Missed your jury summons? What to do now

It happens more often than you'd think. The summons went to an old address, got buried in a pile of mail, or you mixed up the date. Missing jury duty is taken seriously, but courts deal with it constantly, and the fix almost always starts with a phone call.

First, call the jury office

Use the phone number on the summons or the court's official website, not a number from an unexpected call or text. Explain what happened and ask what you need to do. In most cases you'll be given a new date. Acting promptly, before the court sends a follow-up notice or order, shows good faith.

What the law says (federal)

For federal courts, 28 U.S.C. § 1866(g) says a person summoned who fails to appear may be ordered by the district court to appear and show cause, meaning explain why they didn't comply. Anyone who fails to show good cause may be fined up to $1,000, imprisoned for up to three days, ordered to perform community service, or any combination. Those are maximums, and the key phrase is "good cause." A real explanation, promptly given, is exactly what the show-cause process is for.

What the law says (states)

States set their own penalties, usually through contempt of court. Virginia's official juror guide, for example, notes that failing to respond to a summons can lead to contempt. Details vary widely. Your state jury page or the court clerk can tell you what applies.

Common situations

• The summons went to an old address. Tell the court and update your address. Colorado's judicial branch has a dedicated page for summonses sent to an old address.
• You didn't qualify anyway. For example, you've moved out of the county or you're not a citizen. You still need to tell the court. Respond to the questionnaire and explain.
• You forgot or mixed up the date. Call, apologize, and reschedule.
• You got a follow-up notice or an order to show cause. Respond by the date given, and follow the instructions exactly. If an order requires you to appear in court, go. Consider getting legal advice if you're worried.

Watch for scams

Scammers exploit this exact fear. The U.S. Courts warn about calls, emails, and messages threatening prosecution for failing to serve and pressuring people for personal data. Real courts mostly contact jurors by mail, and federal courts never require sensitive information by phone or email. Courts don't take payment by gift card or wire transfer over the phone to cancel a warrant. See jury duty scams.

Going forward

Keep your address current on your driver's license and voter registration, since many courts draw names from those lists. Put your reporting date in your calendar the day the summons arrives, and follow the check-in instructions the evening before. If you need a different date, ask before the date, using our postponement letter builder.

The federal penalty, exactly

The federal statute is specific. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1866(g), a person summoned for jury service who fails to appear may be ordered by the district court to appear "forthwith" and show cause for not complying. If you can't show good cause, you may be:

• fined up to $1,000,
• imprisoned for up to three days,
• ordered to perform community service, or
• any combination of these.

In practice, courts usually reschedule a juror who calls promptly with a reasonable explanation. Penalties tend to fall on people who repeatedly ignore summonses and court orders.

State consequences

State courts treat a jury summons as a court order. Virginia's official answer book warns that if you don't respond, you could be held in contempt of court. State procedures vary: some courts mail a second notice, some issue an order to show cause, and some schedule a hearing. Read any follow-up letter carefully and respond by its deadline.

What counts as good cause

Judges look at the whole picture. Explanations that commonly carry weight include:

• The summons was mailed to an old address and you never received it.
• A medical emergency or hospitalization.
• A death in the family or another genuine emergency.
• A mistake about the date that you corrected as soon as you noticed.

Explanations that rarely work: "I was busy," "I forgot," or "I didn't think it was mandatory."

A script for the phone call

"Hello, my name is [name], juror number [number]. I was summoned for [date] and missed it because [brief reason]. I'm calling to apologize and to reschedule. I'm available [dates]. What do I need to do?"

Write down the name of the person you spoke with, the date, and what they told you. If they reschedule you, ask for written confirmation.

If you receive an order to show cause

• Don't ignore it. Missing a show-cause hearing is far more serious than missing the original summons.
• Bring documentation: proof of your address change, medical records, or travel records.
• Be brief and respectful. Judges appreciate jurors who take responsibility and offer to serve.
• Consider talking to a lawyer if you face a fine or jail, though most of these hearings end with rescheduling.

A warning about scam calls

"You missed jury duty" is the most common opening line of jury scams. A real court won't demand payment by phone to cancel a warrant. Verify by calling the number on your summons or the court's official website. See jury duty scams.

Frequently asked questions

Will a missed summons go on my record? A missed summons by itself isn't a criminal conviction. Contempt findings are court records, though, so resolve the problem promptly.

I moved. Do I have to serve where I used to live? Usually not, if you no longer live in that court's area. Tell the jury office your new address.

Key takeaways

• Call the jury office as soon as you realize you missed your date.
• Explain briefly, apologize, and offer new dates.
• Respond to any order to show cause, and bring documents.
• Ignore phone demands to pay a fine. Real courts don't collect that way.