States
Jury duty in Illinois: 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.
Read what applies to Illinois jurors, from the Cook County $35 daily fee to the statewide ban on penalizing employees, and check your excuse options.
What jury duty in Illinois will pay you
You receive for 3 days
$0
| Court fee (state minimum) | not specified |
| Employer, by law | No duty to keep paying wages under this law |
| A normal 3 days of work | $600 |
| Income lost | $600 |
| Age rule | 70 and over, may ask to be excused |
Illinois: Juror fees are paid by each county; figure shown is Cook County (Circuit Court of Cook County). The statewide statute (55 ILCS 5/4-11001) could not be read because ilga.gov was unreachable. Before tax. Employers are not required to pay wages during jury service.
All jury rules in IllinoisIllinois pays jurors through its counties, and the statewide fee statute (55 ILCS 5/4-11001) could not be read because the General Assembly site was unreachable on October 29, 2026, so no statewide minimum is confirmed here. In Cook County the Circuit Court pays $35 for each day served. Under 705 ILCS 305/4.1 an employer may not deny time off for jury duty or discharge, threaten, intimidate or coerce an employee for serving, but it does not have to pay wages. A statewide age exemption was not verified; Cook County runs a Senior Citizen Opt-Out Program that lets people 70 or older call before their date to decline or transfer. Cook County also follows a one day or one trial system and does not call jurors again for 12 months; practice in other counties was not verified. Nursing mothers are excused on request by statute (705 ILCS 305/10.3). Not appearing can lead to contempt and a fine or other penalty, with no statutory maximum confirmed.
Statutes and court pages read by Radif Partners on October 29, 2026 · Method and sources
On October 29, 2026, the Illinois General Assembly site (statewide juror fee) could not be reached from our network. Rules shown below as not specified are unconfirmed, not absent: the court named on your summons has the answer.
Term, postponement and the age rule below come from the Circuit Court of Cook County, where the Cook County fee is $35 a day; other counties set their own fee and may differ.
Cook County jury rules most Illinois jurors meet
Because Cook County is where many Illinois jurors are summoned, its rules fill most of the gaps left by the unreachable statute site. The court pays $35 a day, so a three-day stint comes to $105 before tax. If the date on your summons does not work, call (312) 603-JURY: the date can be pushed back 11 or 22 weeks, for reasons such as a vacation, being a student or teacher during the school term, or seasonal work. People 70 or older can use the senior opt-out by phone before their date, either declining or transferring their service. Jurors summoned in other counties should follow their own summons, since rates and terms there were not verified.
Documented excuses for Illinois jurors
Cook County asks for documentation for each excuse. The grounds it lists include a medical condition, active military service, a pending lawsuit in the county, living in a nursing home or institution, extreme financial hardship, having no childcare, and being the primary caretaker of another person. A nursing mother stands on firmer ground: 705 ILCS 305/10.3 excuses her on request. Whatever the reason, ask before the report date rather than simply staying home, because the court treats a missed appearance as a serious matter that can end in contempt. Your employer cannot refuse the time off, and it cannot punish you for serving.
The rules in Illinois, law by law
| Rule | What the law or court says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Juror pay | not specified by the state | cookcountycourt.org |
| Mileage | not specified by the state | cookcountycourt.org |
| Employer must keep paying | No | 705 ILCS 305/4.1 |
| Job protected | Yes | 705 ILCS 305/4.1 |
| Age | 70 and over: may ask to be excused | cookcountycourt.org |
| Length of service | Cook County: one day or one trial. Practice in other counties not verified. | cookcountycourt.org |
| Before another summons | 12 months | cookcountycourt.org |
| Postponing | Cook County: call (312) 603-JURY; the date can be pushed back 11 or 22 weeks (e.g. vacation, student or teacher during school, seasonal work). | cookcountycourt.org |
| Not showing up | Not appearing can lead to contempt of court and a fine or other penalty (Cook County guidance); statutory maximum not verified. | cookcountycourt.org |
Excuses and postponement in Illinois
Cook County requires documentation for each excuse; nursing mothers are excused on request under 705 ILCS 305/10.3. Cook County: call (312) 603-JURY; the date can be pushed back 11 or 22 weeks (e.g. vacation, student or teacher during school, seasonal work).
Can I be excused or postpone?
Illinois
No ground named: ask to postpone
| Age rule | 70+, on request |
Cook County requires documentation for each excuse; nursing mothers are excused on request under 705 ILCS 305/10.3. Cook County: call (312) 603-JURY; the date can be pushed back 11 or 22 weeks (e.g. vacation, student or teacher during school, seasonal work).
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: illinoiscourts.gov. Answer your summons and file any request there or as your summons says.