Short Answer: Fully virtual jury trials remain rare in 2026. A handful of states piloted remote jury selection during COVID-19, but most courts have returned to in-person proceedings. Voir dire (jury selection) is more likely to be offered remotely than actual trial deliberations.

The pandemic forced courts to rethink centuries of tradition almost overnight. Zoom hearings, virtual arraignments, and remote depositions became commonplace between 2020 and 2022. When it came to jury trials, however, most jurisdictions drew a firm line: the constitutional right to an in-person jury remains the standard in the vast majority of US courts.

That said, some interesting exceptions and partial solutions exist. Here is what is actually available in 2026.

What Can Be Done Remotely

  • Online Questionnaires: Many courts now send juror qualification questionnaires and summons-response forms through online portals. This has replaced the paper postcard system in most jurisdictions.
  • Virtual Voir Dire (Select Courts): A small number of federal district courts and state courts — particularly in California, New York, and Texas — continue to offer remote video jury selection for civil cases where all parties consent.
  • Online Check-In and Reporting: Many courts now let jurors check in via a court app or phone system the evening before, reducing time spent waiting at the courthouse.

What Must Still Happen In Person

Full jury trials — including opening arguments, testimony, and deliberations — are almost universally required to take place in the courtroom. Courts cite several reasons:

  • The Sixth Amendment's guarantee of a public trial means jurors must be physically present to observe witnesses, read body language, and assess credibility.
  • Deliberation rooms must be private and monitored — impossible to guarantee in a juror's home.
  • Evidence handling, exhibit viewing, and courtroom decorum all require physical presence.

Does Virtual Jury Duty Pay the Same?

Yes. In jurisdictions that do permit remote voir dire or partial remote participation, jurors receive the exact same daily attendance stipend and mileage/travel allowance that in-person jurors receive for that day. The courts treat participation as participation regardless of format.

✅ Requesting Remote Accommodation: If you have a documented disability, chronic illness, or mobility limitation that makes in-person courthouse attendance genuinely difficult, you can formally request a remote participation accommodation under the ADA. Courts grant these on a case-by-case basis.