Gone are the days of calling an automated hotline at 5:00 PM and listening to a scratchy voice read out 400 numbers. In 2026, the entire jury process has moved to your smartphone.
If you receive a summons this year, the first thing you'll notice is a prominent QR Code printed on the front. Scanning this code with your smartphone camera is the fastest way to handle your civic duty. It instantly logs you into the court's secure eJuror portal.
The online portal completely replaces the need to mail back paper forms. Through the mobile site, you can:
When you arrive at the courthouse, many jurisdictions now feature airline-style digital kiosks. Instead of waiting in a massive line for a clerk to find your name on a clipboard, you simply scan your digital summons QR code at the kiosk to mark yourself present and automatically trigger your daily compensation payment.
As courts move to digital systems, scammers have adapted. A legitimate court will NEVER send you a text message with a link to pay a fine for missing service. The QR code is only ever sent via official physical mail from the court clerk. If you get an unsolicited text claiming to be a digital summons, delete it immediately.
Scanning the QR code on your official paper summons gives you instant access to postpone service, upload doctor's notes, and check in digitally without calling the courthouse.