Independent guide to jury service. Not affiliated with any court or government agency.
Jury Duty Explained
Federal courts, nationwide

Federal jury duty

How federal jury service differs from state service: who qualifies, who is excused, what it pays and how your job is protected.

A federal jury summons comes from a United States District Court, not a state court. Federal jurors are paid $50 a day1 plus mileage. Employers may not fire or threaten a permanent employee for serving2, but federal law does not require them to keep paying wages3.

Verified November 10, 2026 by Roger K. NeustadtSee sources
New York state courts
Federal courts
Who summons you
Your county's Commissioner of Jurors (the County Clerk in New York City)4
A United States District Court, such as the Eastern District of New York5
Daily pay
$726
$501, plus mileage7
Employer must pay you?
Employers with more than 10 employees: $72 or your wage, whichever is lower, for the first 3 days89
No3
Typical term
Up to 5 court days, longer if you are on a trial10
Two weeks in the Eastern District, mostly on standby11
Postponing
Online or by phone the first time, at least a week before your date12
In the Eastern District, in writing at least 10 days ahead13
If you ignore it
Civil penalty up to $25014
Without good cause: a fine up to $1,000, up to 3 days in jail, community service, or a combination15

How to tell a federal summons from a state one

Look at the name of the court. A federal summons names a United States District Court and a district, such as the Eastern District of New York. Anything else, such as a county court, a supreme court or a superior court, is part of your state's system. Each system draws its own jurors; federal courts start from voter lists16, so you can be summoned by both.

Federal courts usually start by mailing a qualification questionnaire. You must return it within 10 days17, online through the court's eJuror site or by mail18.

Who can serve on a federal jury

To qualify you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18, and have lived in the judicial district for a year19. You must be able to read, write, understand and speak English well enough to fill out the form20. People with a pending felony charge, or a felony conviction without their civil rights restored, are disqualified21.

Three groups are exempt and cannot serve even if they want to: active-duty members of the armed forces and National Guard; professional (not volunteer) members of non-federal police and fire departments; and full-time public officers of federal, state or local government22.

Excuses depend on your district

Beyond the exemptions, each federal district writes its own jury plan listing groups that will be excused if they ask23. Every plan must excuse volunteer firefighters and rescue or ambulance crews on request24. Anyone else can ask to be excused or deferred for undue hardship or extreme inconvenience25, and the decision is the court's alone26.

The two districts that cover New York City show how much plans differ:

Excused on requestEastern District (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island)Southern District (Manhattan, the Bronx, lower Hudson Valley)
AgeOver 7027Over 7028
Care of othersActive care of a child under 10 whose health or safety would be at risk, or essential care of an aged or infirm person27Legal custody and daily care of a child under 12, or essential care of an aged or infirm person28
Recent jury serviceServed on a state or federal jury in the past 2 years29Served on a state or federal jury in the past 2 years30
ProfessionsClergy; practicing attorneys, physicians, dentists and registered nurses27None listed28
Volunteer firefighters, rescue and ambulance crewsNot listed in the 2023 plan, but federal law requires every plan to excuse, on request, people who serve a public agency without pay as firefighters or rescue or ambulance crew members24. Send the request to the jury office on your summons and follow the reporting instructions until the court confirms the excuseYes28

What federal jurors are paid

The attendance fee is $50 a day1. On a trial longer than 10 days, the judge may raise it by up to $10 a day32; grand jurors can receive the same increase after 45 days33. You are also paid round-trip mileage7, and tolls are paid in full34. The court may also pay reasonable parking fees34 and, when mileage does not cover a short public transit trip, the actual fare35. Federal employees keep their regular salary instead of the fee36. Federal jury duty pay.

Common belief

Serving on a state jury always gets me out of federal service.

What the rule says

Only if you ask, with proof. The Eastern District excuses people who served on a state or federal grand or trial jury in the previous two years, with a certificate of attendance29; the Southern District, people who served in a U.S. district court or New York State court in the last two years, with a copy of the jury certificate30. New York State Courts say telephone standby alone does not count31.

Common belief

My employer has to keep paying me during federal service.

What the rule says

Federal law does not require it3; check your employer's policy.

Your job while you serve

No employer may fire, threaten, intimidate or coerce a permanent employee because of federal jury service2. If you are reinstated under this law, you are treated as having been on leave and keep your seniority37. An employer who breaks the law can owe lost wages and a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation38, and the court can appoint a lawyer for you39.

