States
Jury duty in Louisiana: 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.
Check the $25 Louisiana juror fee for criminal cases, the one paid day your employer owes, and the age 70 exemption in the state constitution.
What jury duty in Louisiana will pay you
You receive for 3 days
$275
| Court fee (state minimum) | $75 |
| Employer, by law | $200 for 1 day |
| A normal 3 days of work | $600 |
| Income lost | $325 |
| Age rule | 70 and over, may ask to be excused |
Louisiana: $25 a day is the statutory pay for jurors in criminal cases, paid by the parish; civil-jury pay is set separately by court and can differ. Before tax. Employers must grant up to one day of paid jury leave (no loss of wages or leave); beyond that, pay is not required. Firing for jury service is banned, with fines of $100 to $1,000 per employee.
All jury rules in LouisianaLouisiana's statutory pay for jurors in criminal cases is $25 a day, paid by the parish under La. R.S. 13:3049(B)(1)(b), plus mileage at the state officials' rate for one trip each way to the courthouse; pay for civil juries is set separately by the court and can differ. Under La. R.S. 23:965 an employer must grant up to one day of jury leave without loss of wages, sick, emergency or personal leave, provided you notify it within a reasonable time after the summons; beyond that day pay is not required. People 70 or older are exempt under the state constitution (art. V, § 33) and may decline or choose to serve. The official text we read sets no statewide term or one day or one trial rule. The 21st Judicial District says anyone who served in the last two years may claim an exemption and allows one postponement within six months. A district judge can fine a no-show up to $50, jail them up to 3 days, or both.
Statutes and court pages read by Radif Partners on October 29, 2026 · Method and sources
Louisiana's one day of paid jury leave
Louisiana sits between states with no wage rule and states that require several paid days. Section 23:965 obliges every employer to give up to one day of leave for jury duty with no loss of wages or benefits, and it cannot be charged to sick, emergency or personal leave. To keep that protection, tell your employer within a reasonable time after you receive the summons and before you appear. From the second day, the employer may stop paying, and the parish fee of $25 a day becomes your court income. An employer who fires someone for jury service faces a fine of $100 to $1,000 for each employee affected.
Postponing and proving hardship in a Louisiana parish
Parishes set their own procedure, so call the clerk of court before your date. In the 21st Judicial District you may postpone once, to a date within six months, if you have a valid reason. Excuse requests go to the judge with documents such as tax returns, doctor's statements or proof of dependency, and they must be made before your appearance date. A mental or physical condition with physician documentation can lead to an excuse for up to 24 months; undue or extreme physical or financial hardship can cover caring for a dependent, daily living costs or illness. Lost time at work does not count as hardship on its own.
The rules in Louisiana, law by law
| Rule | What the law or court says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Juror pay | $25 a day (minimum) | La. R.S. 13:3049(B)(1)(b) |
| Mileage | Mileage at the state-officials rate per mile to and from the courthouse (one charge each way) | La. R.S. 13:3049(B)(1)(b) |
| Employer must keep paying | Employers must grant up to one day of paid jury leave (no loss of wages or leave); beyond that, pay is not required. Firing for jury service is banned, with fines of $100 to $1,000 per employee. | La. R.S. 23:965 |
| Job protected | Yes | La. R.S. 23:965 |
| Age | 70 and over: may ask to be excused | La. Const. art. V, §33(B) |
| Length of service | not specified by the state | |
| Before another summons | 24 months | 21stjdc.org |
| Postponing | Contact the parish clerk of court before your date; one postponement, to a date within six months (21st Judicial District practice; parishes set their own procedure). | 21stjdc.org |
| Not showing up | The district judge can fine a no-show up to $50 and/or jail up to 3 days per violation. | La. R.S. 13:3049(A) |
Excuses and postponement in Louisiana
Apply to the judge with documents (tax returns, doctor's statements, proof of dependency) before your appearance date; missing work alone is not hardship. Contact the parish clerk of court before your date; one postponement, to a date within six months (21st Judicial District practice; parishes set their own procedure).
Can I be excused or postpone?
Louisiana
No ground named: ask to postpone
| Age rule | 70+, on request |
Apply to the judge with documents (tax returns, doctor's statements, proof of dependency) before your appearance date; missing work alone is not hardship. Contact the parish clerk of court before your date; one postponement, to a date within six months (21st Judicial District practice; parishes set their own procedure).
A request is decided by the court, often with proof (a doctor's note, a school schedule). Ignoring a summons is not an excuse.