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

Oregon's circuit courts summon jurors at random from a master list the state builds each year from DMV driver's license and ID records and the voter rolls. If you're a U.S. citizen, at least 18, and you live in the county that sent the summons, you're eligible. Most people answer online through their county's juror eResponse portal.

The pay is modest, and the courts know it. Circuit court jurors get $10 a day for the first two days and $25 a day from the third day on, plus 20 cents a mile. Your employer doesn't have to pay you, but it can't fire or threaten you for serving, and it can't make you use vacation or sick leave. A juror who doesn't show up is ordered to explain why, and can be held in contempt.

The rules are in chapter 10 of the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS 10.010 to 10.990), with employee remedies in chapter 659A and contempt sanctions in chapter 33. Everything below is current as of November 2026.

Oregon jury duty at a glance

Who can serve

Oregon's test is short. Under ORS 10.030, you're eligible for a civil jury unless you're not a U.S. citizen, don't live in the county that summoned you, are under 18, or have had your rights and privileges withdrawn and not restored under ORS 137.281.

Criminal trials and grand juries have two more bars. The first disqualifies a person who:

Has been convicted of a felony or served a felony sentence within the 15 years immediately preceding the date the person is required to report for jury service

The second covers a conviction, or a sentence served, for a misdemeanor involving violence or dishonesty within the five years before reporting. A "felony sentence" counts incarceration, post-prison supervision, parole and probation. So a person with an older record may sit on a civil jury, and on a criminal one once enough time has passed. The Oregon Judicial Department asks anyone whose rights haven't been restored to answer the summons anyway and explain in the portal (OJD juror FAQ).

Disability is no bar. A person who is blind, hard of hearing, speech impaired or physically disabled can't be excluded on that basis alone (ORS 10.030(4)). The court must appoint a qualified interpreter or provide an assistive communication device when a juror asks in writing and needs one (ORS 10.115).

No discrimination. The same statute says jury service "may not be denied or limited on the basis of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, income, occupation or any other factor that discriminates against a cognizable group in this state."

You can't volunteer. Asking a sheriff or court officer to put you on a jury is forbidden, and it's a Class B violation (ORS 10.080, 10.990).

Where names come from. At least once a year the State Court Administrator draws a master list at random from the county's voter list, DMV records and any other source the Chief Justice approves (ORS 10.215). Before you serve, you fill out an eligibility form; a knowingly false answer on it can be punished as contempt (ORS 10.245).

Exemptions and excuses

Oregon has almost no outright exemptions. Instead, ORS 10.050 tells the judge or clerk when they must, or may, excuse you.

Age 70 or older. This is an excuse by right:

(3) A judge of the court or clerk of court shall excuse a person from acting as a juror upon the request of that person if the person is 70 years of age or older.

You still have to respond to the summons and ask. The OJD's FAQ puts it plainly: if you're 70 or older, "You can choose whether to participate."

Breastfeeding. The court "shall excuse a woman from acting as a juror upon the request of the woman if the woman is breast-feeding a child." That request must be made in writing or by another method the court prescribes (ORS 10.050(4)).

Sole caregivers. If you're the only caregiver for a child or other dependent during court hours, can't afford day care or make other arrangements, and personally look after the dependent during those hours, the court must excuse you, unless the public need for jurors outweighs your circumstances (ORS 10.050(5)).

Undue hardship. Anyone can ask to be excused for "undue hardship or extreme inconvenience to the person, the person’s family, the person’s employer or the public served by the person." The judge or clerk must weigh your situation against the public need for juries that reflect the whole community (ORS 10.050(1)).

Medical conditions. There is no permanent medical exemption in the statute. The OJD says courts may approve medical hardship requests but aren't required to excuse people permanently (OJD juror FAQ). Some courts do have a process: Multnomah County will permanently excuse a person whose health care provider writes, before the service date, that the condition will prevent them from ever serving (Multnomah juror FAQs).

National Guard. "Active members of the organized militia shall be exempt from duty to act as a juror" (ORS 399.215). The OJD tells active Guard members they may still serve if they choose.

Students and prior service. Being a student isn't a ground of its own; a student would ask under undue hardship or for a deferral. Recent service is covered by the 24-month rule below.

How to ask. Log in to your county's juror eResponse portal, complete the qualification form, confirm your service, and then submit the request. The portal won't take an excuse or postponement request until the form is done. If you can't get online, call or email your county's jury coordinator. Asking isn't the same as being excused; wait for the court's answer (OJD juror FAQ).

