States
Jury duty in Kansas: 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.
Calculate a Kansas juror fee at your county's rate, between $10 and $50 a day, and see why Kansas fines unexcused absences day by day.
What jury duty in Kansas will pay you
You receive for 3 days
$30
| Court fee (state minimum) | $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 |
Kansas: Each county commission sets the daily fee between $10 and $50; $10 is the statutory minimum. Before tax. No Kansas statute requires private employers to keep paying wages; the law only bars firing permanent employees for jury service.
All jury rules in KansasKansas leaves the daily juror fee to each county commission, within a range of $10 to $50 set by K.S.A. 43-171; the $10 figure is only the statutory minimum, so replace it with your county's rate. Mileage is paid at the rate authorized by law for travel to and from court. No Kansas statute requires a private employer to keep paying wages: K.S.A. 43-173 only bars firing a permanent employee for jury service. The law lists no age-based exemption, so an older person can be excused only for physical or mental infirmity or hardship. Length of service is set by each district court; Sedgwick County, for instance, calls panels for one week, or until the trial ends if you are selected. Anyone who served as a juror in the same county within the preceding year is excused. To reschedule, call the county jury clerk before the summons date. An unexcused absence can cost up to $100 for each day missed, and contempt is also possible (K.S.A. 43-165).
Statutes and court pages read by Radif Partners on October 29, 2026 · Method and sources
The per-day fine in Kansas
Most states cap the fine for skipping jury duty at a single amount. Kansas counts it by the day: K.S.A. 43-165 allows a fine of up to $100 for each day of unexcused absence, so missing a week-long panel could add up quickly, and the court may also hold you in contempt. The fix is simple and lawful. If you cannot attend, call the jury clerk before the date on your summons and explain why, with documents. In Sedgwick County one rescheduling is allowed for a temporary extraordinary or compelling hardship.
Who Kansas courts excuse
K.S.A. 43-158 and 43-159 list the grounds a court will consider: a physical or mental infirmity, presence elsewhere that the public welfare, health or safety requires, an extraordinary or compelling personal hardship, service as a juror in the county within the past year, and not being able to understand English. A felony conviction within 10 years also stands in the way of service. Breastfeeding leads to a postponement rather than a full excuse. Send supporting documents, such as a doctor's note, with your request to the jury clerk. Because neither wages nor an age exemption are guaranteed in Kansas, ask early, and check whether your employer offers paid jury leave.
The rules in Kansas, law by law
| Rule | What the law or court says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Juror pay | $10 a day (minimum) | K.S.A. 43-171 |
| Mileage | Mileage at the rate authorized by law, for travel to and from court | K.S.A. 43-171 |
| Employer must keep paying | No | K.S.A. 43-173 |
| Job protected | Yes | K.S.A. 43-173 |
| Age | No age exemption | K.S.A. 43-158, 43-159 |
| Length of service | Set by each district court; e.g. Sedgwick County (Wichita) calls panels for one week, or until the trial ends if selected. | dc18.org |
| Before another summons | 12 months | ksrevisor.gov |
| Postponing | Call the county jury clerk before the summons date; Sedgwick County allows one rescheduling for temporary extraordinary or compelling hardship. | dc18.org |
| Not showing up | Fine of up to $100 for each day of unexcused absence; may also be held in contempt. | K.S.A. 43-165 |
Excuses and postponement in Kansas
Ask the court (the jury clerk) to be excused; send supporting documents such as a doctor's note. Call the county jury clerk before the summons date; Sedgwick County allows one rescheduling for temporary extraordinary or compelling hardship.
Can I be excused or postpone?
Kansas
No ground named: ask to postpone
| Age rule | none |
Ask the court (the jury clerk) to be excused; send supporting documents such as a doctor's note. Call the county jury clerk before the summons date; Sedgwick County allows one rescheduling for temporary extraordinary or compelling hardship.
A request is decided by the court, often with proof (a doctor's note, a school schedule). Ignoring a summons is not an excuse.