As an American citizen, there are a number of rights that are afforded to a person which allow them to live with freedom. There is not much that is asked in return for citizenship, but one of the biggest civic duties that is required is jury duty. This unique opportunity allows citizens to participate in the judicial system of the United States, but many people often worry about taking time off their day job to participate. Learn everything there is to know about jury duty and how it impacts your daily work.
What is Jury Duty?
For those who have never been summoned, jury duty gives American citizens the option to participate in the judicial system. This is done by randomly selecting citizens as potential jurors for a civil or criminal case. These citizens are then called to one location where they are interview and, if selected, participate in the legal proceedings as a juror who helps to render a verdict. The only individuals excused from jury duty service include:
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Full-time and paid members of the armed forces on active duty
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Full-time and paid members of the fire or police departments
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Full-time and paid public officers
Are Businesses Required to Give Time Off for Jury Duty?
While jury duty is exciting for many, it raises concerns for people in regard to calling out of work. Rest assured knowing that it is illegal for a company to fire you for choosing to fulfill your civic duty by taking part in jury duty. This also means your employer cannot harass you, punish you, or anything of the like when you serve as a juror.
Will My Company Pay Me for Time Off Due to Jury Duty?
With all of the above said, however, more people tend to care about whether or not they will receive pay for the time that they spend handling jury service. State jurors do get paid daily for their time, but the amount ranges from only $15-$50 depending on the state. Therefore, most people hope that their company offers them their pay for the time they are gone.
Unfortunately, the matter of whether employers need to pay employees in full for the time they spend handling jury service is a state-by-state matter, but no states currently require it. Most companies will choose to compensate their employees in full for their time off, but it is not guaranteed which has led some people to skip jury duty.
Are There Consequences to Skipping Jury Duty?
Whether a person is considering missing jury duty because they will not be paid by their company or simply because they don’t want to go, it’s important to know what happens if you miss jury duty in the United States. While the specific punishment varies from state-to-state, missing jury duty without an approved excuse can result in being held in contempt of court. This can carry jail time of up to a couple days in most states and/or potentially thousands in fines.
There are a number of approved reasons for why a person may miss jury duty, but they must reach out to the court by phone or online to get an official response. Simply seeing your reason on the approved list and not showing up can still result in your being held in contempt of court.
What Should You Do When Summoned for Jury Duty?
For those who have never been summoned, it can be unclear what to do once you receive your notice of summons in the mail. Use the following steps to ensure you follow all rules of jury duty:
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Register your notice online once you receive it in the mail and to get additional information
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Complete any pre-jury duty forms or information that are required
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Call the number on your jury summons the night before at the indicated time to get reporting information
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Report to the location you are provided with on time and participate in the judicial system
In some cases, you may call the number and automatically be told that your service is complete without you ever needing to show up. However, if you aren’t told this, you need to report and complete the service in court.
Complete your civil service
While having the chance to participate in the judicial system of a country is an honor, many people find themselves frustrated as they balance this obligation with their day-to-day life. Rest assured knowing that you can’t be punished by your work for going to jury duty but be aware that jury duty is required. Skipping jury duty can result in fines and other consequences, so always inform the court if you have a valid reason to miss your jury duty.
