States
Jury duty in North Carolina: 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.
Use the calculator for North Carolina's three-step juror fee, from $12 on day one to $40 after day five, and see how the age 72 statement works.
What jury duty in North Carolina will pay you
You receive for 6 days
$132
| Court fee | $132 |
| Employer, by law | No duty to keep paying wages under this law |
| A normal 6 days of work | $1,200 |
| Income lost | $1,068 |
| Age rule | 72 and over, may ask to be excused |
North Carolina: Uniform statewide fees: $12 for day 1, $20 a day after, and $40 a day for each day beyond 5 days served in any 24-month period. Grand jurors get $20 a day. Day rates used: $12, $20, $40. Before tax. No statute requires employers to keep paying wages; the law only forbids firing or demoting an employee for jury service.
All jury rules in North CarolinaNorth Carolina sets one uniform fee schedule under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-312: $12 for the first day, $20 for each day after, and $40 a day for every day beyond 5 days served in any 24-month period; grand jurors get $20 a day. Employers are not required to keep paying wages; § 9-32 only forbids firing or demoting an employee for serving. At 72 or older you may ask to be excused, deferred or exempted with a signed statement filed at least 5 business days before the report date, without appearing (§ 9-6.1). Service lasts one week unless you are on a trial, which you must finish. A person who served in the preceding two years is not qualified, so cannot be required to serve again in that period. Excuses are granted only for compelling personal hardship or for public welfare, health or safety. Failing to appear without a sufficient excuse can bring a fine capped at $50 (§ 9-13), with no jail term.
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.
The North Carolina fee steps over 24 months
North Carolina counts long service across a rolling 24-month window rather than within a single trial. Day one pays $12, days two to five pay $20 each, and every day beyond 5 days served in that window pays $40. Someone called twice in two years can therefore reach the higher rate sooner. Grand jurors are paid $20 a day. Set the calculator to six days to see the first $40 day appear. These figures were read on an archived copy of the legislature page, since the official site was not reachable directly.
Excuses and deferrals in North Carolina districts
Requests to be excused or deferred are decided by the chief district court judge, or by the clerk or staff that judge designates, under procedures each district sets. Jurors 72 or older, full-time students at an out-of-state college with classes or exams, and people with a disability that interferes with service may file a signed statement without coming to court, at least 5 business days before the report date. Other requests use the form from the Administrative Office of the Courts and must show compelling personal hardship. A judge can require an excused juror to serve at a later session, and deferred jurors are placed on a later session.
The rules in North Carolina, law by law
| Rule | What the law or court says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Juror pay | $12 day 1, then $20 a day; $40 from day 6 | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-312 |
| Mileage | Only for jurors summoned from outside the county to a special venire, at the State employee rate | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-312 |
| Employer must keep paying | No | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 9-32 |
| Job protected | Yes | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 9-32 |
| Age | 72 and over: may ask to be excused | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 9-6.1(a) |
| Length of service | One week: jurors serve for the week summoned and are discharged at the end of the weekly session, unless sitting on a trial, which they must finish. | ncleg.gov |
| Before another summons | 24 months | ncleg.gov |
| Postponing | Requests to be excused or deferred go to the chief district court judge (or the clerk or staff designated) under procedures set in each district; jurors 72+, full-time students and people with a disability may file a signed statement without appearing, at least 5 business days before the report date. Deferred jurors are added to a later session. | ncleg.gov |
| Not showing up | A summoned juror who fails to appear without a sufficient excuse can be fined up to $50, entered as a judgment if unpaid. The statute sets no jail term. | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 9-13 |
Excuses and postponement in North Carolina
Excuses are granted only for compelling personal hardship or public welfare, health or safety, on the form from the Administrative Office of the Courts, decided by the chief district court judge or a delegate before the session. A judge may require an excused juror to serve at a later session. Requests to be excused or deferred go to the chief district court judge (or the clerk or staff designated) under procedures set in each district; jurors 72+, full-time students and people with a disability may file a signed statement without appearing, at least 5 business days before the report date. Deferred jurors are added to a later session.
Can I be excused or postpone?
North Carolina
No ground named: ask to postpone
| Age rule | 72+, on request |
Excuses are granted only for compelling personal hardship or public welfare, health or safety, on the form from the Administrative Office of the Courts, decided by the chief district court judge or a delegate before the session. A judge may require an excused juror to serve at a later session. Requests to be excused or deferred go to the chief district court judge (or the clerk or staff designated) under procedures set in each district; jurors 72+, full-time students and people with a disability may file a signed statement without appearing, at least 5 business days before the report date. Deferred jurors are added to a later session.
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: nccourts.gov. Answer your summons and file any request there or as your summons says.