Federal law does not make your employer pay you while you serve3. New York, for example, requires employers with more than 10 employees to pay for the first three days of state service8. Company policies vary, so check both. Federal jury duty and your employer.

How long federal service lasts

A trial juror hears at most one case40. Within any two years you cannot be required to serve more than 30 days on trial juries (unless needed to finish a case), more than one grand jury, or both kinds41. Grand juries usually sit for up to 18 months, with a possible six-month extension42.

In practice your term depends on the district. In the Eastern District of New York it is two weeks, mostly on telephone standby11; in the Southern District it is up to two weeks in Manhattan or about a month on call in White Plains43.

If you don't respond or don't show up

Ignoring the questionnaire can get you summoned to fill it out in person44. Failing to appear for service without good cause can bring a fine of up to $1,000, up to three days in jail, community service, or a combination15. If you missed a date, contact the jury office right away.

Find your federal district

DistrictCountiesJuror information
Eastern District of New YorkKings, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk46EDNY jurors
Southern District of New YorkNew York, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Sullivan47SDNY jurors

District pages for the other states in our coverage are being researched.

What to do next

  1. Check the court name on your summons. If it says United States District Court, these federal rules apply.
  2. Return the qualification questionnaire within 10 days, through your district's eJuror site or by mail18.
  3. If you need a new date or an excuse, follow your district's process in writing and include any documents it asks for. In the Eastern District, requests must arrive at least 10 days before your date and cannot be emailed13.
  4. Tell your employer early. Federal law protects a permanent employee's job2 but not your pay3.
Federal jury duty payThe $50 fee, mileage and expenses.Exemptions and excusesExempt, excused, deferred: the differences.State or federal summons?How to tell which system summoned you.How to postpone jury dutyState and federal postponement rules.New York jury dutyState-court rules for New York.

