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

Idaho's courts draw jurors at random from county jury lists built mainly from voter registration and driver's license records. If you're a U.S. citizen, 18 or older, a resident of the county and able to read, speak and understand English, you can be called. You'll get a qualification questionnaire to return within 10 days, often online, and then a summons or reporting instructions.

Juror pay is set county by county. The law sets a floor of $10 for a full day and lets county commissioners pay up to $50; Canyon, Kootenai and Bonneville counties pay $10, while Bingham County pays $50. On a long trial, every day after the fifth pays $50. Your employer doesn't have to pay you, but it can't fire, threaten or coerce you over jury service. A juror who doesn't show up can be held in contempt and fined up to $500, jailed up to five days, or both.

The rules are in Idaho's Uniform Jury Selection and Service Act, Title 2, Chapter 2 of the Idaho Code (§§ 2-201 to 2-222), with the contempt penalty in § 7-610. Everything below is current as of November 2026.

Idaho jury duty at a glance

Who can serve

Idaho's jury law begins with a promise of fairness. It is state policy that juries be "selected at random from a fair cross section of the population of the area served by the court" and that every qualified citizen have the chance to be considered and the duty to serve when summoned (§ 2-202). No citizen may be excluded on account of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or economic status (§ 2-203).

To serve, under § 2-209, you must be:

• a citizen of the United States;
• at least 18 years old;
• a resident of the county; and
• able to read, speak and understand English.

Who is disqualified. You can't serve if a disability makes you incapable of satisfactory jury service; you must send a physician's certificate to claim it. You also can't serve if you have a felony conviction and your civil rights haven't been restored. Counties apply this practically: Canyon County says a person who has finished probation or parole may serve. A person disqualified on any of these grounds is excused for two years, and a judge may excuse a person with a lasting disability for longer or permanently.

Where names come from. Each county's jury commission keeps a list built from the voter rolls, supplemented by other lists the Idaho Supreme Court designates, such as driver's licenses, state ID cards, motor vehicle registrations, property taxpayers and utility customers. With the Supreme Court's consent, a county may instead use the Court's statewide jury platform and the county list drawn from it (§ 2-206).

Answer the questionnaire honestly. It must be returned within 10 days of mailing, and notarization isn't required. Willfully misrepresenting a material fact to avoid or secure jury service is a misdemeanor (§ 2-208), punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both (§ 18-113).

Exemptions and excuses

No one is exempt by job. Section 2-211, as amended in 2026, is short:

No exemptions for any qualified prospective juror may be granted, except as provided in section 2-212 (4), Idaho Code.

The one exception is the new poll-worker option described below. Otherwise there's no list of excused occupations: lawyers, doctors, police officers and elected officials are all eligible.

Age 70 or older. Section 2-212(2) gives older jurors a simple way out:

A person who is seventy (70) years of age or older shall be permanently excused if the person indicates on the qualification questionnaire form that he or she wishes to be excused.

You can change your mind later by sending a written request to be put back on the county jury list.

Other excuses. The court, or a jury commissioner it designates, decides on excuses and postponements from your questionnaire, an interview or other evidence (§ 2-212(1)). In practice, counties ask for documents:

• Medical or mental health. Bonneville County requires a letter from a medical or mental health professional stating the condition and that it keeps you from serving. Canyon County accepts documentation from a physician.
• Undue hardship. Bonneville County asks for a specific written statement explaining the hardship.
• Active military duty or a religious mission. Canyon County asks for a copy of current orders or a letter from a commanding officer, or a church letter confirming the mission.
• Work. Canyon County notes that almost everyone called is employed and that a jury made up only of unemployed or retired people wouldn't be a jury of one's peers. Your job alone won't excuse you, but the county will try to work with you.

(Bonneville County; Canyon County)

New in 2026: work the polls instead. Since July 1, 2026, a county clerk facing a shortage of election workers can ask the court to offer poll-worker slots to prospective jurors who have asked to be excused or postponed. If you accept and complete the election service to the clerk's satisfaction, you're excused from jury service for the next two years. If you sign up but don't finish, your name goes back on the jury list. The court decides, and only as many slots as the clerk requests are offered (§ 2-212(4); House Bill 560 (2026), Session Law ch. 59).

Postponing jury duty

Section 2-212(3) sets the grounds. If you're qualified, your service may be postponed "only upon a showing of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, or public necessity, or upon a showing that the juror is a mother breastfeeding her child."

How it works:

• Ask in writing. Give the reason and the date you expect it to end.
• Medical reasons. The court may require a statement from a medical provider.
• A new date. The postponement lasts as long as the court or jury commissioner thinks necessary, and then you report as directed.

(§ 2-212(3))

Counties add their own practices. Canyon County asks you to name a date within the next three months and grants one postponement, for the shortest time possible; it will also excuse up to two days of a week-long term for a vacation or appointment if you call at least 48 hours ahead. Bingham County lists temporary medical conditions, active military duty, nursing mothers and religious obligations as examples and asks for documents such as airline tickets or a doctor's note (Canyon County; Bingham County).

Juror pay

Section 2-215 sets a floor and lets each county go higher. For a full day, it provides:

(2) Ten dollars ($10.00), or a rate of more than ten dollars ($10.00) up to fifty dollars ($50.00) as determined by the county commissioners in the county where the juror resides, for each day’s required attendance at court of more than one-half (1/2) day;

The whole schedule:

• Half day (half a day or less): $5, or up to $25 if your county chooses. If you travel more than 30 miles from home, the half-day rate is $10, or up to $50.
• Full day (more than half a day): $10, or up to $50 if your county chooses.
• Long trials: $50 for each day of required attendance after the fifth day of a single trial, statewide. The Supreme Court reimburses counties $40 of that per juror per day when the Legislature funds it (§ 2-222).
• Mileage: round trip from home to court, at the per-mile rate your county sets for its own employees.

(§ 2-215)

What counties pay, as of November 2026:

(Canyon; Kootenai; Bonneville; Bingham)

Other counties, Ada among them, set their own rates within the same limits; your summons or the county jury commissioner can tell you the figure. In Canyon and Bonneville counties you can donate your pay to a fund for jurors, such as Canyon's Jury Assistance Fund or Bonneville's childcare reimbursement fund.

Your job is protected

Section 2-218 protects jurors from retaliation:

(1) An employer shall not deprive an employee of his employment, or threaten or otherwise coerce him with respect thereto, because the employee receives a summons, responds thereto, serves as a juror, or attends court for prospective jury service.

Idaho backs that up two ways:

1. Criminal contempt. An employer who violates the rule "is guilty of criminal contempt and upon conviction may be fined not more than three hundred dollars ($300)" (§ 2-218(2)).
2. A lawsuit for triple wages. If you're fired in violation of the law, you have 60 days to sue for three times the wages you lost and an order putting you back in your job. If you win, the court awards a reasonable attorney's fee (§ 2-218(3)).

Pay isn't required. Idaho law doesn't make employers pay wages during jury service. County jury offices say some employers do, and that those employers often ask you to hand over your jury check. They also note that employers often expect you back at work if you're released early, and that verification covers only time actually spent at the courthouse. Ask the jury commissioner for an employment verification for the days you served (Kootenai County).

What happens if you don't show up

Idaho treats a no-show as contempt of court. Neglecting to attend or serve when summoned as a juror is listed as a contempt (§ 7-601), and § 7-610 caps the penalty for jurors:

provided that a person who is guilty of contempt for neglecting to attend or serve as a juror when summoned to do so, or for failing to appear as a prospective juror when summoned by the jury commission under section 2-208 (4), Idaho Code, shall be fined in an amount not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), or may be imprisoned not exceeding five (5) days, or both;

The process starts with the questionnaire. If you don't return it, the jury commission directs you to come in and fill it out. If you don't come, the court orders you to appear and show cause, and if you ignore that order, you may face contempt proceedings; the court may also move your service to a new panel (§ 2-208(4)-(5)). If an emergency comes up, call the jury commissioner before your reporting time.

Your first day

Each county's jury commissioner runs the details, so follow your summons. County pages describe a common pattern:

• Check in the night before. Many counties use the Supreme Court's juror website, jury.idaho.gov, and the automated line at (844) 509-1211. Canyon County jurors call after 6:00 p.m. the night before their term begins; Bonneville County jurors call every Friday after 6:00 p.m. Bingham County uses its own line and suggests calling two days ahead and again the evening before.
• Expect orientation, then selection. You'll see a short orientation, then jury selection, which usually takes one to three hours. If you're not picked, you're excused and may stay to watch, since trials are open to the public.
• Plan for a full day. Court generally runs 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a lunch break; a deliberating jury may stay into the evening.
• Dress respectfully. Business casual is about right. Shorts, uniforms, tank tops, sweats and hats are out. Bring a sweater.
• Security. Leave weapons, pocket knives, scissors, knitting needles and extra bags at home.
• No children. Don't bring family members or children; arrange child care ahead of time.
• Proof for work. Ask the jury office for an employment verification.

(Canyon County; Bonneville County; Bingham County)

How long you're on call. Terms vary: about two weeks in Bonneville County, a week in Canyon County, four months in Bingham County. State law caps the burden: in any two-year period (or up to five years, if the district's administrative judge sets a longer one), you can't be required to serve or attend for more than 10 court days, except to finish a trial, or to be on call for more than six months. Showing up counts toward your service even if your name isn't called, and telephone standby may count too (§ 2-216). Kootenai County excuses you for at least two years once you've been assigned to a panel, whether or not you had to come in.

Grand jury service

An Idaho grand jury has 16 members drawn from citizens of the county and sworn to inquire into crimes committed or triable there (§ 2-103). Grand juries are uncommon. Within the period set under § 2-216, you can't be required to serve on more than one grand jury, or to serve as both a grand and a trial juror. Bingham County says its grand jurors serve for six months and usually meet once a month, often in the evening, for a few hours.

Jury duty scams

Scammers call or email claiming you missed jury duty and must pay a fine or give personal information to avoid arrest. The Idaho Supreme Court's jury page warns that courts never ask for payment or personal information by phone or email over missed jury service, and Bingham and Bonneville counties link to the Court's scam alert (Idaho Supreme Court). Idaho's real penalty comes only after a court order and a contempt hearing, as described above. Hang up and call your county's jury commissioner. See also the federal courts' juror scam warning.

Recent and pending changes

No other bill changing jury service was enacted in the 2024, 2025 or 2026 sessions, and none was pending as of November 2026; the 2027 session opens in January. The last change to juror pay came in 2018 (Session Law ch. 257), which amended § 2-215 and created the state reimbursement to counties for long trials in § 2-222.

Frequently asked questions

How much does jury duty pay in Idaho?

It depends on your county. State law guarantees at least $5 for a half day and $10 for a full day, and lets county commissioners pay up to $25 and $50. Canyon, Kootenai and Bonneville counties pay $10 a full day; Bingham County pays $50. On any trial lasting more than five days, every day after the fifth pays $50, and you're reimbursed for mileage at your county's rate.

Can my employer fire me for jury duty in Idaho?

No. Your employer can't fire you, threaten you or coerce you because you were summoned, responded, served or went to court for jury selection. An employer who does can be fined up to $300 for criminal contempt, and a fired employee has 60 days to sue for three times the lost wages, reinstatement and attorney's fees. Your employer doesn't have to pay you while you serve.

How do I get out of jury duty in Idaho?

Idaho grants no exemptions by occupation. If you're 70 or older, you can mark the questionnaire to be permanently excused. Otherwise, you can ask the court to excuse you, usually with a medical letter or a written statement of hardship, or to postpone you for undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity or breastfeeding. Since July 1, 2026, some counties may offer poll-worker service in place of jury duty.

What happens if I miss jury duty in Idaho?

The court can order you to appear and explain why. A juror found in contempt for failing to attend can be fined up to $500, jailed for up to five days, or both. If you can't come, call the jury commissioner before your reporting time.

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

In any two-year period, or up to five years if your judicial district sets a longer one, you can't be required to serve more than 10 court days, except to finish a trial, or to be on call for more than six months. Counties typically leave you alone for about two years after you serve; Kootenai County excuses you for at least two years once you're assigned to a panel.

Is there an age limit for jury duty in Idaho?

You must be at least 18. There's no upper limit, but anyone 70 or older can be permanently excused simply by saying so on the qualification questionnaire. If you change your mind, a written request puts you back on the list.

Where these rules live

• Idaho Code § 2-209 — Qualifications and disqualifications
• Idaho Code § 2-211 — No exemptions
• Idaho Code § 2-212 — Excuses, postponements, election service
• Idaho Code § 2-215 — Juror pay and mileage
• Idaho Code § 2-216 — Limit on required service
• Idaho Code § 2-218 — Employer protection
• Idaho Code § 2-222 — Lengthy trial compensation
• Idaho Code § 7-610 — Contempt penalties
• House Bill 560 (2026) — Poll-worker service in lieu of jury service
• Idaho Supreme Court: Jury Information
• Idaho Rule of Civil Procedure 47 — Jurors (on this site)
• Law schools in Idaho