Frequently Asked Questions About Jury Service

If you received a summons, the first step is to complete the qualification questionnaire. Jurors can complete the qualification questionnaire using the online portal or using the mailed letter version.

Jurors who do not have the ability to submit the online qualification questionnaire will automatically be mailed a printed version. The printed qualification questionnaire can be filled out in writing and mailed or emailed back to the county Jury Management office.

All jurors must complete the qualification questionnaire even if you are making a request to be excused or rescheduled.

After completing the questionnaire, check the Jury Reporting page the night before your summons date for instructions.

• Do not set up a new account. An account is already set up for you.
• Use the 10-digit Participant ID and 5-digit zip code from your summons to log into the My Jury Service portal.
• Your User ID is your 10-digit Participant ID (include all zeros. e.g. 0001234567).
• Your Password is your 5-digit zip code.
• For more information on logging into the MyJuryService Portal visit: Quick Reference Guide – My Jury Service (MJS)

If you misplace your Juror Summons or Juror Questionnaire, you should contact the Jury Management Office in your county for a replacement. 

Jurors may update their address two ways:

1. Jurors who completed their Juror Questionnaire online can update their address through the juror portal under the personal contact information section.
2. Jurors mailing in the printed version of the Juror Questionnaire can update their address on this form under the “Other Information” section. Check the box for address change and write your new address on the line provided.

In New Jersey there is no statutory requirement that a private employer pay your salary during juror service. Whether or not your employer pays you for jury duty depends on your employment situation, including employers' policies, union contracts, etc. The State of New Jersey will pay you the appropriate juror fee as set forth in the New Jersey statutes. The Jury Management Office is aware that many employers do not pay their employees during jury duty. If service as a juror will create a severe financial hardship, as set forth in N.J.S.A. 2B:20-10, you may request to be excused. But please be aware that nonpayment by your employer, by itself, is not a valid reason to be excused from service. Each situation will be reviewed individually.

If you are employed full time by the State of New Jersey, you will receive your usual compensation while you serve as a juror. However, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 2B:20-16 you will not receive juror payment. This law applies to persons employed full time by any agency, independent authority, instrumentality of the State of any political subdivision of the State (such as counties or municipalities). Jurors affected by this policy should notify the Jury Management Office when they report for service. If a check is issued to you in error, you will be required to return it to the Jury Management Office.

N.J.S.A. 2B:20.17 prohibits an employer from penalizing you because you serve as a juror. Penalties for a violation of this statute include the possibility of a criminal charge, as a disorderly person’s offense, and a possible civil action for monetary damages and for reinstatement of employment.

Failure to respond to the summons will result in further court action.

During inclement weather situations, all jurors, should check the State Court Closing Information page prior to reporting to the courthouse.

If you no longer live in New Jersey or received a Juror Summons from a county you no longer reside in, you must complete the Juror Questionnaire. You will be asked about your residency on question one.

Completing the Juror Questionnaire will allow the Jury Management Office to update your jury system record, which will prevent later enforcement efforts if there is no response to the summons (since N.J statutes require a response).

The Judiciary is required, for jury selection purposes, to merge lists of registered voters, licensed drivers, New Jersey personal income tax filers. Non-residents can be summoned when changes are delayed during list processing or if record holders have not updated their records.

You may still collect unemployment benefits while serving as a juror. N.J.S.A. 43:21-4(c)(5) protects a person's unemployment benefits during juror service. That statute states the following:

• (5) An unemployed individual, who is otherwise eligible, shall not be deemed unavailable for work or ineligible solely by reason of the individual's attendance before a court in response to a summons for service on a jury.

If an employment interview is scheduled on a day on which you need to report for juror service, notify the Jury Management Office, in advance if possible, and your service will be rescheduled to a later date. Please be aware that verification may be required.

Jurors are an essential part of our justice system. The right to trial by jury in the United States dates from Colonial times and is rooted in English history. It is guaranteed by the Sixth and Seventh Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America and Article One of New Jersey’s State Constitution. People have a right to have matters determined by a jury of their peers. Participating in our judicial system is not only an honor, but is also one of our civic duties. Although juror service may be inconvenient, citizens must participate in the jury process in order for it to work. Cases that go to trial need to be resolved by citizens who hear the evidence, determine the facts and render a verdict. It is impossible to get a fair cross-section of the community to participate in the jury system if people do not report for jury service. If you ever found yourself or a loved one involved in a civil or criminal trial, it's likely that you would want a jury of fellow citizens who will be fair and impartial.

Jurors must complete the qualification questionnaire using the online portal or mailed letter version prior to submitting a rescheduling request. Reschedule requests can be submitted using the online portal or by completing the “Other Information” section on the bottom of the mailed questionnaire.

