Can You Actually Afford to Serve on a Long Jury Trial?
Most jury duty lasts 1-3 days. But occasionally, people get selected for trials that last weeks or even months. If that happens to you, the financial reality can be genuinely alarming.
Let's run the actual numbers — because most discussions of jury duty pay gloss over what long service really means for your bank account.
The Real Cost at Different Income Levels
Let's model a 4-week (20 business day) state trial in California, where the court pays $15/day starting day 2.
| Annual Income | Daily Rate | Court Pays (20 days) | Your Net Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000/year | $160/day | $285 total | $2,915 |
| $70,000/year | $280/day | $285 total | $5,315 |
| $100,000/year | $400/day | $285 total | $7,715 |
| $150,000/year | $600/day | $285 total | $11,715 |
These numbers don't include childcare costs, parking, or other expenses of showing up every day.
Does Anything Change After Day 10 in Federal Court?
In federal court, your pay increases to $60/day after day 10 — but you're still far below what most working adults earn. A $100,000/year earner going into a 20-day federal trial still loses roughly $7,000 even with the higher rate.
When Can You Request a Hardship Excusal?
Most courts allow jurors to request excusal during voir dire (jury selection) if serving on a lengthy trial would cause severe financial hardship. This is your main opportunity to explain your situation to the judge.
What courts consider legitimate hardship:
- You are the sole financial provider for your family
- Your employer will not pay you during service
- You are self-employed with no one to cover your work
- The trial length would prevent you from meeting essential financial obligations
Being upfront and specific during voir dire — rather than vague — is more likely to result in excusal. Judges hear "I'll lose money" constantly. "I am the sole income earner for a family of four, and my employer has confirmed they will not pay me during trial, which will result in me being unable to make my mortgage payment" is a different thing entirely.
If You're Selected: What to Do
If you're selected despite your concerns:
- Notify your employer immediately — many will continue paying voluntarily
- Track every expense: parking, meals, childcare — some may be deductible or reimbursable
- Keep your court attendance records for potential hardship documentation
- Look into whether your state has a hardship fund for jurors (rare, but some exist)
The Bigger Picture
The jury system works because people show up. For most people, the financial impact of a few days of jury service is modest. But the system's failure to adequately compensate jurors for long trials is a genuine structural problem — one that disproportionately falls on working and middle-class people who can't afford to absorb weeks of lost income.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do jurors get paid for a long trial?
Daily rates are the same regardless of trial length for most courts. California pays $15/day, federal courts pay $50/day (days 1-10) and $60/day after that. For a 20-day trial, a California juror would earn about $285 total from the court.
Can you get out of jury duty for a long trial because of finances?
Yes. You can request a financial hardship excusal during voir dire. Be specific about your situation: your income, whether your employer will pay you, any dependents, and the specific financial impact. Judges consider these requests seriously.
Do jurors get paid more for longer trials?
In federal courts only: the daily rate increases from $50 to $60 per day after 10 days of service. Most state courts pay the same rate regardless of how long the trial lasts.