A missed jury duty date is not the end of the world, but it is not free either. Here is what each state does, what the federal court does, and the right way to handle it if you already missed.
Most courts mail a failure-to-appear notice within a few weeks of a missed date. That notice gives you a new appearance date or asks you to call and explain. Respond to it. First-time misses, handled promptly, almost always end with a rescheduled service and no fine. Ignored notices escalate to contempt charges, fines from a few hundred to $1,500 depending on the state, and in rare cases a bench warrant or short jail term.
Federal court is stricter on paper — 28 USC §1864 allows a fine of up to $1,000 plus three days in jail — but in practice federal courts also reschedule first offenders who respond to the follow-up notice.
The penalties are not random. They follow a predictable sequence. Most people resolve things at step 1 or 2 by responding promptly.
Mailed within two to six weeks of the missed date. Asks you to call, explain, and accept a new date. Responding here usually resolves everything with no fine.
If you ignore the first notice, the court issues a formal order requiring you to appear before a judge and explain why you missed. Missing this hearing is the trigger for actual penalties.
If you fail to appear at the show-cause hearing, the judge can find you in contempt. Fines range from $100 to $1,500 in most states, with federal court topping out at $1,000.
Reserved for repeat offenders who ignore multiple court orders. A bench warrant can lead to arrest at a traffic stop. This almost never happens to first-time absentees.
Penalties vary, but they are not arbitrary. Most are codified in state statute. Below is a sample of the larger states. Smaller states tend to fall within the same range.
| State / court | Max fine | Statute or source |
|---|---|---|
| Federal court | $1,000 + up to 3 days jail | 28 USC §1864 |
| California | $1,500 | Code of Civil Procedure §209 |
| New York | $250 per day + contempt | NY Judiciary Law §527 |
| Texas | $1,000 contempt fine | Texas Gov't Code §62.0146 |
| Florida | $100 + possible contempt | Florida Statutes §40.23 |
| Massachusetts | $2,000 + community service | M.G.L. c. 234A §61 |
| Pennsylvania | $500 + community service | 42 Pa.C.S. §4584 |
| Illinois | $500 contempt fine | 705 ILCS 305/13.1 |
| Georgia | $500 + possible jail | O.C.G.A. §15-12-9.1 |
Always check the specific notice you received. Some courts waive fines for first offenders who respond promptly to the failure-to-appear notice.
Do not wait for the failure-to-appear notice to arrive. Call the court today. Most courts have a jury services line listed on the same summons you missed, or on the court's website.
Need to actually request a postponement instead? See the full guide on how to postpone jury duty.
Almost everyone who misses jury duty does so by accident. The date is on a piece of paper that sits around for a month, then disappears under other mail. By the time you remember, it is the wrong day.
An email reminder set the day you get the summons is the cheapest possible insurance against this. See the full guide on jury duty reminders for the details, or set one now.
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In most states, the immediate consequence is a failure-to-appear notice mailed to your address. It typically demands an explanation and gives you a new date to appear, either for service or to show cause. Ignoring that follow-up is when the real penalties — fines and contempt charges — start.
Yes, in some jurisdictions, though it is rare for a first offense. Federal court can impose up to three days under 28 USC §1864. State courts (Texas, California, and others) can impose short jail terms for contempt if you repeatedly ignore summonses or fail to respond to a failure-to-appear hearing. First-time absences with no explanation almost always result in a fine or a new date, not jail.
Fines vary by state. Federal court: up to $1,000. California: up to $1,500 (CCP §209). New York: up to $250 per day plus possible contempt. Florida: up to $100 plus possible contempt. Texas: up to $1,000 contempt fine. Most states fall between $100 and $1,500 for a first offense.
For a first missed date, almost never. The court mails a failure-to-appear notice first. A sheriff visit or bench warrant only happens if you ignore multiple notices and a judge issues an order. Scam callers often pretend to be sheriffs demanding payment for missed jury duty — that is always fake.
Call the court that summoned you, today if possible. Be honest about why you missed — forgot the date, illness, family emergency, work conflict. Most courts will reschedule you without penalty if you call promptly and explain. The mistake people make is hoping it will go away. It does not. Courts track who appeared.
A simple missed appearance does not create a criminal record. A contempt finding can, though most courts vacate it once you complete service or pay the fine. The bigger risk is the wasted time and stress of dealing with follow-up notices — none of that follows you if you respond promptly.
This is a valid defense if your address on file is wrong or mail was lost. Call the court, explain, and provide proof of your current address. Courts will typically vacate any failure-to-appear finding and reschedule you. Update your address with the DMV and voter registration — that is where jury lists are drawn from.
Set a free reminder for your next court date. Free, no account, takes 30 seconds — and you'll get follow-up emails until you confirm you served.
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