Jury duty starts at the time printed on your summons
The court that summoned you will print a specific time on your jury duty notice — usually between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., though some courts use 7:30 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. You must arrive by that time on the date listed. Arriving late can result in a contempt of court finding, which carries a fine or jail time, so the start time is not flexible.
The time on your summons is when you report to the jury assembly room or courthouse location specified in the notice. You should plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to allow time for parking, security screening, and finding the right room. Bring the summons itself — court staff will check it when you arrive.
If you cannot make the time listed, you must contact the court before that date. Most courts allow you to request a postponement to a different jury duty date, but you have to ask in advance. Ignoring the summons or showing up late without calling ahead puts you at legal risk.
Key Takeaways
- The exact start time appears on your jury summons, and you must arrive by that time on the date listed.
- Arriving late without prior contact with the court can result in contempt of court charges, fines, or jail time.
- If you cannot make the scheduled time, contact the court before your duty date to request a postponement.
- Plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to account for parking, security, and finding the correct courtroom or assembly area.
- The summons itself is your proof of when and where to report, so bring it with you.
What happens during the first hours of jury duty
After you arrive, court staff will check you in and direct you to the jury assembly room. This is where all potential jurors wait while the court prepares cases for jury selection. You may spend one to three hours in this room depending on how many cases need jurors that day and how many people showed up.
During assembly, you will fill out a juror questionnaire that asks about your background, work, health, and any hardships serving would cause. The court uses this form to decide which cases you might hear and whether you should be excused. Keep your answers honest — courts can hold you in contempt if you lie on the form.
Some courts show a video about jury duty during this time. Others may call you to a courtroom for jury selection (called "voir dire") right away. The pace depends entirely on the court's schedule and caseload that day.
How long jury duty lasts if you are selected
If you are chosen for a jury, the length of service depends on the type of case. A criminal misdemeanor trial might last one to three days. A felony trial can run one to four weeks. Civil cases vary widely — some settle in a day or two, others last two weeks or longer.
The judge will tell you the expected length before jury selection begins. This is when you can raise hardships — if serving would cause severe financial loss, medical problems, or other serious issues, tell the judge then. Some people are excused at this point; others are not.
Once a trial starts, you must attend every day it is in session. Court hours are typically 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 or 5:00 p.m., with a lunch break. Trials do not usually run on weekends or holidays. If a trial is scheduled to last longer than expected, the judge will notify you.
What to do if you cannot make your start time
Contact the court as soon as you know you cannot arrive at the time listed on your summons. Look for a phone number on the summons itself — it is usually the jury office or clerk's office. Call before your duty date, not the morning of.
Explain your reason briefly. Common reasons courts accept include medical emergencies, pre-booked travel you cannot cancel, or extreme financial hardship. The court may postpone you to a later date, excuse you entirely, or ask you to appear at a different time that day.
If you do not call ahead and do not show up, the court may issue a bench warrant for your arrest or fine you for contempt. If you show up very late without calling, the judge may still hold you in contempt even if you eventually arrive.
Jury duty on different days of the week
Jury duty happens on weekdays only — Monday through Friday. The court does not hold trials on weekends or federal holidays. If your summons lists a Monday that is a federal holiday (like Memorial Day or Labor Day), check the summons again for a note about rescheduling, or call the court to confirm whether you should report.
Some courts run "one day or one trial" systems, where if you are not selected by the end of the first day, you are excused and do not have to return. Others require you to report for a full week or until you are seated on a jury. The summons will state which system applies.
If you are selected for a trial that lasts multiple days, you will be told each day what time to return the next morning. Arrive by that time every day the trial is in session.
Jury duty pay and time off work
Most employers are required by law to let you take time off for jury duty without firing you or threatening your job. However, employers are not required to pay you during jury duty — that depends on your company's policy.
The court pays a small per diem (daily fee) for jury service, usually between $15 and $50 per day depending on the state and court. This is meant to cover some of your costs, not replace your full salary. If you lose significant income, you can ask the judge to excuse you before the trial starts.
Bring documentation of your income or hardship if you plan to ask for an excuse. The judge will consider it, but there is no may provide you will be excused.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I am sick on the day I am supposed to report?
Call the court's jury office before your start time and explain that you are ill. Most courts will postpone you to a later date. If you are contagious or seriously ill, the court will likely excuse you for that round. Bring a doctor's note if you have one, though a phone call is usually enough to postpone.
Can I ask to come at a different time on the same day?
Call the jury office before your duty date and ask. Some courts can accommodate a later start time if you have a genuine conflict — a medical appointment, childcare that starts at a certain time, or a work meeting you cannot move. The court is not required to say yes, but it is worth asking.
What happens if I am in the middle of a trial and something urgent comes up?
Tell the judge immediately. If a family member is hospitalized, you have a serious accident, or another genuine emergency occurs, inform the judge as soon as you can. The judge can declare a mistrial, postpone the trial, or excuse you depending on the situation and how far along the trial is.
Do I have to report if I was summoned but never received the notice?
If you never received the summons, you cannot be held in contempt for missing it. However, if the court has a record that it was mailed to your address and you did not update your address with them, you may still face consequences. If you think you were summoned, check your mail carefully or call the court to confirm.
Can my employer make me work instead of going to jury duty?
No. Employers cannot force you to skip jury duty or threaten your job for serving. If your employer retaliates against you for jury service, that is illegal. However, you must show your employer the summons and follow the court's schedule — you cannot simply decide to work instead.