Jury Duty in Arkansas: Pay, Exemptions, Excuses and What to Expect (2026)

Arkansas circuit courts draw jurors at random from each county's voter registration list, and in many counties also from the lists of licensed drivers and state ID holders. If you're a U.S. citizen who lives in Arkansas and in the county that summons you, you can be called.

The headline numbers: a juror who is seated on a jury gets $50 a day, and a person who reports but isn't picked gets at least $15, with the county setting the exact amount. Your employer can't fire you or dock your sick leave or vacation for jury duty, though the law doesn't make a private employer pay your wages. If you're 80 or older, you may decline to serve. A juror who skips court without an excuse can be fined $5 to $500.

The rules are in Title 16, Chapters 31 to 34 of the Arkansas Code. The official annotated Code is published online by a commercial vendor under its own terms of use, so this page cites each section to the act of the General Assembly that wrote its current text, linked to the legislature's own copy. Everything below is current as of November 2026.

Arkansas jury duty at a glance

Who can serve

Section 16-31-101 makes you legally qualified if you're a U.S. citizen, live in Arkansas and in the county that summons you, and appear on the county's juror source list. That list starts with registered voters. Each county's administrative circuit judge decides whether to use the voter list alone or an enhanced list that adds licensed drivers and people issued a state identification card (§ 16-31-101; § 16-32-303). Clark County, for one, uses registered voters only and pulls a fresh random list every four months (Clark County Circuit Clerk).

Who is disqualified. Under § 16-31-102, you can't serve if you:

• don't meet the basic qualifications above;
• are under 18 when you're due to appear;
• can't speak or understand English;
• can't read or write English, though the judge may waive this if you're otherwise able to do the job;
• have been convicted of a felony and haven't been pardoned;
• lack good character, sound judgment or good behavior, or are intemperate; or
• have a physical or mental disability that keeps you from serving satisfactorily.

The same section adds that no one is disqualified "solely on the basis of loss of hearing or sight in any degree." The Administrative Office of the Courts pays for a sign language interpreter, real-time captioning or a reader when a juror needs one, and that person stays with the jury through deliberations (§ 16-31-108). Pulaski County asks jurors who need help to call the bailiff as soon as the summons arrives (Pulaski County Clerk).

Citizenship and voter rolls. Because jurors come from voter lists, a prospective juror found unfit because he or she isn't a U.S. citizen is reported to the county's voter registrar, who cancels the registration (Act 290 of 2019).

Exemptions and excuses

Arkansas no longer exempts whole occupations. Over the years the General Assembly repealed the old jury exemptions for prison officials, militia members and city firefighters (Act 484 of 1997) and trimmed the list in § 16-31-103 down to a single test the judge applies. The Arkansas Judiciary puts it plainly: the law doesn't let a juror be excused because of occupation or employment (Arkansas Jury Service).

The judge's test. Section 16-31-103(b) says a person:

may be excused from serving as a grand or petit juror or a jury commissioner for such period as the court deems necessary or may have his or her service deferred to another specified term of court when the state of his or her health or that of his or her family reasonably requires his or her absence, or when, for any reason, his or her own interests or those of the public will, in the opinion of the court, be materially injured by his or her attendance.

That gives the judge three grounds:

• Your health. A medical condition that keeps you from serving.
• Your family's health. Caring for a sick child, spouse or parent fits here; the state's juror guide speaks of "family responsibilities."
• Serious harm to your interests or the public's. Mere inconvenience isn't enough. Clark County's clerk says the law doesn't allow an excuse for economic or business reasons, though you may explain your situation to the judge (Clark County Circuit Clerk).

Age 80 and older. Since 2021, the statute has carried a simple opt-out:

A person who is eighty (80) years of age or older may voluntarily exempt himself or herself from or decline to participate in jury service at any time.

(§ 16-31-103(d)) There's no younger age cutoff. Some county pages still say Arkansas has no age exemption; on this point they're out of date.

Legislators. A member of the General Assembly summoned within 30 days before or during a session is entitled to put off service until 30 days after the session ends (§ 16-31-103(c)).

How to ask. Ask as soon as you know about the conflict. The state's guide says your request must explain the nature of your conflict or hardship, and that you must appear in person in the courtroom unless the court has excused you (Arkansas Jury Service). Only a judge can excuse you. In Pulaski County, questions about a summons go to the judge's office in the division that sent it, not to the clerk (Pulaski County Clerk).

Postponing jury duty

The same statute lets the judge defer your service "to another specified term of court" when your health, your family's health, or serious harm to your interests calls for it (§ 16-31-103(b)). A deferral doesn't cancel your duty; it moves it. Clark County describes this "deferment of term" as a way to transfer your term because of current circumstances, not an excuse (Clark County Circuit Clerk).

