Missed Jury Duty? What Usually Happens Next

“Following an order to show cause hearing, the court may find the prospective juror in contempt of court, punishable by fine, incarceration, or both, as otherwise provided by law.”

“This can result in a fine of up to $1,500, incarceration for up to five days, or both.”

“The monetary sanctions imposed pursuant to subdivision (b) may not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for the first violation, seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) for the second violation, and one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for the third and any subsequent violation.”

“Such person shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars for failing to respond or attend in violation of the provisions of this article.”

“failure to respond to such notice shall be deemed an admission of noncompliance and a default judgment may be entered”

“(b) (i) Whenever a person served with a notice of noncompliance requests a hearing thereon, such hearing shall be scheduled and the person so notified not sooner than thirty days in advance of the hearing date. (ii) Each hearing shall be before the court or the judicial hearing officer assigned for that purpose and shall be conducted in accordance with procedures established by the chief administrator of the courts therefore; provided, however, that rules of evidence shall not apply except those relating to privileged communications. A judicial hearing officer so assigned may issue a subpoena to require the attendance at a hearing of persons to give testimony or to produce books, papers or other things relevant to the hearing. (iii) Whenever a judicial hearing officer presides over a hearing hereunder he shall cause a record to be made thereof in the manner prescribed by the chief administrator. (iv) The court or the judicial hearing officer shall determine whether, by a preponderance of the evidence presented, the charge specified in the notice of noncompliance has been sustained. Such charge may not be sustained upon a finding of undue hardship or extreme inconvenience as set forth in subdivision (c) of section five hundred seventeen of this chapter or for any other excuse based on a good and sufficient cause.”

“a person summoned for jury service who does not comply with the summons as required by law or who knowingly provides false information in a request for an exemption or to be excused from jury service is subject to a contempt action punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.”

“A juror lawfully notified shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 if the juror: (1) fails to attend court in obedience to the notice without reasonable excuse; or (2) files a false claim of exemption from jury service.”