 1. Government employees who keep full pay get no daily fee. Day rates used: $0, $15. Before tax. Private employers are not required to pay wages during jury service, but must allow time off and may not fire or harass a juror.
All jury rules in CaliforniaCalifornia pays jurors $15 for every day starting with the second; the first day is unpaid (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 215). Mileage of at least 34 cents a mile applies from the second day, or up to $12 a day for public transit from the first. Government employees who receive full pay from their employer get no daily fee. Private employers are not required to pay wages, but Cal. Gov. Code § 12945.8 makes it unlawful to fire or harass a juror and requires time off; tell your employer as soon as the summons arrives. Advanced age is not a ground for exemption, although a serious health problem can lead to an excuse. The state runs one day or one trial service, and after reporting or serving you are not required to return for at least 12 months. Courts should grant a one-time deferral without a court visit. Failing to appear can mean fines from up to $250 for a first violation to $1,500 for three or more, plus possible contempt (§ 209).
Statutes and court pages read by Radif Partners on October 29, 2026 · Method and sources
Why day one is unpaid in California
Many Californians report once, are not sent to a courtroom and go home. Under the one day or one trial system that single day completes their service, and § 215 pays nothing for it, apart from up to $12 for public transit if they took it. The $15 fee and the 34 cent mileage start only on the second day, which means a juror on a five-day trial earns $60 in fees. If your employer has its own jury leave policy, that is usually what keeps your income whole, since the law protects your job but not your paycheck.
How California judges a hardship excuse
Rule 2.1008 of the California Rules of Court lists what counts as undue hardship: no reasonably available means of public or private transportation, travel over about 1.5 hours, an extreme financial burden, an undue risk to property, a physical or mental impairment, or caring for a dependent who cannot be replaced. The request goes in writing on the summons response form, with facts showing the hardship and why a deferral would not solve it; a doctor's note may be required. Courts are told to offer a deferral first, so if the problem is only timing, choose a later date online or in writing and give the earliest date you can serve.
The rules in California, law by law
| Rule | What the law or court says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Juror pay | $0 day 1, then $15 a day | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 215 |
| Mileage | At least 34 cents per mile to and from court from the second day, or up to $12 a day for public transit from the first day | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 215 |
| Employer must keep paying | No | Cal. Gov. Code § 12945.8 |
| Job protected | Yes | Cal. Gov. Code § 12945.8 |
| Age | No age exemption | courts.ca.gov |
| Length of service | One day or one trial (statewide) | courts.ca.gov |
| Before another summons | 12 months | courts.ca.gov |
| Postponing | Follow the summons instructions (online or in writing) and give the earliest date you can serve; courts should grant a one-time deferral without requiring a court visit. | courts.ca.gov |
| Not showing up | Fines from up to $250 for a first violation to $1,500 for three or more; possible contempt of court and incarceration. | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 209 |
Excuses and postponement in California
Request in writing on the summons response form with facts showing the hardship and why a deferral would not solve it; a doctor's note may be required. Follow the summons instructions (online or in writing) and give the earliest date you can serve; courts should grant a one-time deferral without requiring a court visit.
Can I be excused or postpone?
California
No ground named: ask to postpone
| Age rule | none |
Request in writing on the summons response form with facts showing the hardship and why a deferral would not solve it; a doctor's note may be required. Follow the summons instructions (online or in writing) and give the earliest date you can serve; courts should grant a one-time deferral without requiring a court visit.
A request is decided by the court, often with proof (a doctor's note, a school schedule). Ignoring a summons is not an excuse.
Official juror page: courts.ca.gov. Answer your summons and file any request there or as your summons says.