Terms vary by county. Clark County runs three four-month terms a year, starting January 1, May 1 and September 1. For a vacation or a doctor's appointment, call the jury coordinator at the number on your summons.

Juror pay

Section 16-34-103, rewritten by the General Assembly effective January 1, 2008, sets two rates:

The per diem compensation payable to any person who is eligible for payment under subsection (a) of this section and who is selected and seated to serve as a member of a grand jury or petit jury is fifty dollars ($50.00) per day.

Any person who is eligible for payment under subsection (a) of this section and who is excused or otherwise not selected and seated as a member of a grand jury or petit jury shall be provided per diem compensation of not less than fifteen dollars ($15.00) as established by ordinance of the county quorum court.

What that means:

• $50 a day once you're seated on a trial jury or grand jury. That rate is set by state law and is the same in every county.
• At least $15 a day if you report but aren't seated, or are excused. Each county's quorum court sets the amount by ordinance and may pay more. Clark County pays $15 a day to those who report but aren't picked and $50 a day to seated jurors, and mails checks monthly (Clark County Circuit Clerk).
• You must show up and be checked in. You're paid only if you appear where you were summoned and the circuit clerk notes your appearance (§ 16-34-103(a)).
• Mileage depends on your county. Mileage is paid only if the quorum court has adopted a mileage policy, only to jurors who live outside the city limits of the city where the court sits, and at a rate no higher than the state employee rate (§ 16-34-104).
• The county pays. Counties pay jurors promptly from money the quorum court appropriates, and the state reimburses part of the cost (§ 16-34-106).
• You can give it away. Since January 1, 2022, a juror may donate the pay and mileage to a nonprofit on a list kept by the Administrative Office of the Courts, such as groups serving crime victims, abused children, domestic violence survivors or veterans (§ 16-34-107).

There's no higher rate for a long trial; the $50 applies to every day you serve.

Your job is protected

Section 16-31-106 protects employees who are summoned. The official Code text sits behind the vendor's terms, so this section relies on how the courts and clerks describe it. Pulaski County's clerk sums it up: people summoned for jury duty can't be fired, lose sick leave or vacation time, or face any other penalty if they give their employer reasonable notice of the summons (Pulaski County Clerk). Clark County's clerk tells employers:

NOTE TO EMPLOYERS: It is unlawful for any employer to discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate or coerce any employee for attendance or scheduled attendance in connection with jury service.

What follows from that:

1. Tell your employer. The protection depends on giving reasonable notice once the summons arrives.
2. No firing or threats, and no lost leave. Your employer can't fire you, threaten you, or charge your absence to your sick leave or vacation.
3. Pay is a separate question. We found no Arkansas law requiring a private employer to pay wages during jury duty. Many employers do; check your handbook.
4. Public employees keep their salary free of deductions. A state, county or city employer may not deduct jury fees from a public employee's salary. A public employer who does can be fined $25 to $250, and the violation is grounds for removing that official from office (§ 21-5-104).
5. Get proof. The circuit clerk can give you a letter showing the days you attended, if your employer asks for one (Clark County Circuit Clerk).

If your employer punishes you for serving, tell the judge who summoned you and talk to a lawyer.

What happens if you don't show up

Section 16-32-106(d) sets the fine:

Unless excused by the circuit judge, a juror who has been legally summoned and who shall fail to attend on any date when directed to do so may be fined in any sum not less than five dollars ($5.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500). However, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the inherent power of the court to punish for contempt.

(§ 16-32-106) Courts do follow up. The state's juror guide says that on the first day the judge will have the sheriff's office locate people who were summoned but didn't come, and "the court will apply proper sanctions to those who ignored the summons" (Arkansas Jury Service). If something comes up, call the court before your date; only the judge can excuse you.

Your first day

Each circuit court runs its own jury, so read your summons closely. Here's what the state and county pages describe:

