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What Happens If You Miss Jury Duty?

By Javaria Sagheer · Updated October 2026
TL;DR If you miss jury duty, the court can send another notice or order you to come in and explain — and if you have no good reason, a judge can fine you and, in some courts, hold you in contempt. In federal court, a missed summonsSummons: the official court notice ordering you to report for jury service on a set date. Federal law allows it to be sent by first-class mail, so it can arrive like any other letter. can cost up to $1,000, three days in jail, community service, or a mix — but only after an order to show causeOrder to show cause: a court order telling you to appear and explain why you should not be penalized. It is your chance to give your reason before any fine is set. gives you a chance to explain. State courts set their own penalties, from small fines to contempt of courtContempt of court: a judge’s power to punish someone for disobeying a court order — usually with a fine, sometimes with jail.. If you already missed your date, call the jury office on your summons, ask for a new date, and answer every court notice in writing. A missed date can be fixed; ignored mail is what makes it worse.

You Found the Summons After the Date Passed. Now What?

You are 19 and three weeks into your first semester, two hundred miles from home. Your mom texts a photo of an envelope from the county court that has been sitting under a stack of mail. Inside is a jury summons with your name on it. The report date was last Tuesday. The questions come fast. Is there a warrant? Is this on your record? Do you owe money? In the statutes this article walks through, a missed date starts a paper process — a second notice, a letter, an order to come explain. What happens next depends a great deal on what you do in the next few days. Here is what the law says in federal court and in six states, and what to do.

What Happens If You Miss Jury Duty? The Short Answer

A jury summons is a court order, not an invitation. In federal court, the rule is in 28 U.S.C. § 1866(g), and it has two steps. First, a person who fails to appear can be ordered to come to court and “show cause” — explain why. Second, a person who fails to show good cause “may be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned not more than three days, ordered to perform community service, or any combination thereof.” State and county courts run their own jury systems under their own statutes. The ones we read set a fine, contempt, or both, and several are written to reach only people without a real reason: Texas and Illinois punish missing court without a reasonable excuse, and Washington’s crime applies to someone who “intentionally fails to appear.” So one missed date puts you in a process you can still steer — if you contact the court before it has to contact you again.
What six states’ statutes say about a missed jury date
  • California — Code of Civil Procedure § 209: a juror who does not attend or respond “may be attached and compelled to attend,” and may be found in contempt after a hearing. Instead of contempt, the court may impose sanctions of up to $250 for a first violation, $750 for a second, and $1,500 for a third or later one.
  • Texas — Government Code § 62.0141: a contempt action with a fine of $100 to $1,000. Section 62.111 separately sets a fine of $100 to $500 for missing court without reasonable excuse.
  • New York — Judiciary Law § 527: a civil penalty of up to $250, after a notice of noncompliance, served in person or by first-class mail, and the chance to ask for a hearing.
  • Florida — Fla. Stat. § 40.23: a fine of up to $100 for failing to attend without a sufficient excuse, and the court may also treat it as contempt.
  • Illinois — 705 ILCS 305/15: failing to attend without a reasonable excuse is contempt, with a fine of $5 to $100.
  • Washington — RCW 2.36.170: intentionally failing to appear is a misdemeanor.
Not on the list? Search your state’s name plus “jury duty failure to appear statute” and open the result from your state legislature’s official site, or go to your state court system’s official “jury service” page.

Missed Jury Duty, Situation by Situation

Situation 1 · An honest mistake You forgot, or you wrote down the wrong dateThis is the most fixable version, because you can act before the court takes its next step.

California’s statute shows how many steps can come first: a second summons (no sooner than 90 days after the missed date), then a failure-to-appear notice, and only then an order to show cause. New York’s process starts with a notice of noncompliance. Do not wait for any of that. Call the jury office now and ask for a new date.

Situation 2 · No notice You never received the summonsA summons does not have to be handed to you. Federal law allows service by first-class mail to your usual home or business address (28 U.S.C. § 1866(b)), so a missing signature is not a defense.

