States
Jury duty in West Virginia: 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.
Estimate West Virginia juror pay, up to $40 a day plus mileage from the State Treasury, and check the age 70 excuse and the written postponement request.
What jury duty in West Virginia will pay you
You receive for 3 days
$120
| Court fee (state minimum) | $120 |
| Employer, by law | No duty to keep paying wages under this law |
| A normal 3 days of work | $600 |
| Income lost | $480 |
| Age rule | 70 and over, may ask to be excused |
West Virginia: The statute lets each circuit court set the daily reimbursement between $15 and $40; the state court system says jurors receive $40 a day plus mileage. Paid by the State Treasury. Before tax. Employers must excuse the employee for the days of service but need not pay wages; they may not cut pay for time the employee was not actually away.
All jury rules in West VirginiaWest Virginia's statute, W. Va. Code § 52-1-17, lets each circuit court set the daily juror reimbursement between $15 and $40, and the state court system says jurors receive $40 a day plus round-trip mileage, paid by the State Treasury. Employers must excuse you for the days of service but need not pay wages (§§ 52-1-21, 52-3-1); show the summons to your immediate supervisor on the next working day after receiving it. People 70 or older are qualified but must be excused if they ask, using a box on the qualification questionnaire (§ 52-1-8(c)). Service is for a term of court, and within any two years no one attends more than 30 court days, unless a case needs it, or serves as a petit juror at more than one term. Having been paid as a juror in the previous two years disqualifies you. To postpone, write to the presiding circuit judge. A no-show without good cause is civil contempt with a fine of up to $1,000 (§ 52-1-24).
Statutes and court pages read by Radif Partners on October 29, 2026 · Method and sources
West Virginia's call-in system and 30-day cap
A West Virginia summons places you on a term of court, but a call-in system means you are not expected in person every day of it. Across any two years, the law caps attendance at 30 court days, except to finish a case, and allows service as a petit juror at only one term. Anyone who attended and was paid as a petit, grand or magistrate juror in the previous two years is disqualified. The fee range runs from $15 to $40 by statute, with the state court system citing $40.
Written requests to a West Virginia judge
West Virginia exempts no occupation automatically. Requests to be excused go in writing to the presiding circuit judge, who may grant a temporary excuse, for a set period, on grounds of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience or public necessity; once it ends, you report as directed. Current members of the National Guard or reserves can ask to be excused, as can anyone 70 or older. A substantial physical or mental disability disqualifies a person, and a physician's certificate may be required. Your employer must release you but may only reduce pay for time you were actually away.
The rules in West Virginia, law by law
| Rule | What the law or court says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Juror pay | $40 a day (minimum) | W. Va. Code § 52-1-17 |
| Mileage | Round-trip mileage at the rate set by the Secretary of Administration, each day of required attendance | W. Va. Code § 52-1-17 |
| Employer must keep paying | No | W. Va. Code §§ 52-1-21, 52-3-1 |
| Job protected | Yes | W. Va. Code §§ 52-1-21, 52-3-1 |
| Age | 70 and over: may ask to be excused | W. Va. Code § 52-1-8(c) |
| Length of service | Service is for a term of court; within any two years no one may be required to attend more than 30 court days (unless needed to finish a case) or serve as a petit juror at more than one term. Call-in system means not every day in person. | code.wvlegislature.gov |
| Before another summons | 24 months | code.wvlegislature.gov |
| Postponing | Write to the presiding circuit judge; the court may excuse you for a set period, after which you must report again as directed. | code.wvlegislature.gov |
| Not showing up | A no-show is ordered to show cause; without good cause it is civil contempt with a fine up to $1,000. | W. Va. Code § 52-1-24 |
Excuses and postponement in West Virginia
No occupation is automatically exempt. Put the request in writing to the presiding circuit judge. Write to the presiding circuit judge; the court may excuse you for a set period, after which you must report again as directed.
Can I be excused or postpone?
West Virginia
No ground named: ask to postpone
| Age rule | 70+, on request |
No occupation is automatically exempt. Put the request in writing to the presiding circuit judge. Write to the presiding circuit judge; the court may excuse you for a set period, after which you must report again as directed.
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: courtswv.gov. Answer your summons and file any request there or as your summons says.