States
Jury duty in Colorado: 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.
Model Colorado's split juror pay, where your employer covers the first three days and the state pays $50 from day four, and check an excuse.
What jury duty in Colorado will pay you
You receive for 5 days
$250
| Court fee | $100 |
| Employer, by law | $150 for 3 days |
| A normal 5 days of work | $1,000 |
| Income lost | $750 |
| Age rule | no age exemption |
Colorado: For the first 3 days the employer pays regular wages up to $50/day (self-employed may ask the court for up to $50/day; unemployed may claim certain expenses); from day 4 the state pays every juror $50/day. Day rates used: $0, $50. Before tax. Employers must pay regular wages up to $50 per day for the first 3 days of service to regularly employed jurors (including part-time/temporary workers employed 3+ months).
All jury rules in ColoradoColorado splits the cost of jury duty between employers and the state. For the first three days a regularly employed juror is paid regular wages by the employer, up to $50 a day (C.R.S. § 13-71-126); this includes part-time or temporary workers employed for three months or more. Self-employed jurors may ask the court for up to $50 a day over those three days under § 13-71-127, and unemployed jurors may claim certain expenses. From the fourth day, the state pays every juror $50 a day. An employer cannot fire you or withhold benefits over jury service. There is no age exemption beyond the minimum age of 18. Service is one day, or one trial if you are impaneled, and anyone who served on a jury in any court within the past 12 months is not qualified to serve. You have the right to one postponement, generally within 6 months. The penalty statute, C.R.S. § 18-8-612, could not be read on an official site, so no fine is stated here.
Statutes and court pages read by Radif Partners on October 29, 2026 · Method and sources
Colorado's first three days: wages, not a court fee
During days one to three the court itself pays nothing to employed jurors. The obligation sits with the employer: regular wages, capped at $50 a day, for anyone regularly employed, a group that § 13-71-126 extends to part-time and temporary staff with at least three months on the job. If you earn less than $50 a day you receive your usual wage; if you earn more, the employer owes $50, unless its own policy is more generous. Self-employed people apply to the court for up to $50 a day, and unemployed jurors can seek reimbursement of certain expenses. From day four the state takes over at $50 for everyone.
Postponing and the breastfeeding rule in Colorado
The one postponement you are entitled to can be requested on the paper summons by mail or email, through your county's online postponement form, or by contacting the jury commissioner; the new date is generally within 6 months, and out-of-state students may push it up to 12 months. Students and military members are not excused automatically but can postpone. Section 13-71-119.5 covers breastfeeding, with a medical statement. Other grounds include undue or extreme physical hardship to you or someone under your care, being primary caregiver of a permanently disabled household member who does not work outside the home, and a disability that prevents service.
The rules in Colorado, law by law
| Rule | What the law or court says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Juror pay | $0 day 1-3, then $50 a day | C.R.S. §§ 13-71-126, 13-71-127 |
| Mileage | not specified by the state | C.R.S. §§ 13-71-126, 13-71-127 |
| Employer must keep paying | Employers must pay regular wages up to $50 per day for the first 3 days of service to regularly employed jurors (including part-time/temporary workers employed 3+ months). | C.R.S. §§ 13-71-126, 13-71-134 |
| Job protected | Yes | C.R.S. §§ 13-71-126, 13-71-134 |
| Age | No age exemption | coloradojudicial.gov |
| Length of service | One day, or the length of one trial if impaneled (statewide). | coloradojudicial.gov |
| Before another summons | 12 months | coloradojudicial.gov |
| Postponing | One postponement as of right: via the summons form (mail/email), the county's online postponement request, or the jury commissioner; generally to a date within 6 months (out-of-state students up to 12 months). | coloradojudicial.gov |
| Not showing up | not specified by the state |
Excuses and postponement in Colorado
Submit the disqualification request with supporting documentation (e.g. a physician statement); students and military are not automatically excused but can postpone. One postponement as of right: via the summons form (mail/email), the county's online postponement request, or the jury commissioner; generally to a date within 6 months (out-of-state students up to 12 months).
Can I be excused or postpone?
Colorado
No ground named: ask to postpone
| Age rule | none |
Submit the disqualification request with supporting documentation (e.g. a physician statement); students and military are not automatically excused but can postpone. One postponement as of right: via the summons form (mail/email), the county's online postponement request, or the jury commissioner; generally to a date within 6 months (out-of-state students up to 12 months).
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: coloradojudicial.gov. Answer your summons and file any request there or as your summons says.