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

New York summons its jurors from voter rolls, driver and vehicle records, tax and benefit lists, and a list of volunteers. If you're a U.S. citizen, 18 or older, a resident of the county, able to understand and speak English, and you have no felony conviction, you qualify. Each county has a commissioner of jurors who sends the questionnaire and the summons, decides excuses and postponements, and pays the juror fee.

The headline numbers changed in 2025. Jurors now get $72 a day, up from $40, for days served on or after June 8, 2025. Employers with more than ten employees must keep paying the first $72 of a juror's daily wages for the first three days. Your job is protected, and an employer who punishes you for serving commits criminal contempt. Ignoring a questionnaire or summons can bring a civil penalty of up to $250.

The rules are in article 16 of the Judiciary Law (sections 500 to 528) and in the court system's uniform jury rules. Unlike most states, New York has no automatic exemptions: no job, and no age, gets you out by right. Everything below is current as of November 2026.

New York jury duty at a glance

Who can serve

Section 510 lists four requirements:

§ 510. Qualifications. In order to qualify as a juror a person must: 1. Be a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the county. 2. Be not less than eighteen years of age. 3. Not have been convicted of a felony. 4. Be able to understand and communicate in the English language.

The felony bar has no time limit in the statute. A bill to remove it, S2240-A/A5414-A, is pending (see the changes section below).

Names come from the voter registration lists and other lists the chief administrator of the courts picks, such as utility customers, licensed drivers and vehicle owners, state and local taxpayers, people receiving public assistance or unemployment benefits, and people who volunteer (§ 506).

The questionnaire comes first. The commissioner may mail you a juror qualification questionnaire, which you must complete, sign and return within ten days of mailing. If you don't, you can be summoned to fill it out in person, without pay (§ 509(b)). Your answers are confidential; the statute says the questionnaires and records "shall be considered confidential and shall not be disclosed except to the county jury board or as permitted by the appellate division" (§ 509(a)).

Exemptions and excuses

New York has no exemptions. The current Judiciary Law contains no list of people excused by occupation or age, so lawyers, doctors, police officers, public officials and people of any age are all expected to serve unless an excuse is granted. In a civil trial, the lawyers and the judge can still remove a juror for cause or by peremptory challenge (CPLR 4110, CPLR 4109).

Excuses are case by case. The commissioner of jurors may excuse you from all or part of your service. The statute tells the commissioner what to weigh:

(c) In determining whether an application for excusal should be granted, the commissioner or the court shall consider whether the applicant has a mental or physical condition that causes him or her to be incapable of performing jury service

In plain terms, the grounds are:

• a mental or physical condition that makes you unable to serve;
• undue hardship or extreme inconvenience to you, to "a person under his or her care or supervision," or to the public, which covers caregivers and many sole proprietors and students, depending on the facts (§ 517(c)); and
• breastfeeding. A breastfeeding mother who sends a note from a physician or nurse practitioner must be excused or postponed. The statute says "the commissioner shall excuse the prospective juror or postpone the time of jury service" (§ 517(a)(1)).

There is no age opt-out. Being older isn't a ground by itself, though a health condition can be. Bills to let people 70 or 75 and older opt out are pending (see below).

If the commissioner says no, you can ask the judge in the trial court, or the court supervising the grand jury, who may excuse or postpone you in its discretion (§ 517(b)). Apply in the way your county's commissioner requires, usually online or by mail with supporting documents.

Postponing jury duty

Your first postponement is a right, not a favor. Section 517(a)(2) says it "shall be granted" if:

• your service hasn't already been postponed or excused;
• you apply when and how the commissioner requires; and
• you pick a date when the court is in session no more than six months after your original date.

A breastfeeding mother may postpone to a date up to two years later. You may ask to postpone your initial date by telephone (§ 517(a)(1)). Further postponements are discretionary and follow standards set by the chief administrator of the courts (§ 517(c)).

Juror pay

Section 521(a) sets the fee:

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b) of this section, trial and grand jurors in each court of the unified court system shall be entitled to an allowance equal to the sum of seventy-two dollars per day for each and every day of physical attendance wherein the court convenes, except that no person who is employed shall be entitled to receive such allowance if, pursuant to section five hundred nineteen of this article, their employer is prohibited from withholding the first seventy-two dollars of wages of such person during such period and such person's daily wages equal or exceed seventy-two dollars.

How it works in practice:

Two rules sit behind the table. If your employer keeps paying your wages on a regular workday, you don't get the state fee for that day (§ 521(b)). And you can choose to waive the fee (§ 521(c)).

The fee is the same in every county; it's a state charge paid by the Office of Court Administration, which also covers food and lodging when jurors must be kept together. The statute provides no mileage or parking allowance. Claim your fee on time: a claim not presented by December 31 of the year after you served is forfeited (§ 526).

The $72 rate took effect June 8, 2025. The State Comptroller's payroll bulletin for state agencies gives that date (OSC Bulletin No. 2358).

Your job is protected

Section 519 protects your job and sets the employer's pay duty:

§ 519. Right of juror to be absent from employment. Any person who is summoned to serve as a juror under the provisions of this article and who notifies their employer to that effect prior to the commencement of a term of service shall not, on account of absence from employment by reason of such jury service, be subject to discharge or penalty. An employer may, however, withhold wages of any such employee serving as a juror during the period of such service; provided that an employer who employs more than ten employees shall not withhold the first seventy-two dollars of such juror's daily wages during the first three days of jury service. Withholding of wages in accordance with this section shall not be deemed a penalty. Violation of this section shall constitute a criminal contempt of court punishable pursuant to section seven hundred fifty of this chapter.

