Do not ignore it. Jury duty is mandatory, and skipping it can bring civil or criminal penalties. Courts often assign a new date too. Call the jury office named on your summons. You can usually ask to move the date, or ask to be excused from service.
What happened
A jury summons came, and the date passed. Or the date is coming and you cannot be there. Work, school, health, or child care can all get in the way. A summons is a court order, so it does not just go away.
What usually applies
Jury duty is mandatory. Skipping it can bring civil or criminal penalties, and anyone who skips is assigned a new date. Most courts let you move your service if you call before the date. After that, a new date or an excuse goes through your local jury office. That office may ask for papers that show why you cannot serve. Penalties are not automatic. In California, for example, a hearing comes first, and a court may then find a person in contempt. That can mean a fine of up to $1,500, up to five days in jail, or both. Rules and amounts differ by state and by court.
“Jury duty, like paying taxes, is mandatory. Skipping jury duty can result in civil or criminal penalties. In addition, anyone who skips jury service will be assigned a new date for future jury service.”
“Any future request for postponement or excusal must be made by contacting your local commissioner of juror's office. If you cannot serve even if granted a postponement, you may contact your local commissioner of juror's office and ask to be excused from service. The commissioner may ask you to provide documentary proof of the reasons why you need to be excused.”
“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.”
“Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 209, any prospective juror who is summoned for service and does not respond as directed or get excused may be found in contempt of court. This can result in a fine of up to $1,500, incarceration for up to five days, or both.”
What to do
- 1
Call the jury office today
Your summons lists a phone number and a juror number. Have both ready. Say plainly that you missed the date or cannot make it.
- 2
Ask to move the date
Many courts let you pick a new date a few months out. Some let you do it online instead of by phone.
- 3
Ask to be excused if you truly cannot serve
Health, money, and care duties are common reasons. The office may ask for a doctor note or other papers.
- 4
Keep proof of every contact
Write down who you spoke with and when. Save any letter or email the court sends back to you.
- 5
Answer any follow up notice fast
A second notice usually sets a hearing date. Ignoring that one is what turns a missed date into a penalty.
If a notice of noncompliance, a contempt hearing, or a fine has already arrived, that paper explains your hearing rights. Read it the day it comes. A public defender office, a legal aid office, or your local 211 line can tell you what your court expects.
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Sources
- New York State Unified Court System (Juror Questions and Answers)Retrieved 2026-07-31
- California Legislative Information (Code of Civil Procedure Section 209)Retrieved 2026-07-31
- Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino (Failure to Appear/Respond to a Jury Summons)Retrieved 2026-07-31
Last reviewed 2026-07-31