If you miss jury duty in New Jersey, the court’s first move is to mail you a notice asking why you didn’t appear, not to send police to your door. Respond to that notice promptly and you’ll almost always just be rescheduled. Ignore it and the court can treat your silence as contempt, fine you up to $500 under state law, and issue a bench warrant for your arrest. The stakes are higher if your summons came from federal court, where penalties reach $1,000 and up to three days in jail.
The Show Cause Notice Comes First
When you fail to appear, the court sends what’s often called a “Failure to Appear” or “show cause” notice. It tells you to contact the Jury Management Office in the county that summoned you, or to appear before a judge on a set date, and explain yourself. This is the court’s built-in second chance. If your summons went to an old address or you had a real emergency, this is where you clear it up.
Treat the notice as urgent mail. Ignoring it is what turns a missed date into a real legal problem: the court can find you in contempt and issue a bench warrant. Showing up at a hearing with an honest explanation, even an embarrassing one, is far better than not showing up at all.
State Penalties for Missing Jury Duty
New Jersey treats non-compliance with a jury summons as contempt of court. The governing statutes are N.J.S.A. 2B:20-14 and 2B:20-15, which cover failure to respond to a jury questionnaire or summons and the collection of resulting fines. A person who skips service without a reasonable excuse can be fined up to $500, payable to the county that issued the summons.
If the court orders a show cause hearing and you either don’t appear or can’t offer a good reason, the penalties can climb. How far depends on the circumstances: whether you forgot, whether you’ve missed before, and whether the judge believes you were deliberately avoiding service. Jail is rare in practice for a missed jury date, but New Jersey courts do have the authority to impose it in contempt proceedings.
Federal Jury Duty Is a Separate Track
If your summons came from the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey rather than a county Superior Court, federal law controls. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1866(g), a person who fails to appear for federal jury service faces a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment of up to three days, community service, or any combination of those.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels The federal court in New Jersey follows the same framework and requires anyone who misses service to show good cause.2United States District Court – District of New Jersey. What Is the Penalty for Not Responding to a Summons?
Check your summons to see which court sent it. A state summons comes from the Superior Court of a specific county. A federal summons comes from the U.S. District Court and refers to federal jury service. The processes, penalties, and excusal procedures differ.
What to Do Right Now If You Already Missed
Call the Jury Management Office in the county listed on your summons today. Have your 10-digit participant ID (printed under the barcode on the summons) and your full name ready so staff can pull up your record quickly.3NJ Courts. Jury Management Office Contact List
Be honest about why you didn’t appear. The staff deal with missed dates constantly and aren’t trying to punish anyone; their job is to reschedule you or determine whether you qualify to be excused. Most people who call promptly after a missed date are simply given a new service date. The court saves its enforcement tools for people who ignore both the summons and the follow-up notice.
If a show cause notice has already arrived, respond by the deadline printed on it. Appearing at the hearing with a reasonable explanation is what keeps the situation from escalating into a warrant.
If Your Date Hasn’t Arrived Yet: Reschedule
New Jersey allows one deferral of your service date. You can submit the request through the My Jury Service Portal online, or by calling or emailing your county’s Jury Management Office. Accepted reasons include medical issues, transportation problems, travel, employment conflicts, and emergencies.4NJ Courts. Deferral Requests (Rescheduling Your Service)
One trap to avoid: if the court asks for additional information to process your deferral and doesn’t receive it at least five days before your summons date, the request is denied and you’re expected to report as originally scheduled. Don’t submit a last-minute deferral and assume it went through.
Grounds to Be Excused Entirely
A deferral moves your service to a later date. An excusal gets you out of it. Under N.J.S.A. 2B:20-10, New Jersey courts grant excusals only on specific grounds:5Justia. New Jersey Revised Statutes Section 2B:20-10 – Grounds for Excuse From Jury Service
- Age 75 or older.
- You served as a juror in the same county within the past three years.
- Medical inability, certified by a licensed physician who confirms your condition prevents you from serving and is unlikely to change within a year.
- Severe financial hardship that would seriously compromise your ability to support yourself or your dependents.
- Sole caregiver status for a sick, elderly, or infirm dependent, or for a minor child, where no alternative care is available without severe financial hardship. Nursing mothers with a child one year old or younger also qualify.
- Active duty with the U.S. military, including National Guard members on active duty, on the summons date.6NJ Courts. Who Can Be Excused From Jury Service?
A medical excuse requires a licensed physician to complete the court’s Physician Certification in Support of Medical Excuse Request form. The doctor must confirm that your condition prevents service and is unlikely to change within a year. If your excusal is based on caring for a sick or infirm dependent rather than your own health, you need a separate letter from a physician stating that you are the sole caregiver and your presence is essential to that person’s regular care.7NJ Courts. Excusal Requests and Required Documentation
Financial hardship means more than inconvenience. The standard is that serving would seriously compromise your ability to cover necessary living expenses. Expect to provide documentation such as pay stubs, tax returns, or proof that you’re the primary income source for dependents.
Your Job Is Protected
Fear of losing a job is a common reason people skip jury duty, and it’s the wrong reason. N.J.S.A. 2B:20-17 makes it illegal for a New Jersey employer to penalize you for serving as a juror. An employer who violates the law faces a disorderly persons offense, and you can bring a civil action for monetary damages and reinstatement.8NJ Courts. Can I Be Penalized by My Employer for Serving on Jury Duty?
Federal law adds a second layer if you’re summoned to federal court. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1875, an employer cannot discharge, threaten, intimidate, or coerce any permanent employee because of jury service. Violations can mean liability for lost wages, an injunction, reinstatement, and a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation per employee.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1875 – Protection of Jurors Employment
One boundary worth knowing: neither state nor federal law requires your employer to pay your regular wages while you serve, though some do voluntarily. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not mandate pay for jury duty time.10U.S. Department of Labor. Jury Duty
Watch for Jury Duty Scams
People who’ve missed jury duty are prime targets for phone scams. If someone calls claiming you missed service and must pay a fine immediately to avoid arrest, it’s a scam. Courts never demand payment over the phone.11Federal Trade Commission. That Call or Email Saying You Missed Jury Duty and Need to Pay? It’s a Scam
The clearest red flags: a demand for payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or payment app, or a request for your Social Security number or date of birth. A real court sends paper notices through the mail and would never threaten immediate arrest by phone. Hang up and report the call to the FTC.