Contact the jury office right away and ask for a new date. Courts can impose penalties: a civil penalty of up to $250 in New York, where the courts say criminal penalties are also possible12; a contempt fine of $100 to $1,000 in Texas3; sanctions in California of up to $250 for a first violation, rising to $1,500 for repeat violations4; contempt in Georgia, after notice and a hearing5; and, if you cannot show good cause after a federal court orders you to appear, up to $1,000, three days in jail, community service, or a combination6.
Fines and sanctions set by law
New York State courts
California state courts
Sanctions of up to $250 for a first violation, $750 for a second and $1,500 for later ones, after notice and a chance to be heard4
Georgia's jury law sets no fine: a no-show may be punished as contempt, but only after notice and a hearing5.
What usually happens next
- You miss your dateAct quickly; it is usually easier to fix before the court acts.
- You respondIn New York you can admit the noncompliance or ask for a hearing8.
By court
| Court | What to do now |
|---|---|
| New York State courts | Contact your county's jury office; New York details |
| Texas state courts | Contact your county's jury office; Texas details |
| California state courts | Contact the court. If sanctions were imposed against you by default, you can move to set them aside within 60 days11; California details |
| Georgia state courts | Contact the jury office named on your summons; contempt requires notice and a hearing5, and not personally receiving a mailed summons is a defense12; Georgia details |
| Federal courts | Contact your district's jury office before it orders you to appear6 |
Rules for more states are being added as their research is completed.
A call demanding that you pay a fine right away is a warning sign. Tarrant County, Texas, says it would never call to collect such a fine13.
What to do next
- Call or email the jury office using the contact on your summons or the court's website.
- Explain what happened and ask for a new date.
- Do not pay anyone who calls you demanding a fine.
Related
Sources
13 sources, with the exact sentence each rule comes from. Georgia statute text is quoted from Justia's copy of the 2025 Official Code of Georgia
- 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."
- NY Courts – Jurors: Questions & Answers (FAQs). NY Courts juror FAQ."Jury duty, like paying taxes, is mandatory. Skipping jury duty can result in civil or criminal penalties."
- Tex. Gov't Code § 62.0141 – Failure to Answer Jury Summons. Tex. Gov't Code § 62.0141."In addition to any criminal penalty prescribed by law, a person summoned for jury service who does not comply with the summons as required by law or who knowingly provides false information in a request for an exemption or to be excused from jury service is subject to a contempt action punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000."
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 209. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 209(b), (c)(2)."The monetary sanctions imposed pursuant to subdivision (b) may not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for the first violation, seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) for the second violation, and one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for the third and any subsequent violation."
- Justia - 2025 Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) - O.C.G.A. § 15-12-10. O.C.G.A. § 15-12-10."If any person is duly summoned to appear as a trial or grand juror at court and neglects or refuses to appear, or if any juror absents himself or herself without leave of the court, such neglect, refusal, or absence may, after notice and hearing, be punished as contempt of court."
- 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."
- N.Y. Judiciary Law § 527. N.Y. Judiciary Law § 527(5)(b)(i)."by mailing a copy of the notice of noncompliance by first-class mail to such person at his or her place of residence in an envelope bearing the legend "personal and confidential" and not indicating on the outside of the envelope that the communication is from a court, the commissioner of jurors or any other public officer or official."
- N.Y. Judiciary Law § 527 - Procedure for noncompliance. N.Y. Judiciary Law § 527(2)(b)."Require the person served, at a time and in a manner to be specified in such notice, to respond to the notice by admitting his or her noncompliance or requesting a hearing thereon;"
- N.Y. Judiciary Law § 527 - Procedure for noncompliance. N.Y. Judiciary Law § 527(3)(a)."the court or judicial hearing officer shall have the authority to impose a penalty in an amount not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars and shall issue an order fixing a date certain for jury service by the respondent."
- Dallas County Jury Services - Frequently Asked Questions. Dallas County Jury Services FAQ."No, you will not be arrested. There is a 2 week grace period in which you may send a letter of explanation to the Jury Services Department and you will be rescheduled."
- Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1010. Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1010."The motion must be brought no later than 60 days after sanctions have been imposed."
- Justia - 2025 Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) - O.C.G.A. § 15-12-65.1. O.C.G.A. §§ 15-12-65.1, 15-12-120.1."On and after July 1, 2012, the clerk shall be authorized to mail all summonses by first-class mail addressed to the prospective jurors’ most notorious places of abode at least 25 days prior to the date of the court the prospective jurors shall attend. Failure to receive the notice personally shall be a defense to a contempt citation."
- Jury Scam, Tarrant County Jury Services (tarrantcountytx.gov). Tarrant County Jury Services scam notice."Tarrant County Jury Services would never contact you by phone to pay a fine for failing to appear for jury service. Typically, we would send a failed to appear notice before taking any action. If a warrant is issued for your arrest, there is no warning phone call. The courts do not allow citizens to pay a fine in lieu of jury service."
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.