If you’ve been summoned for federal jury duty in New Jersey, you’ll report to one of three United States District Court courthouses — Newark, Trenton, or Camden — for a two-week on-call term, earn $50 per day plus mileage, and keep your job by federal law while you serve. The rules below are federal, not state, so they apply the same way whichever courthouse you’re assigned to.
Where You’ll Report
New Jersey is a single federal judicial district with three courthouse locations.1United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. District of New Jersey The court assigns you to the one closest to your home.
- Mitchell H. Cohen Building & U.S. Courthouse, 4th & Cooper Streets, Camden, NJ 08101
- Martin Luther King Building & U.S. Courthouse, 50 Walnut Street, Newark, NJ 07102
- Clarkson S. Fisher Building & U.S. Courthouse, 402 East State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608
Every federal trial and grand jury proceeding in the state happens at one of these three buildings. Note that none of this covers state or county jury duty in New Jersey, which runs on separate rules and separate courthouses.
Who Has to Serve
To qualify for federal jury service you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and have lived in the District of New Jersey for at least one year. You also need to be able to read, write, speak, and understand English well enough to complete the court’s qualification form.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1865 – Qualifications for Jury Service
A pending felony charge, or a past felony conviction without civil rights restored, disqualifies you. So does a mental or physical condition that would prevent you from serving satisfactorily, though the court will consider reasonable accommodations.3United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses
Three groups are flatly exempt even if otherwise qualified: active-duty members of the armed forces and National Guard, full-time professional firefighters and police officers (volunteers aren’t exempt), and full-time public officers who were elected or appointed by an elected official.3United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses
The Pink Questionnaire Comes First
Names come from state voter registration lists, supplemented by other sources like driver’s license records when needed to make the pool reflect the community.4United States Courts. Juror Selection Process If your name is drawn, you first receive a qualification questionnaire — a pink form in New Jersey — not a summons to appear.
Respond through the court’s eJuror system using the nine-digit participant number printed above your name on the questionnaire, the first three letters of your last name, and your date of birth. If you don’t have computer access, call 1-844-238-0864 for a paper copy, which must be returned within 10 days.5United States District Court. eJuror Questionnaires
You won’t hear back if you’re disqualified, excused, or exempt. If you are qualified, an actual summons with a reporting date may follow at some point.5United States District Court. eJuror Questionnaires
Postponing or Being Excused
If the dates create a genuine hardship, request a postponement or excuse through eJuror. After filling in the summons information form, use the postpone/excuse link on the main eJuror home page. Allow five to seven business days for processing, and check your status by calling the automated juror information line at 1-866-363-8154.6United States District Court. How Can I Make a Hardship Request
Courts commonly grant excuses for serious medical conditions, caregiving responsibilities that can’t be rearranged, and prepaid travel that would be costly to cancel. A busy week at work generally isn’t enough, though a legitimate conflict can often be solved with a deferral rather than a full excuse. If you haven’t heard back by your reporting date, show up anyway.
Reporting Day
Your summons will tell you to call a phone number or check the court’s website the evening before to confirm whether you need to appear. Trials get rescheduled at the last minute, so always verify before leaving the house.
When you do report, you’ll go through orientation and may then be sent to a courtroom for jury selection. During voir dire, the judge and attorneys ask questions to decide whether you can be fair and impartial in the specific case.4United States Courts. Juror Selection Process Some prospective jurors are excused; the rest form the jury.
What You’ll Be Paid
Federal jurors receive a flat $50 per day for each day they report, including the travel days at the start and end of service. If you sit on a single trial for more than 10 days, the judge may raise the daily rate by up to $10, bringing it to $60 per day for each additional day beyond the tenth.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1871 – Fees
Jury pay is taxable. Report it on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8h. If your employer kept paying your salary and required you to turn over your jury pay, you can deduct what you handed back on Schedule 1, line 24a.8Internal Revenue Service. Publication 525 – Taxable and Nontaxable Income
Federal law does not require your employer to keep paying your regular salary while you serve. Some do voluntarily, and some New Jersey employers have policies or union contracts that cover jury leave, but there’s no federal mandate.
Mileage, Tolls, and Parking
You get a mileage allowance for driving to and from the courthouse. The 2026 rate is $0.725 per mile for a privately owned vehicle.9General Services Administration. Privately Owned Vehicle Mileage Reimbursement Rates Tolls for roads, bridges, tunnels, and ferries are reimbursed in full, and the court may reimburse reasonable parking fees with a valid receipt.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1871 – Fees If you live far enough away that an overnight stay is necessary, you may qualify for a subsistence allowance covering meals and lodging.10United States Courts. Juror Pay
How Long You’re on the Hook
In the District of New Jersey, petit jurors sit on call for a two-week term.11United States District Court – District of New Jersey. General Jury FAQs You may get called in to serve on a trial during those two weeks, or you may never need to report. If you aren’t selected for a trial by the end of the term, your service is over. If you are selected, service continues until the trial ends, even if that runs past the two weeks.
Grand jury service is a different animal. A federal grand jury reviews evidence and decides whether to bring charges, not guilt or innocence. The standard term is 18 months, with possible six-month extensions up to a 36-month cap.12Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 3331 – Summoning and Term Grand jurors don’t come in every day; sessions typically run a few days per month. Pay starts at $50 a day and can rise to $60 at the judge’s discretion after 45 days of actual service.10United States Courts. Juror Pay
Your Job Is Protected
Federal law makes it illegal for your employer to fire you, threaten to fire you, or pressure you because of federal jury service. The protection covers all permanent employees called to any federal court.13Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1875 – Protection of Jurors Employment
If an employer violates the law, they can be ordered to pay lost wages and benefits, reinstate you as if you’d been on a leave of absence with no loss of seniority, pay a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation per employee, perform community service, and cover your reasonable attorney’s fees. You can file your claim directly in federal district court, and if the court finds probable merit, it will appoint an attorney for you at no cost.13Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1875 – Protection of Jurors Employment
If You Ignore the Summons
Skipping federal jury duty is not minor. The court can order you to appear and explain yourself, and if you can’t show a good reason, you face up to a $1,000 fine, up to three days in jail, community service, or any combination of those.14Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels The same penalties apply to failing to return the qualification questionnaire. If the dates really don’t work, file a postponement request through eJuror rather than letting the date pass.