• Confirm your summons. Notices usually come by first-class mail with a date by which you must confirm receipt with the sheriff or the court; if you don't, the sheriff or the court will contact you (§ 16-32-106).
• Orientation comes first. Many courts begin with an orientation where you're qualified, sworn and assigned to a panel. Clark County holds one three times a year (Arkansas Jury Service; Clark County).
• Check in before each date. Clark County notifies jurors by phone and keeps a juror information line with the latest on trials. Your summons will give your court's number.
• Plan for security and parking. In Pulaski County, expect a security checkpoint at the courthouse at 401 West Markham Street in Little Rock, arrive early, and check the summons for where to park. A parking ticket goes to the bailiff for your judge.
• Dress and phones. Business casual is a safe choice; Clark County asks jurors to skip shorts, halter tops and muscle shirts, and to bring a sweater for a cold courtroom. Phones may come in but must be turned off. Lunch is on your own.
• Expect waiting. Much of the day can be spent waiting while the judge and lawyers handle matters outside the jury's hearing (Arkansas Jury Service).
• Jury selection. The clerk takes roll, the judge and lawyers question the panel, and twelve jurors are seated, sometimes with alternates. In a civil case, each side has three strikes it can use without giving a reason (Arkansas Jury Service).
• How long. In Clark County most trials last one to four days, and most jurors are called once or twice a term.

Grand jury service

Grand jurors are drawn from the same pool as trial jurors, or from a separate grand jury list the circuit clerk prepares at the judge's direction. A panel of 16 grand jurors is chosen, plus alternates, and they serve for the calendar year unless the court discharges them sooner (§ 16-32-201; Act 600 of 2017). Seated grand jurors earn the same $50 a day as trial jurors, and the same excuses and two-year limit apply.

Jury duty scams

The scam call goes like this: someone claiming to be a deputy says you missed jury duty, a warrant is out, and you can avoid jail by buying a prepaid card and reading off the numbers. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has warned about exactly that, and says real contact with jurors comes mostly by U.S. mail:

Most contact between a circuit court and a prospective juror will be through the U.S. mail, and any phone contact by real sheriff’s office and/or court officials will not include requests for social security numbers, credit card numbers, or any other sensitive information.

Arkansas fines for missing jury duty come from a judge, in court, never over the phone. Hang up and call your county circuit clerk (Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; see also the federal courts' juror scam warning).

Recent and pending changes

No change to juror pay, exemptions or penalties was enacted in the 2025 regular session or the 2026 fiscal session, and none was pending as of November 2026. The next regular session convenes January 11, 2027, and bills may be prefiled starting in mid-November 2026 (Bureau of Legislative Research).

Frequently asked questions

How much does jury duty pay in Arkansas?

Arkansas pays $50 a day to anyone seated on a trial or grand jury. If you report but aren't picked, you get at least $15 a day; your county's quorum court sets the exact amount. Mileage is paid only in counties that adopt a mileage policy, and only to jurors who live outside the city where the court sits.

Can my employer fire me for jury duty in Arkansas?

No. Once you give reasonable notice of your summons, your employer can't fire you, threaten you, take away sick leave or vacation, or penalize you in any other way for jury service. Arkansas doesn't require private employers to pay you while you serve, and public employers can't deduct your jury fees from your salary.

How do I get out of jury duty in Arkansas?

Only a judge can excuse you, and your job alone isn't a reason. The judge may excuse or defer you if your health or your family's health requires it, or if serving would seriously harm your interests or the public's. Ask as soon as you know about the conflict and explain it in writing; people 80 or older may simply decline.

What happens if I miss jury duty in Arkansas?

A juror who was properly summoned and fails to appear without the judge's permission can be fined from $5 to $500, and the judge can also hold you in contempt. Courts have the sheriff look for people who don't come. If you have an emergency, call the court before your date.

How often can you be called for jury duty in Arkansas?

After you've been sworn on a jury and excused, you can't serve on another jury in the same county for two years. Within a year of service, you can't be required to report on more than 10 days or for more than a four-month period, unless you're in the middle of a trial when your time runs out.

Is there an age limit for jury duty in Arkansas?

You must be at least 18. There's no upper age limit, but anyone 80 or older may exempt themselves or decline jury service at any time. That opt-out was added in 2021.

Where these rules live

• Ark. Code § 16-31-101 — Who is qualified (Act 1404 of 2003)
• Ark. Code §§ 16-31-102, 16-32-106, 16-32-201 — Disqualifications, summons and fines, grand jury (Act 87 of 2005)
• Ark. Code § 16-31-103 — Excuses, deferral, age 80 opt-out (Act 222 of 2021)
• Ark. Code § 16-31-104 — How often and how long you serve (Act 225 of 2007)
• Ark. Code §§ 16-34-103, 16-34-104 — Juror pay and mileage (Act 1033 of 2007)
• Ark. Code § 16-34-107 — Donating juror pay (Act 219 of 2021)
• Ark. Code § 21-5-104 — Public employees' salaries (Act 178 of 2023)
• Arkansas Judiciary: Jury Service and Juror's Web Guide
• Pulaski County Clerk: Jury Administration
• Ark. R. Civ. P. 47 — Jurors (on this site)
• Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure (on this site)
• Law schools in Arkansas