Not getting it at all is different. The Texas fine applies to a juror who was “lawfully notified,” and Illinois’s to a person “lawfully summoned.” If the envelope went to an old address, say so in writing, with something that shows where you actually lived, such as a lease or a housing assignment. Then give the court your current address.

Situation 3 · Bad timing You cannot serve on that date — school, caregiving, hardship, or healthAsk before the date instead of staying home. Florida lets a summoned juror postpone for up to six months “upon written or oral request.” Ohio allows a first postponement if you ask at least two business days ahead and accept a new date within six months. A federal court can excuse you for “undue hardship or extreme inconvenience.”

Student rules depend on the state. Texas lets high school students and people enrolled and attending college claim an exemption, along with primary caretakers of someone who cannot care for themselves. Florida excuses full-time students ages 18 to 21 who ask. Ohio’s list covers medical conditions and extreme financial hardship. An exemption is something you claim — it does not apply if you say nothing.

Situation 4 · A court notice You received a second notice or an order to show causeThis is where silence becomes expensive. In New York, not answering a notice of noncompliance counts as admitting it, and a default judgment of up to $250 can follow. In federal court, skipping the show-cause hearing means nobody is there to give your good cause.

Answer in writing by the deadline on the notice, keep a copy, and go to any hearing that is set. Bring proof of your reason — a class schedule, a doctor’s note, mail showing your address — and say you are willing to serve. If the notice mentions contempt or jail, consider talking to a lawyer first.

Situation 5 · Your job Your boss told you not to go, or you cannot afford the lost shiftA manager’s objection is not a legal excuse. For federal jury service, 28 U.S.C. § 1875 says no employer may “discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate, or coerce any permanent employee” because of it. An employer who does can owe lost wages, be ordered to reinstate you, and face a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation. The employee applies to the federal district court, which appoints a lawyer if it finds the claim probably has merit.

States have their own laws. Florida bars dismissing an employee over jury service and allows a lawsuit for damages and attorney fees (Fla. Stat. § 40.271). Illinois bars firing, threatening, or coercing an employee over it (705 ILCS 305/4.1). Ohio protects a permanent employee who gave reasonable notice, and bars forcing that employee to use vacation or sick leave (R.C. 2313.19). Pay is a separate question: federal law does not require an employer to pay you during federal jury service, and state rules vary. If money is the problem, ask the court about a hardship excuse. Our guide to whether you can be fired for no reason covers job protections like this.

What to Do If You Already Missed Jury Duty
  1. Find the summons or notice. Note the court’s name, your juror number, the date you missed, and the jury office’s phone number.
  2. Contact the jury office the day you realize it, using only the number or website on the summons or the court’s official site.
  3. Ask for a new date you can keep.
  4. Write down who you spoke with, when, what they said, and your new date. Ask for confirmation in writing.
  5. Answer every written notice in writing, by its deadline. Keep a copy.
  6. If a hearing is set, go. Bring documents that show your reason.
  7. Give the court your current address so the next notice reaches you.

What to Say When You Call the Jury Office or Go to a Hearing

Call first — explain plainly — ask for a new date
1. When the jury office answers:

“My name is ___ and my juror number is ___. I was summoned for [date] and I missed it. I would like to reschedule and find out what I need to do.”

2. If the summons never reached you:

“I did not receive the summons. It was mailed to an address where I no longer live. My current address is ___. Can I send you proof and get a new date?”

3. If the new date does not work either:

“I am a full-time student and I have exams that week. Could I postpone to [month]? I can send my class schedule.”

4. Before you hang up:

“Could you confirm my new date and give me your name? Will I get this in writing?”

5. If you are ordered to a show-cause hearing:

“Your Honor, I missed the date because ___. Here is ___ showing that. I am willing to serve on the next available date.”

Keep it short and true. Do not invent a reason: federal law puts willfully misstating facts on the juror qualification form to avoid service under the same penalties as skipping it (28 U.S.C. § 1864(b)), and Texas fines false exemption claims. The clerk needs a name, a juror number, a reason, and a date you will keep.

