States
Jury duty in New Hampshire: 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.
Work out New Hampshire juror pay of $10 a half day, see what RSA 500-A says about your job, and check the age 70 excuse and the month-long term.
What jury duty in New Hampshire will pay you
You receive for 5 days
$100
| Court fee | $100 |
| Employer, by law | No duty to keep paying wages under this law |
| A normal 5 days of work | $1,000 |
| Income lost | $900 |
| Age rule | 70 and over, may ask to be excused |
New Hampshire: $10 per half day, $20 per full day, paid by the state; State of NH employees get mileage only. Before tax. No NH statute read requires wages during jury service; RSA 500-A:14 protects the job only. Fired employees can sue within 1 year for lost wages and reinstatement.
All jury rules in New HampshireNew Hampshire pays its jurors by the half day: RSA 500-A:15 sets $10 for each half day of attendance at the superior court, so a full day brings $20, plus 20 cents a mile round trip if you live outside the town or city where the courthouse sits. No statute we read makes a private employer keep paying wages while you serve; RSA 500-A:14 protects the job instead, and an employee fired for jury service can sue within one year for lost wages and reinstatement. Petit jurors are summoned for a month and may sit on several trials, though not beyond 30 days unless a trial is still running. Residents aged 70 or older may ask to be excused through the eResponse questionnaire. Once you have actually attended, RSA 500-A:16 keeps you off the master list for at least three years. Failing to appear and then to show cause is a misdemeanor under RSA 500-A:20, presumed class B, with a fine of up to $1,200.
Statutes and court pages read by Radif Partners on October 29, 2026 · Method and sources
Some texts cited on this page were read in archived copies (web.archive.org, 2025 and 2026) of the official pages linked, because the official site refused our connection on October 29, 2026.
A month on call in New Hampshire
Unlike the one day or one trial systems of many states, a New Hampshire petit juror is summoned for a month. During that month you may be called for jury selection more than once and may sit on more than one trial, within a ceiling of 30 days, or six five-day weeks, unless a trial you are on is still going. Grand jurors usually sit one to three days a month. Plan with your employer for the whole month, not one day, and keep the attendance record: the fee is counted by the half day.
Deferring or being excused through eResponse
Requests go through the eResponse questionnaire, and a judge rules on each one. A deferral moves you to another month and suits a temporary obstacle: an out-of-state student term, a legislator in session, a pending case, a short-term medical condition or a hardship. A full excuse rests on RSA 500-A:11, which allows it for undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity or another cause the court finds appropriate; active military service, service in the superior court in the last three years and age 70 or older are also listed by the court.
The rules in New Hampshire, law by law
| Rule | What the law or court says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Juror pay | $20 a day | RSA 500-A:15 |
| Mileage | 20 cents per mile round trip, only if you live outside the town or city of the courthouse | RSA 500-A:15 |
| Employer must keep paying | No | RSA 500-A:14 |
| Job protected | Yes | RSA 500-A:14 |
| Age | 70 and over: may ask to be excused | RSA 500-A:5 (eligibility by rule of court); NH Judicial Branch jurors page |
| Length of service | Petit jurors are summoned for a month and may sit on several trials; no more than 30 days (six 5-day weeks) unless on an ongoing trial. Grand jurors usually serve 1 to 3 days a month. | courts.nh.gov |
| Before another summons | 36 months | gc.nh.gov |
| Postponing | Ask through the eResponse questionnaire to defer to another month (e.g. out-of-state student, legislator in session, pending case, temporary medical condition, hardship); a judge rules on it. | courts.nh.gov |
| Not showing up | Failing to appear and to show cause is a misdemeanor (RSA 500-A:20). An unclassified misdemeanor is presumed class B (fine up to $1,200, no jail) unless the state seeks class A penalties (up to 1 year and $2,000) under RSA 625:9 IV(c) and 651:2. | RSA 500-A:20; RSA 625:9 IV(c); RSA 651:2 IV(a) |
Excuses and postponement in New Hampshire
Request an excusal or deferral in eResponse; a judge decides. The statute allows excuse for undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity or other cause the court finds appropriate (RSA 500-A:11). Ask through the eResponse questionnaire to defer to another month (e.g. out-of-state student, legislator in session, pending case, temporary medical condition, hardship); a judge rules on it.
Can I be excused or postpone?
New Hampshire
No ground named: ask to postpone
| Age rule | 70+, on request |
Request an excusal or deferral in eResponse; a judge decides. The statute allows excuse for undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity or other cause the court finds appropriate (RSA 500-A:11). Ask through the eResponse questionnaire to defer to another month (e.g. out-of-state student, legislator in session, pending case, temporary medical condition, hardship); a judge rules on it.
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: courts.nh.gov. Answer your summons and file any request there or as your summons says.