Three things follow:

1. Tell your employer before your service starts. The protection depends on it.
2. Larger employers pay something. With more than ten employees, your employer must pay at least the first $72 of your daily wages for the first three days. After that, or at a smaller employer, it may stop your pay, and doing so isn't a penalty.
3. The remedy is contempt. Firing or penalizing a juror is criminal contempt, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both (Jud. Law § 751). The statute doesn't create a separate lawsuit for lost wages; if your employer retaliates, contact the commissioner of jurors or a lawyer.

What happens if you don't show up

Section 527 sets a civil penalty, but only after notice:

Such person shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars for failing to respond or attend in violation of the provisions of this article.

The same section applies to people who don't return the qualification questionnaire. The process:

• No penalty unless it's shown you actually got the questionnaire or summons, and you're served, in person or by first-class mail, with a notice of noncompliance (§ 527(2)).
• You can admit the noncompliance or ask for a hearing. Ignoring the notice counts as an admission, and a default judgment can follow after a second mailing at least 20 days later (§ 527(2), (5)).
• At a hearing, the charge can't be sustained if you show undue hardship, extreme inconvenience or another good and sufficient cause (§ 527(3)(b)(iv)).
• Either way, you get an order fixing a new date for jury service. Disobeying that order exposes you to the criminal and civil penalties the law otherwise provides (§ 527(3)-(4)).

In short, the usual result of missing jury duty is a new date and possibly a fine of up to $250. Ignoring the court's order after that is what turns it into a contempt matter.

Your first day

The details vary by county, so follow your summons and your commissioner's instructions.

• Call or check the night before. In New York City, each county's commissioner of jurors has a recorded message with reporting instructions that is "updated daily after 5 PM" (NYC311).
• How long. By statute, trial jurors serve no more than five court days, or a shorter period the commissioner sets, but you stay to the end of any trial you're picked for. Time on telephone standby counts (§ 525).
• If you're sick or have an emergency on your reporting day, call the commissioner's office that morning. NYC counties list the time to call on the city's 311 page.
• Bring your summons and anything it tells you to bring. Ask the jury office how to get proof of attendance for your employer.
• Pay questions. The court system's automated line is 1-800-NY-JUROR (NYC311).

Grand jury service

Grand jurors are drawn by the same commissioners, meet the same qualifications and get the same $72 fee. A grand jury has 16 to 23 members (Crim. Proc. Law § 190.05). Grand jurors serve for the whole term for which they were drawn, which the court can extend (Jud. Law § 525(b); CPL § 190.15). The commissioner may require fingerprinting of people drawn for grand jury service (§ 509(a)).

Jury duty scams

Fake calls and emails about missed jury duty are common. The City of New York's 311 page warns that they "are on the rise in New York State," and says:

The NYS Court System never asks, by phone, for financial or family information from members of the public.

Real penalties follow the written notice process in § 527, never a phone demand for money. If you're unsure whether a notice or call is real, call the court system at (800) 268-7869 (NYC311). The state Department of State also warns about callers who demand payment for a missed jury date (Jury Duty Scam).

Recent and pending changes

Pending, not law (as of November 2026):

• S2240-A / A5414-A would end the lifetime felony bar in § 510. Both are in the Judiciary committees (last action January 7, 2026).
• A1134 / S6090 would let people 70 and older opt out of jury service. In committee.
• A6025 / S9037 would exempt people 75 and older on request. A6025 is in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

None of these has passed either house; each would need both houses and the Governor's signature to become law.

Frequently asked questions

How much does jury duty pay in New York?

$72 a day for each day you attend, since June 8, 2025. If you work for an employer with more than ten employees, your employer pays at least the first $72 of your daily wages for the first three days, and the state pays you after that if your employer stops your pay. Everyone else gets $72 a day from the state when they aren't being paid wages.

Can my employer fire me for jury duty in New York?

No, as long as you tell your employer before your service begins. Firing or penalizing a juror is criminal contempt under Judiciary Law § 519, punishable by up to $1,000 and 30 days in jail. Employers with more than ten employees must also pay the first $72 of your daily wages for your first three days.

How do I get out of jury duty in New York?

There are no automatic exemptions. You can ask the commissioner of jurors to excuse you for a mental or physical condition, or because service would cause undue hardship or extreme inconvenience to you, someone in your care or the public. Breastfeeding mothers with a medical note must be excused or postponed. Everyone can postpone once, to a date they choose within six months.

What happens if I miss jury duty in New York?

You'll get a written notice of noncompliance, and you can admit it or ask for a hearing. The court can impose a civil penalty of up to $250 and will set a new date for your service. A good excuse, such as undue hardship, defeats the charge.

How often can you be called for jury duty in New York?

After you serve on a state or federal jury, you can't be called to a New York state court for six years, or eight years if you served more than ten days. A commissioner may shorten that to as little as two years for people who served fewer than three days, and you can ask to have your waiting period halved.

Is there an age limit for jury duty in New York?

You must be 18. There's no upper age limit and no age-based opt-out, but an older person with a health condition can ask to be excused. Bills to allow an opt-out at 70 or 75 were pending in committee as of November 2026.

Where these rules live

• N.Y. Judiciary Law § 510 — Qualifications
• N.Y. Judiciary Law § 517 — Excuses and postponements
• N.Y. Judiciary Law § 519 — Right to be absent from employment
• N.Y. Judiciary Law § 521 — Juror fees
• N.Y. Judiciary Law § 524 — Time between services
• N.Y. Judiciary Law § 525 — Length of service
• N.Y. Judiciary Law § 527 — Penalty for noncompliance
• NYJUROR.GOV — the court system's juror site
• New York CPLR on this site
• Divorce in New York