You arrive, check in, and wait in the jury assembly room

When you report to the courthouse on the date and time listed on your summons, go to the jury assembly room or check-in desk. Bring your summons, a photo ID, and proof of residence. Court staff will scan your paperwork, confirm you received the notice, and assign you a juror number. This usually takes 10 to 20 minutes.

After check-in, you sit in a large waiting area with dozens of other potential jurors. The court may show a video explaining how jury duty works. You will wait here until a judge or court clerk calls groups of people to a courtroom for jury selection. This can take anywhere from an hour to most of the day, depending on how many trials are scheduled and how many jurors the courts need.

Bring something to read or work on. Phones are usually allowed in the assembly room but not in the courtroom itself. You may be dismissed during this waiting period if the court does not need additional jurors that day.

Key Takeaways

  • Bring your summons, photo ID, and proof of residence to the courthouse on the exact date and time listed.
  • You will check in at the jury assembly room and receive a juror number, then wait to be called to a courtroom.
  • If called to a courtroom, you will answer questions during jury selection to determine whether you can be impartial in that specific case.
  • If selected as a juror, you will hear evidence, take notes, and vote on a verdict with other jurors in the jury room.
  • If not selected or if the case settles, you may be sent home or reassigned to another trial the same day.

Jury selection: answering questions about your background and bias

When your group is called to a courtroom, you will sit in the jury box or gallery while the judge and lawyers ask questions. This process is called voir dire. The questions are designed to find out whether you can be fair and impartial in this particular case. You may be asked about your job, where you live, whether you know anyone involved in the case, past experiences with the court system, and your views on topics related to the case.

Answer honestly and directly. If a question makes you uncomfortable, say so. If you have a hardship — a medical appointment, childcare conflict, or financial burden from missing work — tell the judge now. Some people are dismissed because of hardship; others are dismissed because the lawyers believe they cannot be impartial. You do not choose whether to stay or leave. The judge and lawyers make that decision based on your answers.

The process can take 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the complexity of the case. If you are not selected, you will be sent home or assigned to another courtroom the same day.

If you are selected: the trial, evidence, and jury instructions

If you are chosen as a juror, you will be sworn in and seated in the jury box. The judge will explain the case and your role. You will hear opening statements from the prosecution (or plaintiff) and the defense. Then witnesses will testify, documents will be shown, and physical evidence may be presented. You are expected to pay attention, take notes if allowed, and listen carefully to every word.

Do not talk to anyone about the case — not other jurors, not family, not people on social media. Do not do your own research, visit the scene of the crime, or look up information about the people involved. Do not form an opinion until all the evidence has been presented and the judge has given you final instructions on the law.

Trials can last one day or several weeks. You will be told when to arrive each morning and when you can leave each afternoon. If the trial is long, you may be given a jury notebook with exhibits and instructions to review at home.

Deliberation: discussing the evidence in the jury room

After closing arguments and the judge's final instructions on the law, you and the other jurors will go to the jury room. Your job is to discuss the evidence, apply the law as the judge explained it, and reach a verdict. In criminal cases, the verdict must usually be unanimous — all jurors must agree. In civil cases, the requirement varies by state; some require unanimity, others require only a majority.

One juror is chosen as the foreperson to lead discussion and manage paperwork. There is no time limit for deliberation. You may deliberate for an hour or for days. If you cannot reach a verdict, the judge may declare a mistrial, and the case may be retried with a new jury.

Your only job is to decide the facts and apply the law. You cannot punish someone for breaking a rule you think is unfair, and you cannot refuse to follow the judge's instructions because you disagree with them. You vote based on the evidence and the law, nothing else.

What you are paid and what your employer must allow

Juror pay varies widely by state and county. Some courts pay $15 to $50 per day; others pay nothing for the first few days and then increase the amount. A few states pay $0 for jury duty. Check your summons or the court's website to find out what your jurisdiction pays.

Your employer is required by law to let you take time off for jury duty in most states. However, employers are not required to pay you during that time — that is between you and your employer. Some employers pay your full salary; others pay nothing. If you face hardship because of lost wages, tell the judge during jury selection or when you check in. Some courts have hardship funds or can reduce your service.

If your employer punishes you for serving on a jury, that is illegal. You can report retaliation to your state's labor board or attorney general's office.

If the case settles or is dismissed before trial

Sometimes a case is resolved before the trial begins. The defendant may plead guilty, the parties may reach a settlement, or the prosecutor may drop charges. If this happens after you have been selected but before testimony begins, the judge will dismiss you. You will not deliberate, and the case will not go to a jury.

If the case settles during trial, after some evidence has been presented, you will still be dismissed. You will not hear the rest of the evidence or vote on a verdict. The judge will thank you for your service and send you home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get out of jury duty if I have to work?

You can ask the judge for a postponement or to be excused due to hardship, but the judge decides whether to grant it. Tell the judge during check-in or jury selection about your work conflict. Some judges will excuse you; others will ask your employer to give you time off. Ignoring a summons is illegal and can result in a fine or jail time.

What happens if I do not show up?

If you miss your jury duty date without being excused, the court can fine you, hold you in contempt, or issue a warrant for your arrest. Fines range from $100 to $1,000 depending on the state. If you have a legitimate reason for missing your date, contact the court immediately and explain.

Can I talk to other jurors about the case during trial?

No. You cannot discuss the case with anyone — not other jurors, not family, not friends — until deliberation begins. Some judges allow limited discussion between jurors during breaks, but most prohibit it entirely. Violating this rule can result in a mistrial.

What if I think the law is unfair?

Your job is to apply the law as the judge explains it, not to judge the law itself. If you believe the law is unjust, you can vote your conscience in the jury room, but you cannot tell other jurors that you are doing so or refuse to follow the judge's instructions. After the trial, you can contact your elected representatives about changing the law.

How long does jury duty usually take?

A single-day trial takes one to two days of your time. A week-long trial takes a week. Some trials last several weeks or months. When you receive your summons, it will tell you the expected length. If you are not selected during jury selection, you may be sent home the same day.