If you’ve been summoned for Inyo County jury duty, you need to respond to the court at least five days before your reporting date, then check in the night before to see whether you actually have to appear at the courthouse in Independence or Bishop. California uses a one-day-or-one-trial system, so most people who do show up finish their obligation that same day.
Responding to Your Summons
You can respond two ways: mail the completed form back, or use the online portal at juryweb.inyo.courts.ca.gov. The online system asks for the badge number printed near the barcode on your summons, your zip code, and your date of birth. Either way, your response has to reach the court at least five days before your service date so staff can plan for the right number of jurors.1Superior Court of California, County of Inyo. Jury Web Portal
Responding is not the same as reporting. Before you drive in, call the jury line at (760) 872-4520 or check the court website. Trials settle and get continued constantly, and you may be released without ever leaving home.2Superior Court of California, County of Inyo. Jury Service
Postponing or Being Excused
If the date doesn’t work, you can postpone your service once for up to 90 days. Pick your preferred new date when you respond, on the paper form or in the portal. No documentation is needed for a simple postponement.
Being excused is harder. The court considers serious medical conditions, extreme financial hardship, and caregiving for a dependent who has no one else. A medical excuse requires a signed statement from your doctor explaining why your condition prevents you from serving.2Superior Court of California, County of Inyo. Jury Service For financial or transportation hardship, bring documentation: proof of travel distance, evidence of lost income, and anything that shows the burden. In a county this spread out, the distance factor is a legitimate concern the court takes seriously.
Breastfeeding Parents
If you are breastfeeding, you can defer jury service for up to one year, and you can renew that deferral for as long as you continue breastfeeding. The summons itself is required to reference this option.3Judicial Branch of California. Rule 2.1006 – Deferral of Jury Service
Disability Accommodations
Jurors with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations, which can include sign language interpreters, readers for jurors who are blind, assistive technology, relocated proceedings, and modified schedules. To request one, complete Judicial Council form MC-410 (available from the court clerk) or contact the court’s ADA coordinator. Submit the request at least five court days before your reporting date, though the court can waive that timeline when needed.4Judicial Council of California. Requesting Accommodations – Questions and Answers About Rule 1.100 for Court Users
What Happens When You Report
Bring your summons to whichever courthouse you’ve been assigned, Independence or Bishop. Dress business casual. Weapons, cameras, and recording devices are prohibited inside the facility. Smartphones are generally allowed in the building, but expect restrictions on using them inside the courtroom or jury room.2Superior Court of California, County of Inyo. Jury Service
Under the one-day-or-one-trial system, if you aren’t selected for a panel by the end of your reporting day, you’re done. If you are placed on a trial, you serve until the trial ends and the judge discharges you. Being put on telephone standby for up to five court days also counts as completing your service.5Judicial Branch of California. One Day or One Trial Jury Service Once you’ve served, you typically won’t be called again for at least 12 months.
Pay and Mileage
Jury pay in California is modest, and the first day is unpaid. Starting on the second day, the court pays $15 per day of attendance.6California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure 215 – Trial Jury Selection and Management Act That rate has not changed since 2000.
Mileage reimbursement also begins on day two, at $0.34 per mile for the round trip between your home and the courthouse.6California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure 215 – Trial Jury Selection and Management Act Given the distances in Inyo County, the mileage check can exceed the daily fee for jurors driving in from outlying areas. Neither payment covers your first day.
Your Job Is Protected
California law prohibits your employer from firing, demoting, or otherwise retaliating against you for taking time off to serve. All you have to do is give reasonable notice that you’ve been summoned. If an employer retaliates, you’re entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and benefits, and an employer who willfully refuses to rehire you after jury service can be charged with a misdemeanor.7California Legislative Information. California Labor Code 230
California does not require private employers to pay your regular salary while you serve, though some do so voluntarily. Check your employee handbook or ask HR before your service date so you know what to expect financially.
Penalties for Ignoring a Summons
Skipping jury duty is not risk-free. Anyone who fails to respond to a summons or show up as directed can be held in contempt of court.8Superior Court of California. General Information – Jury Summons Fines escalate: up to $250 for a first offense, up to $750 for a second, and up to $1,500 for a third or subsequent failure. Incarceration is also possible.9California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure 209 If you genuinely can’t serve, request a postponement or excuse rather than ignoring the summons.
Who Qualifies to Serve
To serve on a jury in Inyo County, you must be a U.S. citizen at least 18 years old, a California resident living in the county when summoned, and able to understand English well enough to follow the proceedings.
You are disqualified if you are currently serving on another grand or trial jury in California, under a conservatorship, incarcerated, on parole or felony probation, or required to register as a sex offender based on a felony conviction. People convicted of malfeasance in office whose civil rights have not been restored are also ineligible. A physical disability by itself does not disqualify anyone. California law specifically states that loss of sight, hearing, or other conditions affecting communication or mobility do not make a person incompetent to serve.10California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure 203 – Persons Eligible for Jury Service