Federal courts
Federal jury duty: pay, employers, excuses and length
Independent site, not a court. Answer your summons and ask for an excuse only through the court that summoned you.
For anyone summoned to a United States district court, this page totals the $50 federal attendance fee and explains employer, excuse and deferral rules under the Jury Act.
What federal jury duty will pay you
You receive for 12 days
$620
| Court fee | $620 |
| Employer, by law | No duty to keep paying wages under this law |
| A normal 12 days of work | $2,400 |
| Income lost | $1,780 |
| Age rule | 70 and over, may ask to be excused |
Federal courts: $50 a day from day one. A trial juror who sits more than 10 days on one case may get up to $10 more a day ($60) if the judge orders it; grand jurors after 45 days. Federal government employees get their regular salary instead. Day rates used: $50, $60. Before tax. Federal law does not require private employers to keep paying wages during federal jury service; check the employer's own policy.
Federal jury service explainedFederal jury service is governed by the Jury Selection and Service Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 1861-1878. Jurors receive an attendance fee of $50 a day from the first day (§ 1871), plus a per-mile allowance for the shortest route; a trial juror on a case lasting more than 10 days may get up to $10 more a day, $60, if the judge orders it. Federal government employees keep their salary instead. Federal law leaves wages to the employer, but § 1875 forbids firing, intimidating or coercing a permanent employee for serving, with civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation. The statute has no automatic age exemption; most of the 94 district courts let people over 70 ask for a permanent excuse. A petit juror hears one case at most, and nobody must attend more than 30 days as a petit juror in two years. Ignoring a summons without good cause can bring up to $1,000, 3 days in jail, community service, or a combination (§ 1866(g)).
Statutes and court pages read by Radif Partners on October 29, 2026 · Method and sources
How the federal fee grows on a long trial
The $50 daily fee is the same in every district, but § 1871 adds a step for long cases. A petit juror required to attend more than ten days hearing one case may receive up to $10 more than the attendance fee, at the trial judge's discretion, which brings the day rate to $60 from day 11. Grand jurors can receive the extra amount after 45 days. Travel is paid on top, at the per-mile rate the Administrative Office sets for court staff driving private cars, with tolls covered and parking at the court's discretion. The calculator opens at 12 days so the step is visible.
Each district court writes its own federal jury plan
Many details live in the local jury selection plan rather than the statute. Term length, the one day or one trial practice and group excuses all vary among the 94 district courts. Most plans let three groups ask to be excused: people over 70, anyone who served on a federal jury within the past two years, and volunteer firefighters, rescue squad or ambulance crew members. Active-duty military, professional fire and police officers and full-time public officers are barred from service rather than excused. To ask for a deferral or an excuse for undue hardship or extreme inconvenience, use the eJuror page of the court that summoned you and pick an alternate time if the deferral is granted.
The federal rules, law by law
| Rule | What the law or court says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Juror pay | $50 a day; $60 from day 11 | 28 U.S.C. § 1871 |
| Mileage | Per-mile travel allowance at the rate the Administrative Office sets for court staff using private cars, for the shortest route to and from court; tolls paid, parking at the court's discretion | 28 U.S.C. § 1871 |
| Employer must keep paying | No | 28 U.S.C. § 1875 |
| Job protected | Yes | 28 U.S.C. § 1875 |
| Age | 70 and over: may ask to be excused | 28 U.S.C. § 1863(b)(5); local jury selection plans |
| Length of service | Set by each district court. A trial (petit) juror hears at most one case and is then discharged; nobody can be required to attend more than 30 days as a petit juror in any two-year period, except to finish a case. Grand jurors generally serve up to 18 months (24 with extension). | uscourts.gov |
| Before another summons | 24 months | govinfo.gov |
| Postponing | Ask the district court that summoned you, usually through its eJuror page: you can request an excuse or deferral and pick another time to serve if the deferral is granted. Rules vary by court. | uscourts.gov |
| Not showing up | Someone who skips a summons can be ordered to show cause; without good cause, up to $1,000 fine, up to 3 days in jail, community service, or a combination. Employers who punish a juror face up to $5,000 civil penalty per violation. | 28 U.S.C. § 1866(g) |
Excuses and postponement in federal court
Temporary excuses or deferrals are granted at the court's discretion for undue hardship or extreme inconvenience; local plans add group excuses on request. Active-duty military, professional fire and police, and full-time public officers are barred (exempt), not excused. Ask the district court that summoned you, usually through its eJuror page: you can request an excuse or deferral and pick another time to serve if the deferral is granted. Rules vary by court.
Can I be excused or postpone?
Federal courts
No ground named: ask to postpone
| Age rule | 70+, on request |
Temporary excuses or deferrals are granted at the court's discretion for undue hardship or extreme inconvenience; local plans add group excuses on request. Active-duty military, professional fire and police, and full-time public officers are barred (exempt), not excused. Ask the district court that summoned you, usually through its eJuror page: you can request an excuse or deferral and pick another time to serve if the deferral is granted. Rules vary by court.
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: uscourts.gov. Answer your summons and file any request there or as your summons says.