Sources

47 official sources, with the exact sentence each rule comes from
  1. 28 U.S. Code § 1871 - Fees (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1871(b)(1)."(1) A juror shall be paid an attendance fee of $50 per day for actual attendance at the place of trial or hearing. A juror shall also be paid the attendance fee for the time necessarily occupied in going to and returning from such place at the beginning and end of such service or at any time during such service."
  2. 28 U.S. Code § 1875 - Protection of jurors' employment (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1875(a)."(a) No employer shall discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate, or coerce any permanent employee by reason of such employee’s jury service, or the attendance or scheduled attendance in connection with such service, in any court of the United States."
  3. Juror Pay | United States Courts. uscourts.gov (28 U.S.C. § 1875)."Your employer may continue your salary during all or part of your jury service, but federal law does not require an employer to do so. You should check whether your company or employer has a policy for employees serving on jury duty."
  4. N.Y. Judiciary Law § 502 – Commissioner of jurors. N.Y. Judiciary Law § 502(a)."The office of commissioner of jurors is hereby established for each county in the state except counties within cities having a population of one million or more. In counties within such cities the county clerk shall exercise the duties and have the powers of the commissioner of jurors."
  5. U.S. District Court EDNY - Where to File Your Action. EDNY 'Where to File Your Action'; 28 U.S.C. § 112(c)."The Eastern District comprises the counties of Kings, Nassau, Queens, Richmond and Suffolk."
  6. N.Y. Judiciary Law § 521 – Fees and travel expenses of jurors. N.Y. Judiciary Law § 521(a), as amended by L.2025, ch. 55, Part LL, § 1."trial and grand jurors in each court of the unified court system shall be entitled to an allowance equal to the sum of seventy-two dollars per day for each and every day of physical attendance wherein the court convenes"
  7. 28 U.S. Code § 1871 - Fees (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1871(c)(1)."(1) A travel allowance not to exceed the maximum rate per mile that the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts has prescribed pursuant to section 604(a)(7) of this title for payment to supporting court personnel in travel status using privately owned automobiles shall be paid to each juror, regardless of the mode of transportation actually employed. The prescribed rate shall be paid for the distance necessarily traveled to and from a juror’s residence by the shortest practical route in going to and returning from the place of service."
  8. NYS Unified Court System - Jury Information for Employers (Revised June 2025). UCS Jury Information for Employers (June 2025); Judiciary Law § 519."Employers of more than 10 employees must pay jurors the jury fee of $72 or the employee's wage (whichever is lower)"
  9. N.Y. Judiciary Law § 519 – Right of juror to be absent from employment. N.Y. Judiciary Law § 519."An employer may, however, withhold wages of any such employee serving as a juror during the period of such service; provided that an employer who employs more than ten employees shall not withhold the first seventy-two dollars of such juror's daily wages during the first three days of jury service."
  10. N.Y. Judiciary Law § 525 – Trial and grand jurors; duration of service. N.Y. Judiciary Law § 525(a); 22 NYCRR 128.8(a)."service of trial jurors in courts of the unified court system shall not be more than five court days actual attendance or for such shorter period as the commissioner of jurors shall determine, except that such service shall continue until the conclusion of any trial in which a juror may be engaged."
  11. Jury FAQ | US Courts - New York Eastern District. EDNY Jury FAQ."Federal Jury Duty is two-week telephone standby. Please do not come to the court unless you have been chosen for a case or the automated telephone instructions instruct you to do so."
  12. NY Courts – Jurors: Questions & Answers (FAQs). NY Courts juror FAQ."You can postpone your service once online or by calling 800-449-2819 at least one week before your date of service."
  13. Summons Information | US Courts - New York Eastern District. EDNY Summons Information."Jurors requesting to be excused from or postpone their jury service may place their request in writing no less than 10 days prior to the summons date to the jury office. ... Postponements or excusals will not be accepted via email."
  14. N.Y. Judiciary Law § 527 – Procedure for noncompliance. N.Y. Judiciary Law § 527(1)."Such person shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars for failing to respond or attend in violation of the provisions of this article."
  15. 28 U.S. Code § 1866 - Selection and summoning of jury panels (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1866(g)."(g) Any person summoned for jury service who fails to appear as directed may be ordered by the district court to appear forthwith and show cause for failure to comply with the summons. Any person who fails to show good cause for noncompliance with a summons may be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned not more than three days, ordered to perform community service, or any combination thereof."
  16. Juror Selection Process | United States Courts. uscourts.gov; 28 U.S.C. § 1863(b)(2)."All courts use the respective state voter lists as a source of prospective jurors. If voter lists alone fail to provide the court and litigants with a representative cross section of the relevant community, courts use other sources in addition to voter lists, such as lists of licensed drivers in the district,"
  17. 28 U.S. Code § 1864 - Drawing of names from the master jury wheel (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1864(a)."The clerk or jury commission shall mail to every person whose name is drawn from the master wheel a juror qualification form accompanied by instructions to fill out and return the form, duly signed and sworn, to the clerk or jury commission by mail within ten days."
  18. Juror Selection Process | United States Courts. uscourts.gov."Those randomly selected are mailed a qualification questionnaire to complete and return to the court within 10 days or instructed to complete the questionnaire online on the court’s eJuror page."
  19. 28 U.S. Code § 1865 - Qualifications for jury service (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1865(b)(1)."(b) In making such determination the chief judge of the district court, or such other district court judge as the plan may provide, or the clerk if the court’s jury selection plan so provides, shall deem any person qualified to serve on grand and petit juries in the district court unless he— (1) is not a citizen of the United States eighteen years old who has resided for a period of one year within the judicial district;"