Jurors must complete the qualification questionnaire using the online portal or mailed letter version prior to submitting an excusal request. Excusal requests can be submitted using the online portal or by completing the excusal section on the bottom of the mailed questionnaire.

N.J.S.A. 2B:20-10 sets forth grounds for which a person can request to be excused from jury service. You may request to be excused from jury service you if fall into one of the categories below.

• You are 75 years of age or older.
  You will be required to provide your DOB the Jury Management Office.
   
• You have served as a juror in the same county within the last three years.
  You will be required to provide the date you served.
   
• You believe that you will suffer a severe financial hardship.
  In order to be excused for financial reasons, you must show that serving as a juror will cause a severe financial hardship that will compromise your ability to support yourself and/or your dependents. You will also be required to submit to the Jury Management Office a certification (sworn statement) listing the sources of your household income; whether you will be paid during jury service; and the impact of the length of service. 
  
  Jurors who report for service may speak with the trial judge regarding any financial hardships based on the anticipated length of the trial.
   
• You have a medical inability to serve as a juror.
  If you suffer from a medical condition that is unlikely to change within a year, and this condition prevents you from serving on jury duty, you may request to be excused or rescheduled. You and your doctor will be required to complete the Physician certification in Support of Medical Excuse Request certification. The Judiciary will also accept a note from a doctor that states the juror has a medical condition and the duration that this condition prevents them from serving jury duty. The court may request additional, non-confidential information if necessary to determine a request for an excusal.
   
• You care for a minor child, or a sick, aged, or infirm dependent, and have no alternative care available without suffering severe financial hardship.
  When requesting to be excused for any of these circumstances, keep in mind that the Jury Management Office will grant you time to arrange for alternative care. Please be aware that the Judiciary will accommodate mothers who are breastfeeding and will provide a suitable private location for their use during the day. 
  
  The Jury Management Office will also require supplemental documentation for excusal requests as indicated below:
  • If you are requesting an excuse based upon a personal obligation to care for a sick, aged, or infirm dependent, you must submit a doctor’s note from a licensed physician stating that you are the sole caregiver and your continued presence is essential to the regular and personal treatment of that person.
     
  • If you are requesting an excuse based upon a personal obligation to care for a minor child or children, you must submit to the Jury Management Office the certification which states you are personally obligated to care for the minor child(ren). By completing this certification, you acknowledge that the court may require further information and/or financial documentation in support of the request.
     
• You provide highly specialized technical healthcare services for which a replacement cannot reasonably be obtained.
  The Jury Management Office will require proof of licensing as a healthcare provider and a letter from your employer verifying that no coverage can be reasonably obtained.
   
• You are a healthcare worker directly involved in the care of a person with a mental or physical disability, and your continued presence is essential to the regular and personal treatment of that person.
  You will be required to provide a letter from your employer verifying that your continued presence is essential to the regular and personal treatment of the person.
   
• You are full-time teacher of a grammar/high school during the school year for which a replacement cannot be reasonably obtained.
  You will be required to submit a letter from your school superintendent confirming you are full time instructional staff and indicating either an excuse is necessary due to the volume of teachers called at the time or you are a special education teacher and it is essential for you to be in attendance. 
  
  Other teachers who cannot find a replacement, may reschedule their service.
   
• You are an active member of a volunteer fire department, fire patrol, first aid or rescue squad.
  The Jury Management Office will require a letter on letterhead from your fire captain/EMT squad captain; or identification showing active volunteer status (must not be expired).
   
• You are on active duty as a member of the United States military.
  In order to be excused from jury service, you must be on active duty on the summons date and the military service must be in the United States military, which includes members of the National Guard who are assigned to active duty.
  
  You should provide information relating to your current assignment, such as a copy of your orders, a letter from your commanding officer, or a copy of your ID card indicating an active duty assignment.

The Judiciary thanks you for your service.

No, jurors participating in the on-demand orientation do not receive compensation for completing that online orientation.  The on-demand orientation is designed to be a convenient alternative for jurors instead of in-person orientation. It allows you to prepare for jury service at your convenience, without the need to physically report to a courthouse.  We appreciate your commitment to civic duty by participating in the on-demand orientation.  You will be compensated for the portions of your jury service that follow the on-line orientation.

If you feel sick, do not report to the courthouse. Instead, contact your local jury management office to reschedule your service.

To determine if you are required to report for jury duty, visit the Juror Reporting Page after 5:00 p.m. the evening before your summons date.

Jurors may also receive email or text messages regarding their service. This service is not available to jurors who opted out of receiving messages.

