Got a jury summons? Here's what to do.

Find out which court summoned you, what it pays, how to ask for a new date and what happens if you can't go. Every rule here links to its official source.

Start the Summons Helper Federal summons?

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Supreme Court of the StateCounty Jury Office

Summons for jury service

Juror number000 000 000

Report onMonday, 8:30 a.m.

NameYour name

Respond byWithin 10 days, online or by mail

Questions? Contact the jury office at the address and number printed on this summons.

Tap a number to see what that part of a summons means.

Read all five parts as text

Who sent it: The court's name tells you which system summoned you. A United States District Court is a federal court. Any other court is part of your state's system. The two run separately, with different pay and different rules.
Your date: The day and time you are scheduled to report. Many courts ask you to check online or by phone the evening before, because not everyone summoned is needed.
Your juror number: Keep this handy. You will need it to respond online, to ask for a new date or an excuse, and to check whether you must report.
What you must do first: Many courts first send a questionnaire with a deadline, to be returned online or by mail. Answer it even if you plan to ask for a postponement or an excuse.
How to reach the court: Use only the phone number, address or website printed on the summons or listed on the court's official site. Courts do not call or text to demand payment for a missed date.

Rules depend on where you live

Jury service is run by each state, usually county by county, and separately by the federal courts. Pay, postponements and excuses differ. Choose your state for its rules and its official jury office.

New states are added only after their rules are researched from official sources and reviewed.

AKMEVT NHWA ID MT ND MN IL WI MI NY RI MAOR NV WY SD IA IN OH PA NJ CTCA UT CO NE MO KY WV VA MD DEAZ NM KS AR TN NC SC DCOK LA MS AL GAHITXFL

Full state guideOfficial court link and general steps

Start with your situation

The most common reasons people look up jury duty, each answered with the official steps.

I need a different dateHow postponement works and the deadline to ask.I can't serve at allExemptions, excuses and the documents courts ask for.Will I get paid?Court pay, and when your employer has to pay you.Is my summons state or federal?How to tell, and why it changes the rules.I missed my dateWhat happens next and how to fix it quickly.I lost my summonsHow to find your date and juror number.What happens on the dayCheck-in, waiting, selection and how long it lasts.Someone called about a missed summonsCourts do not demand payment by phone. How to check.

Summoned by a federal court?

If your summons comes from a United States District Court, different rules apply everywhere in the country: federal pay, federal job protection and the court's own plan for excuses.

Federal jury duty explained

An employer with someone on jury duty?

What you must pay, what you cannot do, and how to write a fair jury duty policy, state by state.

Jury duty rules for employers

How this site checks every rule

Each rule comes from a statute, a court rule or an official court page. We record the exact sentence it comes from and the date we read it. An automated check confirms the sentence is still on the source page, and an attorney reviews the rule before it is marked verified.

Read the editorial policy

What this site is not

We are not a court and cannot respond to a summons, change your date or excuse you. Every official step links to your court. We do not give legal advice about your situation.