  20. 28 U.S. Code § 1865 - Qualifications for jury service (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1865(b)(2)-(3)."(2) is unable to read, write, and understand the English language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to fill out satisfactorily the juror qualification form; (3) is unable to speak the English language;"
  21. 28 U.S. Code § 1865 - Qualifications for jury service (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1865(b)(5)."(5) has a charge pending against him for the commission of, or has been convicted in a State or Federal court of record of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year and his civil rights have not been restored."
  22. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses | United States Courts. uscourts.gov."Three groups are exempt from federal jury service: members of the armed forces and national guard when on active duty; members of non-federal professional (as opposed to volunteer) fire and police departments; and “public officers” of federal, state, or local governments – persons either elected to public office or appointed by someone elected to public office – who are actively engaged full-time in the performance of public duties. Persons employed on a full-time basis in any of these categories are barred from serving on federal juries, even if they are otherwise qualified and would like to serve."
  23. 28 U.S. Code § 1863 - Plan for random jury selection (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1863(b)(5)(A)."(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), specify those groups of persons or occupational classes whose members shall, on individual request therefor, be excused from jury service. Such groups or classes shall be excused only if the district court finds, and the plan states, that jury service by such class or group would entail undue hardship or extreme inconvenience to the members thereof, and excuse of members thereof would not be inconsistent with sections 1861 and 1862 of this title."
  24. 28 U.S. Code § 1863 - Plan for random jury selection (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1863(b)(5)(B)."(B) specify that volunteer safety personnel, upon individual request, shall be excused from jury service. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “volunteer safety personnel” means individuals serving a public agency (as defined in section 1203(6) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 [1]) in an official capacity, without compensation, as firefighters or members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew."
  25. 28 U.S. Code § 1866 - Selection and summoning of jury panels (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1866(c)(1)."Provided, That any person summoned for jury service may be (1) excused by the court, or by the clerk under supervision of the court if the court’s jury selection plan so authorizes, upon a showing of undue hardship or extreme inconvenience, for such period as the court deems necessary, at the conclusion of which such person either shall be summoned again for jury service under subsections (b) and (c) of this section or, if the court’s jury selection plan so provides, the name of such person shall be reinserted into the qualified jury wheel for selection pursuant to subsection (a) of this section,"
  26. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses | United States Courts. uscourts.gov."Excuses for jurors are granted at the discretion of the court and cannot be reviewed or appealed to Congress or any other entity. Each of the 94 federal district courts maintains its own jury procedures and policies regarding excuses from jury service. Contact the federal court where you were selected to ask about a temporary deferral or excusal from service."
  27. EDNY Jury Selection Plan (As amended, January 31, 2023). EDNY Jury Selection Plan § 7."(1) Persons over 70 years of age. (2) Actively engaged members of the clergy. (3) Persons having active care and custody of a child or children under 10 years of age whose health and/or safety would be jeopardized by their absence for jury service; or a person who is essential to the care of aged or infirm persons. (4) Actively practicing attorneys, physicians, dentists, and registered nurses. ... (5) Persons who have served as a grand or petit juror in a state or federal court within the preceding two years. (6) Any person whose services are so essential to the operation of a business, commercial, or agricultural enterprise that it must close if the person were required to perform jury duty."
  28. Amended Plan for the Random Selection of Grand and Petit Jurors, S.D.N.Y. (M-10-468). SDNY Amended Jury Plan Art. VI."(1) Persons over 70 years of age; (2) Persons having legal custody and active daily care of a child or children under the age of 12 years; or who are essential to the daily care of aged or infirm persons; (3) Persons who have satisfactorily served as grand jurors or as petit jurors in a State or Federal court within the past 2 years; (4) Volunteer safety personnel who serve without compensation as firefighters or members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew for a public agency; (5) Persons as to whom a judge finds, for reasons other than the foregoing, that jury service would constitute undue hardship or extreme inconvenience."
  29. Summons Information | US Courts - New York Eastern District. EDNY Jury Selection Plan § 7(5); EDNY Summons Information."4. If you have served as a juror in a state or federal court within the last two years you must submit the certificate of attendance verifying your service. The state and federal court are not linked and we cannot verify your jury service in your local or state courts without this documentation."
  30. Jury Duty Frequently Asked Questions | U.S District Court (SDNY). SDNY Jury Duty FAQ; Plan Art. VI(3)."Under Federal law, a person cannot be required to serve jury duty more often than once every two (2) years. If you have served in the United States District Court or a New York State Court within the last two (2) years, and wish to be excused, please mail a copy of your official jury certificate, together with our summons, in the return envelope."
  31. NY Courts - Jurors: Questions & Answers (FAQs). NY Courts juror FAQ."If your service was limited to telephone standby you are not excused from federal court service."
