What to expect on your first day

When you arrive at the courthouse on the date your summons specifies, you will check in at the jury assembly room or the location listed on your paperwork. Bring your summons, a photo ID, and proof of residency — a utility bill or lease works. You will sit in a waiting area with other jurors, sometimes for hours, while the court processes cases and decides which ones need juries that day.

Court staff will explain the process, answer basic questions, and may show a video about how jury duty works. You are not expected to know anything about law or courtroom procedure. Your job is to listen, follow the judge's instructions, and decide the case based only on the evidence presented in court.

Some cases settle or resolve before trial, which means you may be dismissed without serving. Other days, you may be sent home after waiting because the court did not need additional jurors. This is normal and not a reflection on you.

Key Takeaways

  • Bring your summons, photo ID, and proof of residency to the courthouse on the date and time listed on your paperwork.
  • You will wait in a jury assembly room while the court determines which cases need jurors and calls people for jury selection.
  • Jury selection (called voir dire) involves questions from the judge and lawyers to decide who will sit on the jury for that specific case.
  • If you are selected, you will hear evidence, take notes if allowed, and deliberate with other jurors to reach a verdict.
  • Tell the judge immediately if you have a genuine hardship — childcare, medical appointment, work emergency — and request to be excused or rescheduled.

Jury selection and how lawyers choose jurors

If your case moves forward, you will go through voir dire, the process where the judge and lawyers ask questions to decide who sits on the jury. You will sit in the courtroom with other potential jurors while the judge asks general questions about your background, job, and any experiences that might affect your fairness in the case.

Lawyers for both sides then ask follow-up questions. They are not trying to trick you — they want to understand whether you can be impartial. Answer honestly. If you have a bias, a conflict of interest, or a reason you cannot be fair, say so. The judge or a lawyer may ask you to explain your answer.

After questioning, lawyers use challenges to remove jurors they believe cannot be fair. Each side gets a limited number of these challenges. If you are not selected, you will be thanked and dismissed. If you are selected, you become a juror for that trial.

What happens during the trial

Once the trial begins, the judge will give you instructions about the law and your responsibilities. You will hear opening statements from both lawyers, then evidence — testimony from witnesses, documents, photographs, or physical objects. You can take notes during the trial if the judge allows it; ask before you start writing.

Do not talk to anyone about the case — not other jurors, not people outside the courtroom, not on social media. Do not do your own research, visit the location where the crime or incident happened, or look up information about the law. Your only job is to listen to what happens in the courtroom.

The trial can last a few hours or several weeks, depending on the case. You will be told when to arrive each day and when breaks occur. If you need to use the bathroom or have a medical issue, raise your hand and ask the judge.

Deliberation and reaching a verdict

After all evidence is presented, the judge explains the law and what you must decide. You and the other jurors then go to a private room to discuss the case. One juror is chosen as the foreperson to lead the discussion and later announce the verdict in court.

In most criminal cases, the verdict must be unanimous — all jurors must agree. In civil cases, the rule varies by state; some require unanimity, others require only a majority. If you cannot reach agreement, tell the foreperson. The judge may give additional instructions or allow more time for discussion.

If jurors cannot agree after a reasonable effort, the judge may declare a mistrial. This does not mean you did anything wrong. It means the case will be retried with a new jury, or the parties may settle.

How long jury duty lasts

The length depends on the type of case. A criminal misdemeanor trial might last one to three days. A felony trial can take one to four weeks or longer. A civil case varies widely. You will not know the length in advance, but the judge will give you an estimate before the trial starts.

You are required to stay for the entire trial and deliberation, even if it takes longer than expected. If a genuine emergency arises during the trial — a death in the family, a medical crisis — tell the judge immediately. The judge can decide whether to excuse you or allow a brief recess.

Pay and time off work

Most employers are required by law to allow you time off for jury duty without penalty. However, employers are not required to pay you during that time. Some do; many do not. Check your employee handbook or ask your HR department about your company's jury duty policy.

The court pays jurors a small amount — typically $15 to $50 per day, depending on the state and the length of service. This payment is usually not enough to cover lost wages, but it is something. If jury duty causes genuine financial hardship, mention this to the judge during jury selection or before the trial starts.

Keep records of the dates you served. Some employers offer a tax deduction for jury duty pay, and you may need documentation for your records.

What to bring and what not to bring

Bring your summons, photo ID, and proof of residency. Wear neat, clean clothing — business casual is appropriate. You do not need to wear a suit, but avoid very casual clothes like gym wear or clothes with offensive language or images.

Leave your phone on silent or turned off. You cannot use it in the courtroom or jury deliberation room. Do not bring weapons, illegal substances, or anything that could be a distraction. If you take medication, bring it with you and tell the judge if you need to take it during the day.

Bring something to read or do during waiting periods in the jury assembly room, but put it away once you enter the courtroom. Some courts allow note-taking during trial; ask the judge before you begin.

If you cannot serve or need to reschedule

If you have a genuine hardship — a medical appointment you cannot move, childcare with no alternative, a work emergency — tell the judge during jury selection or when you check in. Be honest and specific. The judge may excuse you, postpone your service to a later date, or ask you to serve anyway if the hardship is not severe enough to warrant dismissal.

Do not ignore a summons or fail to show up. If you do not appear, the court can issue a bench warrant for your arrest or fine you for contempt of court. If you received a summons by mail and cannot serve, contact the court listed on the summons to request postponement or dismissal before your date arrives.

If you are over a certain age (usually 70 or 75, depending on the state), you may be excused automatically. Check your summons or call the court to ask.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be fired for serving on a jury?

No. Federal law and most state laws prohibit employers from firing, threatening, or punishing an employee for jury service. If your employer retaliates against you, you may have a legal claim. Document what happened and contact your state's labor department or an employment lawyer.

What if I do not understand the judge's instructions about the law?

Raise your hand and ask the judge to explain. If you are confused during deliberation, the foreperson can ask the judge to repeat or clarify the instructions. It is better to ask than to guess about what the law means.

Can I talk to other jurors about the case before deliberation?

No. The judge will instruct you not to discuss the case with anyone — including other jurors — until deliberation begins. This keeps the jury impartial and prevents outside influence on your decision.

What happens if I disagree with the verdict?

Once the verdict is announced and the jury is dismissed, your job is over. You cannot change the verdict, and the case cannot be retried based on a juror's later disagreement. Your role was to decide based on the evidence and law presented in court.

Do I have to answer personal questions during jury selection?

Yes. Lawyers and the judge need to know about your background, beliefs, and experiences to decide if you can be fair. If a question feels too personal, you can ask to answer it privately with the judge, but you must answer truthfully.