If you’ve been summoned for Ventura County jury duty, respond through the county’s online portal as soon as you get the summons, plan to appear at the Hall of Justice on your reporting date, and use that same portal if you need to postpone or ask to be excused. Most people finish in a single day under California’s one-day-or-one-trial system. Your name was pulled from voter registration rolls and DMV records, so a summons doesn’t mean the court singled you out.
Responding to Your Summons
Ventura County’s online jury portal is at juryweb.ventura.courts.ca.gov. You can use it to confirm attendance, complete the juror questionnaire, request a postponement, or ask to be excused. To log in you need the badge number printed near the barcode on your summons, your date of birth, and your five-digit zip code.1Ventura Superior Court. Jury Service
Lost the summons? Call Jury Services at (805) 289-8661 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays and staff will look up your badge number. If you’d rather not use the portal, you can fill in the questionnaire on the paper summons and return it by mail, fax, or email to the addresses printed on the form. Either way, respond promptly. The court tracks non-responses, and the consequences build fast.
Postponing or Being Excused
The online portal is also where you request a new date or ask out of service entirely. If you’re postponing, pick your replacement date before you start the request so you can enter it in one pass. Californians are only required to serve once every 12 months, so if you’ve already served in the past year, that alone qualifies you for excusal.2Judicial Council of California. One Day or One Trial Jury Service
For a medical excuse, the court generally wants a letter, memo, or note from your treating provider. A permanent medical excusal has to be on the provider’s letterhead, state that you have a permanent disability that makes you unable to perform jury service, and be signed by the provider.3Judicial Branch of California. Rule 2.1009 – Permanent Medical Excuse From Jury Service You can upload supporting documents through the portal.
Financial hardship requests need more than a general complaint about inconvenience. Be ready to show specifically why serving would create an extreme economic burden, with documentation such as proof of self-employment income loss or sole-caregiver responsibilities.
One Day or One Trial: What “Done” Looks Like
California’s statewide policy keeps jury service short and predictable. You satisfy your obligation in any of these ways:2Judicial Council of California. One Day or One Trial Jury Service
- You report, sit in the assembly room, and no courtroom calls your name. You’re done after that one day.
- You’re sent to a courtroom for jury selection but not chosen. Once the judge dismisses you, service is complete.
- You’re selected and serve on the trial until the judge discharges the jury.
- You serve one day on call, or up to five court days on telephone standby, without being called in.
Most summoned jurors are finished in a single day. Once you’ve completed service, you won’t be called again for at least 12 months.
Reporting Day
Jury service in Ventura County takes place at the Hall of Justice, 800 South Victoria Avenue in Ventura. The Jury Services office is Room 113.1Ventura Superior Court. Jury Service Bring your summons or badge number.
Parking is free at all court facilities. Don’t use handicapped, carpool, or time-limited spaces unless you’re authorized; you will get a ticket.1Ventura Superior Court. Jury Service Lots fill up, so arriving early helps. Note where you parked before you head inside.
The court suggests business attire and recommends layers, since assembly room and courtroom temperatures swing during the day.1Ventura Superior Court. Jury Service You’ll pass through security at the entrance. Leave weapons and recording devices at home. Once inside, staff check you in and point you to the assembly room, where you’ll wait until courtrooms request jurors. Expect downtime; a book, a phone charger, and a snack help. Wi-Fi is generally available in the assembly room.
On-Call Reporting
If you’re on call rather than assigned a specific reporting day, check the court website or call (805) 289-8661 after 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before your scheduled week. The recording will tell you whether your group number has been called in. Check again each evening during your on-call period.
Pay, Mileage, and Your Job
California pays jurors $15 per day for each day of service after the first day; the first day is unpaid. You also receive $0.34 per mile for travel to and from the courthouse, starting on the second day. Payments are processed after your service ends and mailed to the address on file. If you work for a federal, state, or local government entity and get your regular salary while serving, you don’t receive the $15 daily fee.4California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure 215
Your employer can’t fire, harass, or retaliate against you for taking time off to serve, as long as you give reasonable notice that you’ve been summoned.5California Legislative Information. California Code Labor Code 230 – General Occupations “Reasonable notice” isn’t defined by a specific number of days; showing the summons to your employer as soon as you receive it is the safest approach.
The law protects your job, not your paycheck. California does not require private employers to pay your regular wages while you serve.6Judicial Branch of California. Employer Information Some employers cover jury duty pay voluntarily; check your employee handbook. If your employer threatens or penalizes you for serving, you can file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, and the employer could face misdemeanor charges.
Disability Accommodations
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ventura County courts must provide meaningful access to jurors with disabilities. Request an accommodation as soon as you know you’ll need one, ideally when you first respond to the summons. Common accommodations include sign language interpreters, large-print documents, permission to use a service animal, shortened trial days, and additional breaks. In some cases the court can arrange participation by phone or video.
The court is not obligated to provide personal devices like hearing aids or wheelchairs, personal care assistance, or transportation to the courthouse. Call Jury Services at (805) 289-8661 to discuss your needs before your reporting date.
What Happens if You Ignore the Summons
Skipping the summons is where people run into trouble they didn’t see coming. If you don’t respond, the court can send a second summons at least 90 days later noting that you failed to respond the first time. Ignore that one, and the court sends a failure-to-appear notice warning of fines. After that comes a formal order to show cause requiring you to explain yourself before a judge.7California Legislative Information. California Code CCP 209
Fines escalate with each offense:
- First violation: up to $250
- Second violation: up to $750
- Third and subsequent violations: up to $1,500
The court also has the option of holding you in contempt, which can mean additional fines or a brief stint in jail.7California Legislative Information. California Code CCP 209 Paying a fine doesn’t discharge the obligation either; you still owe the service. If you genuinely can’t serve, responding and requesting a postponement or excusal costs nothing.