Enrichment · Life Skills

You got a jury summons.
Here is what happens next.

Enter the dates from the summons and work through what comes before and on the day: the questionnaire, a postponement if you need one, your employer, the night-before check and what to bring. The guide counts down to each date and keeps a log of the days you serve.

Add a summonsWhat you get

Summonses

The worked example is made up: a federal summons with the questionnaire due back tomorrow, and a finished county court service with two days logged. Records save on this device only.

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What you get

Enrichment · Life SkillsFree

What you finish with
A record per summons with the court, kind, juror number, response and report dates and time, how to check in and any postponement; five steps before and four on the day; days served with what happened and hours; flags for the response date, postponement requests, an upcoming report date and telling your employer; days served and the federal daily fee.
Who it is for
Adults called for jury service, first-time jurors including 18-year-olds, and teachers covering civics.
Format
Browser checklist with a saved record per summons. Prints a summons record, all of them or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Life Skills space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Add the summons the day it arrives and answer the questionnaire.
  2. If the date will not work, ask to postpone before the response date.
  3. Tell your employer in writing and plan care and the route.
  4. Check the night before whether your group must report.
  5. Log each day you serve.

Add a summons

How jury service unfolds

From summons to verdict1Summons arrivesAnswer the questionnaire; ask to postpone now if you need to2The week beforeTell your employer, plan care and the route3The night beforeCheck whether your group must report4Jury selectionAnswer questions honestly; that is the whole job5TrialListen, take notes if allowed, no research, no talking about itFrom summons to verdict1Summons arrivesAnswer the questionnaire; ask topostpone now if you need to2The week beforeTell your employer, plan care and theroute3The night beforeCheck whether your group must report4Jury selectionAnswer questions honestly; that is thewhole job5TrialListen, take notes if allowed, noresearch, no talking about it
Most of the work happens before the report date. Many people called are sent home or never needed, which is why the night-before check matters.

Federal and state courts

Federal courts and state courts run separate jury systems, with their own pay, excuses and rules. For federal service, jurors must be U.S. citizens, at least 18, living in the district for a year and able to understand English; the attendance fee is $50 a day. State, county and city courts set their own rules, so read your summons closely.

Your job is protected

Federal law forbids an employer from firing, threatening or coercing a permanent employee because of federal jury service. It does not require employers to pay wages while you serve, though many do. Most states have similar protections for state court service.

Sources

  1. U.S. Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses and Juror Pay (uscourts.gov/services-forms/jury-service).
  2. United States Code, 28 U.S.C. 1865 (qualifications for jury service) and 1871 (fees).
  3. United States Code, 28 U.S.C. 1875, Protection of jurors’ employment.
  4. U.S. Courts. Handbook for Trial Jurors Serving in the United States District Courts.

The worked example is made up. State, county and city courts set their own rules; follow your summons and the court’s instructions. This is not legal advice. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.