  32. 28 U.S. Code § 1871 - Fees (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1871(b)(2)."(2) A petit juror required to attend more than ten days in hearing one case may be paid, in the discretion of the trial judge, an additional fee, not exceeding $10 more than the attendance fee, for each day in excess of ten days on which he is required to hear such case."
  33. 28 U.S. Code § 1871 - Fees (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1871(b)(3)."(3) A grand juror required to attend more than forty-five days of actual service may be paid, in the discretion of the district judge in charge of the particular grand jury, an additional fee, not exceeding $10 more than the attendance fee, for each day in excess of forty-five days of actual service."
  34. 28 U.S. Code § 1871 - Fees (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1871(c)(3)."(3) Toll charges for toll roads, bridges, tunnels, and ferries shall be paid in full to the juror incurring such charges. In the discretion of the court, reasonable parking fees may be paid to the juror incurring such fees upon presentation of a valid parking receipt."
  35. 28 U.S. Code § 1871 - Fees (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1871(f)."(f) A juror who must necessarily use public transportation in traveling to and from court, the full cost of which is not met by the transportation expenses allowable under subsection (c) of this section on account of the short distance traveled in miles, may be paid, in the discretion of the court, the actual reasonable expense of such public transportation, pursuant to the methods of payment provided by this section."
  36. Juror Pay | United States Courts. uscourts.gov; 5 U.S.C. § 6322(a)."Note: Employees of the federal government are paid their regular salary in lieu of this fee."
  37. 28 U.S. Code § 1875 - Protection of jurors' employment (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1875(c)."(c) Any individual who is reinstated to a position of employment in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be considered as having been on furlough or leave of absence during his period of jury service, shall be reinstated to his position of employment without loss of seniority,"
  38. 28 U.S. Code § 1875 - Protection of jurors' employment (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1875(b)."(1) shall be liable for damages for any loss of wages or other benefits suffered by an employee by reason of such violation; (2) may be enjoined from further violations of this section and ordered to provide other appropriate relief, including but not limited to the reinstatement of any employee discharged by reason of his jury service; and (3) shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each violation as to each employee, and may be ordered to perform community service."
  39. 28 U.S. Code § 1875 - Protection of jurors' employment (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1875(d)."(1) An individual claiming that his employer has violated the provisions of this section may make application to the district court for the district in which such employer maintains a place of business and the court shall, upon finding probable merit in such claim, appoint counsel to represent such individual in any action in the district court necessary to the resolution of such claim."
  40. Types of Juries | United States Courts. uscourts.gov."Petit juries are comprised of 6-12 people. ... Petit jurors hear a maximum of one case and are then discharged."
  41. 28 U.S. Code § 1866 - Selection and summoning of jury panels (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1866(e)."(e) In any two-year period, no person shall be required to (1) serve or attend court for prospective service as a petit juror for a total of more than thirty days, except when necessary to complete service in a particular case, or (2) serve on more than one grand jury, or (3) serve as both a grand and petit juror."
  42. Types of Juries | United States Courts. Fed. R. Crim. P. 6(g); uscourts.gov."Grand jurors generally serve up to 18 months, but can serve for up to 24 months, if an extension is granted by a judge."
  43. Jury Duty Frequently Asked Questions | U.S District Court (SDNY). SDNY Jury Duty FAQ."If summoned to Jury Duty in Manhattan, your service may be as long as 2 weeks, from the first day you report to the courthouse. If summoned to Jury Duty in White Plains, you will be on call for approximately one month."
  44. 28 U.S. Code § 1864 - Drawing of names from the master jury wheel (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1864(a)-(b)."Any person who fails to return a completed juror qualification form as instructed may be summoned by the clerk or jury commission forthwith to appear before the clerk or jury commission to fill out a juror qualification form. ... (b) Any person summoned pursuant to subsection (a) of this section who fails to appear as directed shall be ordered by the district court forthwith to appear and show cause for his failure to comply with the summons. Any person who fails to appear pursuant to such order or who fails to show good cause for noncompliance with the summons may be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned not more than three days, ordered to perform community service, or any combination thereof."
  45. Juror Scams | United States Courts. uscourts.gov."Federal courts do not require anyone to provide any sensitive information in a telephone call or email. Most contact between a federal court and a prospective juror will be through the U.S. mail, and any phone or email contact by real court officials will not include requests for any sensitive information."
  46. EDNY Jury Selection Plan (As amended, January 31, 2023). EDNY Jury Selection Plan § 1 (as amended Jan. 31, 2023)."This plan is applicable to the Eastern District of New York, which consists of counties of: Kings, Nassau, Queens, Richmond, and Suffolk. There are no statutory divisions in the Eastern District of New York."
  47. Amended Plan for the Random Selection of Grand and Petit Jurors, S.D.N.Y. (M-10-468). SDNY Amended Jury Plan (eff. Oct. 5, 2023), preamble."which embraces the counties of New York, Bronx, Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Sullivan, Orange and Rockland."

Reviewed by Roger K. Neustadt, JD, attorney admitted in Georgia. Verified November 10, 2026.

Roger K. Neustadt is admitted in Georgia; pages about other states and federal courts are general information checked against official sources. How we check every rule: editorial policy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

This page explains the law in general terms and is not legal advice. Jury Duty Explained is not affiliated with any court. Your summons and your court's instructions control, so check them first.