You may be summoned for one of three types of jury service. You may be summoned to serve as a Petit Juror, a Grand Juror, or a State Grand Juror.

• Petit Jury service includes criminal and civil trials. Petit jurors who sit on a criminal trial decide guilt or innocence in a criminal matter. Petit jurors who sit on a civil trial decide liability or damages.
• Grand Jury determine whether there is enough evidence to move forward with criminal charges against a defendant.
• State Grand Jury and county grand jury operate similarly but the State Grand Jury has statewide jurisdiction and representation and meets in Trenton rather than one of the county seats.

Please also be aware that you may be summoned to serve as a federal petit juror or grand juror in U.S. District Court. Such service is independent of N.J. Superior Court jury service. 

Jurors reporting for service should wear clothing appropriate for an appearance in court. Shorts, t-shirts, uniforms or clothing containing statements or offensive symbols are not permitted. All hats must be removed when in a courtroom. Comfortable clothing is also advisable.

The Judiciary is required by statute to create a single list for juror selection that combines names of registered voters, licensed drivers, filers of N.J. personal income tax returns.

Citizens can assist in this process by using their legal name when filing relevant forms and checking to ensure that all information, including address and identifiers, is accurate.

Petit jurors are paid $5 dollars for each day of service. If a petit juror serves more than three days, the pay rate will increase to $40 per day beginning on the fourth day.

Grand jurors are paid $5 dollars for each day of service.

Recent service as a federal juror does not automatically relieve you from your petit jury civic obligation but you may provide that information to your summoning Jury Management Office. 

• Public transportation information can be found on the NJ Transit website.
• Specific destination and parking information for jurors is available on the jury reporting page for your county.

Prospective jurors are randomly selected by computer. If selected, a juror is mailed a green postcard summons. In certain instances, jurors will also be mailed a follow-up notice that includes a printed Juror Questionnaire.

Jurors who completed the Juror Qualification Questionnaire online can print an attendance letter through the juror portal. If you are unable to your print letter from the portal, your Jury Management Office can provide you with an attendance letter.

Recent service in another state does not excuse you from serving in New Jersey.

In order to ensure the safety of those entering NJ courthouses, all persons, including jurors, are screened when entering a NJ Superior Court courthouse. Chemical agents, pepper sprays, or anything resembling a weapon, including scissors, will not be permitted into the Courthouse - for the safety of the public. Also, be aware that all metal objects will activate the metal detector and will need to be placed in the trays before passing through the metal detector. If the metal detector is activated as you pass through, you will be screened by an officer using a handheld metal detector. Purses and other carried items, such as briefcases and backpacks will be x-rayed. Any illegal items will be confiscated. The fewer metal items you are carrying, the faster you will pass through the screening process.

Each juror record has the same chance of being selected at any time. As a result, some jurors may find they are summoned more frequently than others. If you have been summoned in the same county within the past three years, you may request to be excused from jury service. Please see "How do I request to be excused from jury service?" for instructions on requesting an excusal.

Juror payrolls are processed each Friday, except holidays. Therefore, a juror may receive more than one check if that juror served in different weeks.

Jurors paid $600 or more for their term of service will receive a 1099 form for taxes from the New Jersey Department of the Treasury.

N.J.S.A. 2B:20-1 establishes six criteria for a person to qualify for jury service:

1. be a resident of New Jersey;
2. be a citizen of the United States;
3. be physically and mentally able to perform the functions of a juror (noting that the Judiciary will provide accommodations consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act);
4. have no conviction for an indictable offense
   • Examples of persons who would be disqualified are anyone who was convicted of, or pled guilty to, a crime in Federal Court or Superior Court; or anyone currently on PTI (Pre-trial Intervention Program.)
   • Examples of persons who would qualify to serve jury duty are anyone whose only convictions are in Municipal Court (most traffic violations fall into this category, as do most shoplifting charges;) or anyone who has been accused of a crime but has not yet been convicted or has yet to enter a guilty plea.
   • Also, traffic offenses, juvenile and DWI related offenses that occurred in New Jersey are not grounds for disqualification.
   • You are not disqualified with respect to criminal record if you successfully completed a Pre-Trial Intervention program (PTI) for an offense and have not been convicted or pled guilty to another disqualifying offense.
5. be at least 18 years of age; and
6. be able to read and understand the English language

If you receive a Juror Summons or Juror Questionnaire addressed to a person who is deceased, please contact the summoning Jury Management Office. This will allow the Judiciary to make the record ineligible for future selection.

By law, the Judiciary annually receives records from the New Jersey Department of Taxation, Motor Vehicle Commission, and Division of Elections for the master jury list. Please make sure to notify those agencies to avoid a record mistakenly coming to the Judiciary in the future.