Missed Jury Duty: What a Court Can vs. Can’t Do

✓ A COURT CAN

  • Mail you a second summons or a failure-to-appear notice
  • Order you to come in and explain why you missed the date
  • Fine you within the limit its statute sets — up to $1,000 in federal court
  • Order jail or community service where its statute allows — up to three days in federal court
  • Still require you to serve after you pay — California’s statute says so directly

✗ A COURT CAN’T

  • Go past its statute’s limits — § 1866(g) caps a federal no-show penalty at $1,000 and three days
  • Penalize you under the federal statute if you show good cause for missing the date
  • Impose California’s money sanctions without notice and an opportunity to be heard
  • Enter New York’s civil penalty without first serving a notice of noncompliance
  • Require sensitive personal information over the phone or by email — the federal courts say they do not do this
The scam to know about: fraudulent calls and emails tell people they missed jury duty and threaten fines or jail unless they hand over personal information. The federal judiciary’s warning is direct: “Federal courts do not require anyone to provide any sensitive information in a telephone call or email.” If you get a call like this, do not give the information. Look up the clerk’s office number yourself, and report the call to the clerk and to the Federal Trade Commission.

Jury Duty Myths, Busted

Myth: “If I ignore the summons, nothing happens.”
False. Every no-show statute in this article attaches a penalty to an unexcused absence — fines, contempt, or in Washington a misdemeanor charge. Whether a court follows up is the court’s decision, not yours.
Myth: “Miss one date and there is a warrant out for you that afternoon.”
That is not how the statutes we read are written. Federal law begins with an order to appear and show cause. California’s sanctions path begins with a second summons and a written notice. The greater risk is ignoring those later orders.
Myth: “I never signed for it, so it does not count.”
False. Federal law allows a jury summons to be served by first-class mail. Truly never receiving it is a reason you can give the court — not opening your mail is not.
Myth: “I can pay the fine and be done with jury duty.”
False in California, whose statute says paying a monetary sanction does not relieve a person of the obligation to serve. A fine is a penalty for the missed date, not a fee to skip.

Missed Jury Duty Questions People Actually Ask

Tap a question to open it.
Can you go to jail for missing jury duty?
It is legally possible in some courts, but only after a judge is involved. In federal court, a person who fails to show good cause can be jailed for up to three days under 28 U.S.C. § 1866(g). California allows incarceration for contempt after a hearing, and Washington makes an intentional no-show a misdemeanor. New York’s statute sets a civil money penalty instead.
Can a warrant be issued for missing jury duty?
It depends on the court and on what you have ignored. California’s statute says a juror who does not attend or respond “may be attached and compelled to attend” — meaning brought to court. Federal law starts with an order to appear and show cause. Ignoring a judge’s direct order to appear is riskier than missing the first date, so respond before it reaches that point. Our guide on whether you have to open the door for police explains what a warrant allows.
What if I never received the jury summons?
Tell the court in writing as soon as you learn about it, and include proof of where you were living. A federal summons can be served by first-class mail, so the court may not know it never reached you. The Texas and Illinois statutes punish jurors who were lawfully notified and had no reasonable excuse, and the federal statute asks whether you can show good cause. The court decides whether your explanation is enough.
What should I do if I already missed my jury duty date?
Call the jury office listed on your summons right away and ask for a new date. Write down who you spoke with and what they said, answer any written notice by its deadline, and attend any hearing the court sets. Bring documents that support your reason.
Can an 18-year-old high school or college student be called for jury duty?
Yes. In federal court the minimum age is 18, along with U.S. citizenship and one year of living in the district (28 U.S.C. § 1865). The federal statutes do not excuse students as a group; each federal district’s jury plan lists the groups it will excuse on request. Texas lets high school students and enrolled college students claim an exemption, and Florida excuses full-time students ages 18 to 21 who ask. Elsewhere, ask to postpone to a school break.
Can my employer fire me for going to jury duty, and do they have to pay me?
For federal jury service, no — firing, threatening, or coercing a permanent employee over it violates 28 U.S.C. § 1875, with a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation plus lost wages and reinstatement. Florida, Illinois, and Ohio have their own protections. Pay is different: federal law does not require employers to pay you during federal jury service. The court pays federal jurors $50 a day. Check your state’s rule and your employee handbook.
What happens if I ignore the juror questionnaire?
In federal court, the clerk can summon you to come in and fill it out in person. The form is due back within ten days. If you ignore that summons too, a judge can order you to show cause, with the same limits as a missed jury date: up to $1,000, three days, or community service (28 U.S.C. § 1864). New York’s civil penalty also covers people who do not answer the questionnaire.
Is a phone call saying I owe a fine for missing jury duty real?
Treat it as a scam. The federal judiciary says most contact with prospective jurors is through the U.S. mail and that federal courts do not require sensitive information in a phone call or email. Do not give personal or payment details. Look up the clerk of court’s number yourself, ask whether you actually missed anything, and report the call to the clerk’s office and the Federal Trade Commission.

