Guaranteed Salary Continuance: Under federal law (**5 U.S.C. § 6322**), all federal civil service employees, including postal workers, receive **guaranteed paid court leave** and lose zero regular pay or annual leave during jury service.

If you are a civil service worker, military member, or work for agencies like the **United States Postal Service (USPS)**, your jury duty rules are distinct. Because your employer is the federal government itself, Congress has established ironclad legal guarantees to prevent any financial hardship.

Below, we outline the exact federal statutes, OPM (Office of Personnel Management) regulations, and the specific rules surrounding what you must do with the daily stipend check the court pays you.

1. Ironclad Job and Salary Protection: 5 U.S.C. § 6322

The core federal law governing jury duty is **Section 6322 of Title 5 of the United States Code**. This law states that federal employees summoned to serve on a jury in any federal, state, or local municipal court are entitled to **paid Court Leave**:

  • Zero Loss of Income: Your agency is legally mandated to continue your full salary without interruption.
  • No Deduction from Annual Leave: An agency **cannot** force you to use your earned vacation, sick days, or personal time. Your time in court is counted as fully paid administrative leave.
  • Applies to All Levels: These OPM rules cover full-time and part-time permanent federal employees. (Temporary employees with appointments under one year may have different rules).

2. The "Double-Dipping" Rule: What to Do with the Court check

While you are legally guaranteed your full government salary, the federal government does not allow "double-dipping" (collecting both your full salary and the court's daily attendance stipend):

⚠️ Important Stipend Rule: If you receive your regular federal pay during service, you **must turn over** the daily court attendance stipend (e.g. the $50/day federal rate or state daily fee) to your agency's payroll or finance office.

However, there is an important exception: **Travel, mileage, and meal reimbursements** are considered repayment for out-of-pocket expenses. Federal employees are allowed to **keep 100% of travel and mileage checks** paid by the court.

3. Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Federal Staff

When summoned for jury duty, federal employees should follow this checklist to ensure compliance with OPM rules:

  1. Notify Your Supervisor Immediately: Provide a copy of your jury summons to your supervisor and HR manager so they can code your attendance as **Court Leave** in the payroll system.
  2. Obtain a Certificate of Attendance: At the end of each day or week of service, request a "Juror Attendance Certificate" signed by the court clerk. Your agency will require this as official proof of service.
  3. Receive the Court Payment Check: When the court mails you your daily stipend check, check the breakdown. Separate the "attendance fee" from the "travel allowance."
  4. Remit the Attendance Portion: Hand in or endorse the attendance fee portion to your agency finance department according to your specific division handbook guidelines. Keep the mileage allowance check for yourself.