Serve Jury Duty

Courts may call on local residents to serve as jurors for a trial.

Jury service is a civic responsibility and legal obligation for all citizens. A local court may summon you for jury duty, which may include jury selection and serving as a juror in a trial. Individuals selected for jury duty must meet certain eligibility requirements and time commitments.

How Do I … Serve Jury Duty?

Determine if You’re Eligible

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be proficient in English enough to understand and discuss the case
• Be a resident of the county that sent you the jury summons
• Have not served on a jury in the last 12 months
• Not currently be on a grand jury or on another trial jury
• Not be under a conservatorship
• Have had your civil rights restored if you were convicted of a felony or malfeasance while holding public office

Receive a Jury Summons

• Courts will randomly select potential jurors from a pool of all eligible local residents. If selected, you will receive a notice — or jury summons — in the mail. The jury summons will include information about the date and time of your appearance and location of the court.
• Read the summons closely and follow the instructions. Some summons will require you to complete a questionnaire or contact the court in advance.
• Certain people are eligible to be exempted or excused from jury duty, such as people age 70 or older or full-time students. If you qualify, you must contact the court to receive an exemption before your appearance date. Follow the instructions on the summons or contact the court directly for more information.
• If you fail to respond to your jury summons, you may be subject to a fine or other penalties.

Appear in Court

• You must appear in person for jury selection at the date, time, and location noted on your jury summons. Bring a copy of your jury summons with you.
• Employers in Georgia are required to grant employees time off, though it may be unpaid, to serve jury duty.
• During jury selection, the court and lawyers may ask you a series of questions to determine if you could be a fair, honest, and impartial juror for a trial.

Next Steps

• If you are selected to serve on a jury, you will receive information about the trial date. You are responsible for making yourself available for jury duty for the duration of the trial. Follow the instructions closely and contact the court with any questions.
• If you are not selected, the court will dismiss you and your obligations for this jury summons will be complete.
• People who are summoned for jury duty are eligible to receive nominal compensation for each day, including jury selection. Payment amount varies by county and is between $5 and $50 per day. Most counties pay around $25. Contact the court to arrange payment.

• Determine if You’re Eligible
• Receive a Jury Summons
• Appear in Court
• Next Steps