Jury Duty: Key Terms, Explained

Summons — the court’s written order to report for jury service on a set date.
Order to show cause — an order to appear and explain why you should not be penalized for missing the date.
Good cause / reasonable excuse — the legal wording for a real reason for missing the date. The judge decides whether yours qualifies.
Contempt of court — a judge’s power to punish disobeying a court order, by fine and sometimes jail.
Postponement (deferral) — moving your service to a later date. You still serve.
Excuse / exemption — being released from service for a reason the law recognizes, such as hardship. You have to ask for it.

The Law Behind Missed Jury Duty

These are statutes, not court cases. Each one is linked in Sources.
28 U.S.C. § 1866(g) — federal no-show ruleA summoned juror who fails to appear can be ordered to show cause. Without good cause, the limit is a $1,000 fine, three days in jail, community service, or a combination.
28 U.S.C. § 1875 — job protection for federal jurorsEmployers may not fire, threaten, intimidate, or coerce a permanent employee over federal jury service. Remedies include lost wages, reinstatement, and a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation.
California Code of Civil Procedure § 209Allows contempt after a hearing, or stepped money sanctions of up to $250, $750, and $1,500 — and says paying does not cancel the duty to serve.
New York Judiciary Law § 527A civil route: a notice of noncompliance, a right to request a hearing, and a penalty of up to $250.
Washington RCW 2.36.170A person summoned for jury service who intentionally fails to appear as directed is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Jury Duty Law That’s Still Moving

The edges to watch as of October 2026:
  1. Statutes get rewritten — the current version of Ohio’s excuse statute, R.C. 2313.14, took effect on March 20, 2025. Texas House Bill 2637 took effect on September 1, 2025; it changed how jurors are summoned and how exemptions are recorded, and it left the fine ranges in §§ 62.0141 and 62.111 as they were. Read the current text for your state, not an old summary.
  2. Juror pay — the federal attendance fee in 28 U.S.C. § 1871 is $50 a day. Congress last raised it, from $40, in 2018, and it changes only when Congress acts.
  3. Jury duty scams — the federal courts keep a public warning about calls and emails that threaten fines and jail for missed jury service. Check it before you respond to any demand.
When these move, this article gets updated.
One important note: the United States has two court systems, and each summons jurors under its own law. A federal court follows the federal statutes above; a state or county court follows your state’s statute and often local court rules — here is how federal and state law fit together. Fines, student exemptions, postponement rules, and job protections all vary by state. Read your summons to see which court sent it, then check that court’s official jury page.

The Bottom Line on What Happens If You Miss Jury Duty

A missed jury date is a problem with a clear way out. The court can send another notice, order you to explain, and fine you or hold you in contempt if you have no good reason — up to $1,000 and three days in federal court, with different limits state by state. The process gives you room to respond, and it goes worse for people who stay silent. So call the jury office, ask for a new date, answer every notice in writing, go to any hearing with proof, and do not hand personal information to anyone who phones you demanding a fine. Now you know.
Your job and the lawCan you be fired for no reason? → Two court systemsDoes federal law supersede state law? → The whole subjectExplore Know Your Rights →

Sources

Primary sources:

LawJustic is for educational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Jury duty penalties, excuses, and procedures vary by state, county, and court, and they change. If you have received an order to show cause or a notice that mentions contempt, contact the court named on the notice and consider speaking with a licensed attorney. Last reviewed: October 2026.

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