Can you go to jail for missing jury duty? Here’s what NC law says
Every couple of years, a three-person commission from each county in North Carolina compiles a jury pool of licensed drivers and registered voters who live there.
If your name is drawn from the list, you’ll receive a summons in the mail directing you to report for jury duty, according to the N.C. Judicial Branch.
The chances of serving on a jury are small, but most Americans say it is “part of being a good citizen,” according to a 2017 survey from the Pew Research Center.
Others may consider it a nuisance and try to get out of serving, but there are penalties for missing jury duty. Could you go to jail? Here’s what to know.
Can you go to jail for missing jury duty in NC?
Yes. Judges can issue subpoenas compelling citizens to appear for jury duty, according to Carl Nagle, a Winston-Salem based attorney with Nagle & Associates.
And state law says North Carolina courts can issue an order for arrest for not complying with a subpoena — but it’s fairly uncommon, Nagle said.
“In actual practice, often nothing happens at all,” Nagle said, adding that judges and courts in Forsyth County have never issued subpoenas for failure to appear for jury duty. “Thus, for North Carolina state courts, including District Court and Superior, some counties do absolutely nothing to follow up on citizens who simply fail to appear for jury service.”
It’s more likely that you’ll be held in contempt or fined $50 for each time you fail to appear — unless you have an excuse “deemed sufficient,” according to the NC Judicial Branch.
Jury duty scam in NC
The NC Judicial Branch also warned residents to beware of any phone calls or emails you may get from scammers posing as officials issuing fake notices.
“If you fail to appear, you cannot be fined by telephone or email. Any phone call stating that a (bench) warrant has been issued for your arrest due to not reporting for jury service is a scam,” the state judicial website says.
Court staff and the Sheriff’s Office do not call or email citizens requesting:
- Social Security numbers
- Credit card numbers
- Money and/or pre-paid debit card numbers
- Any other sensitive financial information
How can you get out of jury duty in NC?
Those who receive a jury summons but are not able to serve on their assigned dates can request an excuse or deferral from the clerk of superior court office or the chief district court judge’s office in their counties, according to the NC Judicial Branch.
Some people can request to be excused any time five days before the date they are scheduled to appear, including:
- Full-time students at a school outside of North Carolina
- Those 72 years old or older
- Those with a disability
Who is eligible to serve on a jury in NC?
Qualified jurors must be:
U.S. citizens
Residents of the county where the summons was issued
At least 18 years old
Physically and mentally competent
Able to understand English
People who are eligible can only serve as jurors once every two years, and as grand jurors once every six years, according to the NC Judicial Branch. Those who have been convicted of a felony cannot serve as jurors unless their citizenship rights have been restored.
When do you have to report to jury duty in NC?
Each jury summons provides the date, time and place to report for jury duty.
The NC Judicial Branch suggests that jurors bring reading materials to occupy their time. Comfortable attire is recommended for jurors, but some judges do not allow people who are dressed too casually to enter their courtrooms.
How much do jurors get paid in NC?
According to the NC Judicial Branch, trial jurors receive $12 for their first day of service and $20 for each day after. If they serve more than five days, they will receive $40 per day.
It is against the law for employers to fire employees for serving on juries in North Carolina, but the law does not require employees to be paid in full for the time they missed, according to the NC Judicial Branch.
Most jurors only serve one or two days, but those who are assigned to appear at a trial could serve for several weeks, the NC Judicial Branch says.
This story was originally published May 16, 2025 at 2:08 PM with the headline "Can you go to jail for missing jury duty? Here’s what NC law says."