Postponing jury duty

Oregon calls it deferral. Under ORS 10.055, the judge or clerk may, for good cause, move you to any other jury term that begins within one year after the end of the term you were called for. The law allows one deferral as a rule. A second requires good cause, and you must give the court a list of at least 10 dates in the next six months when you could start.

In practice:

• Ask online. First deferral requests go through the eResponse portal, after you've finished the qualification form (OJD juror FAQ).
• Multnomah County lets you delay up to one year from your original start date. A second deferral can't be done online; call the jury room. Deferred jurors are moved to regular two-day, in-person service (Multnomah juror FAQs).
• Sick? Multnomah asks jurors not to come in sick, and to email or call so staff can defer them.

Juror pay

The Legislature sets the fee in ORS 10.061:

(2)(a) The fee of jurors for the first two days of required attendance in circuit court during a term of service is $10 for each day that a juror is required to attend.

(b) The fee of jurors for the third and subsequent days of required attendance in circuit court during a term of service is $25 for each day that a juror is required to attend.

What that means:

• $10, then $25. The two-tier rate is the same in every circuit court. Jurors in other courts, such as municipal and justice courts, get $10 a day, and a city or county may add more for its own courts (ORS 10.061(1), (4)).
• Mileage. Circuit court jurors who travel from home are paid 20 cents a mile, round trip, by the shortest practicable route. If you ride public transit, the court can reimburse the fare whatever the distance (ORS 10.065). Multnomah County reimburses a TriMet fare of $5.60 a day, or mileage to a park-and-ride plus the fare.
• Other expenses. You may also be paid for lodging, dependent care and other reasonable costs of serving, but only on a written request, under the State Court Administrator's policies, and only if money is available (ORS 10.065(4)).
• If your employer pays you, you waive the fee. Unless your employment agreement says otherwise, a juror whose employer keeps paying wages for the days of service must give up the juror fee. You can still claim mileage (ORS 10.061(3)).
• You can donate it. Every circuit court must offer jurors the chance to waive their pay and mileage to fund Judicial Department programs the Chief Justice picks (ORS 10.075). The OJD says courts use the money to improve the jury experience.
• When it arrives. The state pays from the clerk's certified record of days served. The court mails a check after your service; Multnomah says payment can take up to four weeks.

The courts themselves call the pay low. The Legislature's 2025 jury task force was created partly because more people ask to be excused for money reasons, and it is studying juror pay now (see the changes section below).

Your job is protected

ORS 10.090 protects employees summoned for jury duty:

(1) An employer commits an unlawful employment practice under ORS chapter 659A if the employer discharges, threatens to discharge, intimidates or coerces any employee by reason of the employee’s service or scheduled service as a juror on a grand jury, trial jury or jury of inquest.

The rest of the section adds:

1. No forced leave. An employer "may not require that an employee use vacation leave, sick leave or annual leave" for time spent responding to a jury summons.
2. Unpaid leave must be allowed. The employer has to let you take leave without pay for that time (ORS 10.090(2)).
3. No wage duty. The section doesn't change an employer's own policies or agreements about wages during jury service (ORS 10.090(3)). The OJD confirms that no Oregon law requires employers to pay wages while you serve; your employer's policy or contract decides.
4. Insurance continues. An employer with 10 or more employees can't drop your health, disability, life or other insurance during jury service if you elected to keep it and told your employer as its policy requires. The employer may later deduct premiums it advanced on your behalf, but no more than 10 percent of your gross pay each pay period (ORS 10.092).
5. You'll be told your rights. Whoever summons jurors must notify each one of these protections (ORS 10.090(4)).

If your employer breaks the rule, you can sue in circuit court under ORS 659A.885 or file a complaint with the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries under ORS 659A.820 (ORS 10.090(5)). A court can order reinstatement, back pay for up to two years before the complaint or lawsuit, and attorney fees (ORS 659A.885). Watch the deadline: a BOLI complaint must be filed no later than one year after the act, and a lawsuit filed without a BOLI complaint must also be started within one year (ORS 659A.820, 659A.875).

What happens if you don't show up

ORS 10.990 sets out the process:

(2) If a person summoned to serve as a juror in a circuit court fails to attend as required, the court shall order the person to appear forthwith and show cause for that failure. If the person fails to appear pursuant to the order or appears and fails to show good cause, the person may be punished for contempt.

A juror who stops paying attention in court, leaves without permission, or otherwise fails to finish service may also be held in contempt (ORS 10.990(3)). