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What to do if…
you have a jury summons but cannot attend on the date provided

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Use the instructions on the summons to ask the court or jury office for a postponement as soon as you can, and keep proof that you asked. Do not ignore the summons or simply fail to appear.

Do not do these things

  • Do not assume it will be fine to miss the date and explain later; many courts expect requests before the service date.
  • Do not contact unrelated agencies such as police, motor vehicle offices, or tax offices; use the court or jury office listed on the summons.
  • Do not send duplicate requests through several channels unless the summons or jury office tells you to; follow up only if you have no confirmation.
  • Do not exaggerate hardship. Keep the reason factual, brief, and consistent.
  • Do not pay a private “jury excuse” service. Use the official court route first.
  • Do not make final travel, work, or childcare plans around a new date until the court confirms the change.

What to do now

  1. Read the summons slowly and identify the issuing court, the reporting date, the juror participant number or badge number, and the exact contact method given for changes.
  2. Use the summons instructions to request a postponement or deferral right away. This may be through an online juror portal, a form, email, phone, or mail, depending on the court.
  3. Say clearly that you cannot attend on the listed date and give the specific scheduling reason, such as pre-booked travel, an exam, a medical appointment, work coverage that cannot be changed, or caregiving responsibility.
  4. Give realistic dates or a month when you can attend, if the form or jury office asks for availability. Choose dates you can actually manage.
  5. If your problem is not just a date conflict and you need to be excused, ask for an excusal separately and use the court’s own category or wording. Federal courts may consider temporary deferrals or excusals for “undue hardship” or “extreme inconvenience,” but each federal district has its own jury procedures, and state courts vary.
  6. Provide only the documentation the court asks for, or say that you can provide it if needed. Examples may include travel confirmation, an exam schedule, a medical note, caregiving documentation, or an employer letter if that court requires one.
  7. Save proof of everything. Keep screenshots, emails, portal confirmation numbers, copies of forms, postal receipts, and notes of any phone call, including the date, time, and the name or ID of the person you spoke with.
  8. Unless the jury office tells you otherwise, treat “no response” as not approved. Follow up before the report date and keep checking any phone, email, mail, or portal route the summons tells you to use.
  9. If the report date is very close, contact the jury office using the urgent route on the summons and ask what to do. Some courts are stricter close to the reporting date.
  10. If you already missed the date, contact the jury office immediately. Say that you received the summons, could not attend, and want instructions to correct the situation.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide today whether you qualify for a permanent excusal; start with the immediate date problem unless your situation is long-term.
  • You do not need to prepare views about the case, the justice system, or whether you would be a good juror. This is only an attendance and scheduling issue.
  • You do not need to contact lawyers, police, employers, schools, or travel companies before you have checked the summons instructions, unless you need a document from them for the court.
  • You do not need to solve every future work, travel, childcare, or study issue today. First, ask the court for the scheduling change and keep proof.

Important reassurance

Courts are used to genuine scheduling conflicts. Responding quickly, using the official route, and keeping proof usually puts you in a better position than staying silent or missing the date without contact.

Scope note

These are first steps only, to stabilise the situation and start the court’s own postponement or excusal process. Later decisions may need help from the issuing court, the jury office, or a qualified legal professional if the situation becomes complicated.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Jury rules, postponement limits, deadlines, acceptable reasons, documentation, and consequences for missing a date differ by state, county, and federal district, so follow your summons and rely on the official court or jury office contacts listed on it.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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