You cannot request to be picked for jury duty — the court selects jurors through random drawing from voter registration and driver's license records

Courts do not accept requests to serve on a jury. Instead, the court clerk's office runs a random computer draw from lists of registered voters and licensed drivers in your county or district. If your name comes up, you will receive a summons in the mail telling you when to report. There is no application process, no way to volunteer, and no mechanism to ask a judge to choose you.

The only way to end up in the jury pool is to be drawn at random and then to show up on the date listed in your summons. If you want to increase the odds of being drawn, you can register to vote and keep your driver's license current in the county where you live, since those are the lists courts pull from. But even that does not may provide selection — the draw is random, and most people never receive a summons in their lifetime.

Key Takeaways

  • Courts select jurors by random computer draw from voter registration and driver's license lists, not by application or request.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, able to speak English, and a resident of the county for at least one year to be in the jury pool.
  • If you receive a summons, you are legally required to show up on the date listed unless you have a court-approved reason to be excused.
  • During jury selection at trial, attorneys and judges question potential jurors and can remove people they believe cannot be fair or impartial.
  • Being selected for a jury is not something you can control, but responding to a summons when you receive one is your legal obligation.

Who gets included in the jury pool

The court draws names from two main sources: registered voters and people with current driver's licenses. Both lists are maintained by your county or state, and courts use them because they cover a broad cross-section of the population. You do not have to do anything to be added to these lists — registration to vote and renewing your driver's license puts you there automatically.

To be may be able to access for jury duty once your name is drawn, you must meet basic requirements: you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, able to read and speak English well enough to follow trial testimony, and have lived in the county for at least one year. Some states add additional requirements, such as no felony convictions or no pending criminal charges. If you do not meet these requirements, you can tell the court when you receive your summons, and you will be excused from the pool.

What happens when your name is drawn

When the court draws your name, you will receive a summons in the mail. The summons tells you the date, time, and location where you must report. It also explains what to bring (usually a photo ID and proof of residency) and what will happen when you arrive. Read the summons carefully, because it contains your legal obligation to show up.

On the day you report, you will go to the courthouse and check in. You may wait in a jury assembly room with dozens or hundreds of other people who were also summoned. The court will explain the trial process and answer basic questions. Then, if a trial needs jurors, your group will be called into a courtroom for jury selection.

How attorneys and judges choose jurors during trial

Once you are in the courtroom, the process called voir dire begins. This is when the judge and the attorneys for both sides ask potential jurors questions to find out whether they can be fair and impartial. Questions might cover your job, where you live, whether you know anyone involved in the case, whether you have been a victim of a similar crime, or whether you have strong opinions about the type of case being tried.

Based on your answers, attorneys can remove you from the jury pool. Each side gets a certain number of peremptory challenges — removals they can use without giving a reason — and unlimited challenges for cause, which require them to explain to the judge why they believe you cannot be fair. The judge can also remove you if your answers suggest bias or hardship. If you are not removed, you become a seated juror and will hear the entire trial.

Reasons the court may excuse you from a summons

If you receive a summons but have a genuine hardship or conflict, you can request to be excused. Common reasons courts accept include severe financial hardship (if you are self-employed and cannot afford to lose income), medical conditions or disabilities that make jury duty impossible, caregiving responsibilities with no alternative care available, or a pre-planned trip that cannot be changed. You must request an excuse in writing or by phone before your report date, and you must provide documentation — a doctor's note, a letter from your employer, or proof of travel.

Courts vary in how strictly they grant excuses. Some courts are more lenient; others require proof of extreme hardship. If your request is denied, you must appear on the date listed in your summons. Ignoring a summons without an approved excuse can result in a fine or, in rare cases, a contempt of court charge.

What you cannot do to avoid or may provide jury duty

You cannot ask the court to put you in the jury pool or remove you from it outside of the formal process. You cannot call the courthouse and volunteer for jury duty. You cannot pay a fee to be excused. You cannot ask a judge to choose you because you want to serve. The system is designed to be random and impartial, and courts do not make exceptions for personal preference.

Similarly, you should not lie on a jury summons or during voir dire to try to get selected or rejected. If you are asked whether you can be fair and you say yes when you know you cannot, you are committing perjury. If you are asked whether you have a hardship and you make one up, that is also perjury. Courts take this seriously, and the consequences can include criminal charges.

How jury selection works in different types of cases

Criminal trials and civil trials both use jury selection, but the process can differ slightly. In criminal cases, the jury must usually reach a unanimous verdict (all jurors agree), and jurors are often questioned more thoroughly about their views on crime, police, and punishment. In civil cases, the verdict threshold varies by state — some require unanimity, others require only a majority. The number of jurors also differs: criminal trials typically use 12 jurors plus alternates, while civil trials may use fewer.

In both types of cases, the goal of voir dire is the same: to seat a jury that can listen to the evidence without bias and apply the law as the judge instructs. Your role as a juror, if you are selected, is to decide the facts of the case based only on what you hear in court, not on outside research, conversations, or personal beliefs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I request jury duty if I want to serve?

No. Courts do not accept requests to serve. The only way to be considered is to be randomly drawn from voter registration or driver's license records and to receive a summons. If you want to increase the chance of being drawn, keep your voter registration and driver's license current in your county.

What happens if I ignore my jury summons?

Ignoring a summons without an approved excuse is contempt of court. The court can fine you, issue a warrant for your arrest, or hold you in contempt. The amount varies by state and county, but fines can range from $100 to $1,000 or more. If you have a legitimate reason you cannot attend, contact the court before your report date.

Can I be removed from the jury pool during voir dire just by saying I do not want to serve?

Not automatically. Simply saying you do not want to serve is not enough for an attorney or judge to remove you. However, if your answers to questions during voir dire suggest you cannot be fair or impartial, either side can remove you. Be honest in your answers — if you genuinely cannot be fair, say so, and the court will likely excuse you.

Do I get paid for jury duty?

Most courts pay jurors a small amount, typically $15 to $50 per day, though some pay nothing for the first few days. Payment varies by state and county. Your employer may also be required by law to pay you your regular wage while you serve, depending on where you live and the length of the trial.

How long does jury duty last?

It depends on the trial. Some trials last one day; others last weeks or months. When you report for jury selection, the court will tell you the expected length of the trial. If you are selected as a juror, you must serve for the entire trial unless the judge excuses you during the proceedings.