What to expect at jury duty, step by step

When the summons arrives

Read it the day it comes. It tells you which court summoned you (state or federal, and which county or district), the reporting date and time, and how to answer the questionnaire. The questionnaire checks your eligibility: citizenship, residence, age, language, and in some states past convictions. Answer it truthfully and on time; a missing answer is treated like a missed date. If the date is a problem, ask now: the postponement page explains the rules, and the excuse request tool writes the request. Tell your employer in writing and check what your state's law says about pay on your state's page.

The evening before

Many courts ask jurors to call a recorded line or check the portal after a set hour to learn whether their group must report. Do it: you may not be needed at all. Lay out your ID and summons, plan the trip and parking, and arrange child care for the whole day, since you may not know when you will be released. The checklist above has a step for each of these.

The day: assembly room and selection

You check in, receive a badge, and usually watch an orientation that explains the process. Then comes waiting, sometimes for hours, until a courtroom requests a panel. If your group is called, the questioning called voir dire begins. Some jurors are excused because they know someone in the case or cannot be fair; each side may also use a limited number of challenges without explanation. Being excused from one trial is normal and says nothing about you.

If you are chosen

The judge swears in the jury and gives instructions you must follow throughout the trial: listen to the evidence, do not discuss the case with anyone until deliberation, do not research anything, and tell the court if someone approaches you about the case. At the end, the judge explains the law, and the jury deliberates in private until it reaches a verdict. Ask the clerk for proof of attendance for each day if your employer needs it. The mini-tool on this page gives the court fees for your days.

What jurors are owed

A fee for each day set by law, sometimes mileage, and protection of your job; in some states, continued wages from your employer for the first days. The pay page compares every state. You owe the court your presence, honest answers and your attention. Nobody legitimate will ever ask you to pay to serve or to settle a missed date by phone.

Needs and accommodations

If you have a disability, a medical need or difficulty with English, tell the jury office before your date, using the contact on the summons. Courts arrange accessible entrances, seating and breaks, and can provide interpreters for hearing-impaired jurors. If you need to leave at a set time for medication or care, say so at check-in rather than on the bench. A juror who cannot follow the proceedings in English is usually not qualified to serve, which the questionnaire asks about.