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

Federal jury duty and your employer

How federal law protects a permanent employee's job, what it does not require, and what happens if an employer breaks it.

No employer may fire, threaten, intimidate or coerce a permanent employee because of federal jury service1. Federal law does not require your employer to pay you while you serve2.

Verified November 10, 2026 by Roger K. NeustadtSee sources

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.

28 U.S.C. § 1875(a)

Who the law protects

Are you a permanent employee?
Yes

The federal protection applies to you1.

No

The statute speaks of permanent employees1. Ask the court's jury office before you assume you are covered, and check your state's law.

If your employer breaks the law

IfYou were fired or penalized
The employer can owe lost wages and benefits, be ordered to reinstate you, and pay a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation3.
IfYou cannot afford a lawyer
If the court finds probable merit, it appoints counsel for you4.
IfYou were reinstated
You are treated as having been on leave and keep your seniority5.

Pay is a separate question

Your employer may continue your salary, but federal law does not require it2. Check your employer's policy, and your state's law for state-court service. What federal jurors are paid.

What to do next

  1. Tell your employer about your summons as soon as you receive it.
  2. If you face retaliation, you can apply to the U.S. District Court for the district where your employer has a place of business4.
Federal jury duty payThe $50 fee and expenses.Rules for employersFederal and state rules for employers.

Sources

5 official sources, with the exact sentence each rule comes from
  1. 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."
  2. 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."
  3. 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."
  4. 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."
  5. 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,"

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.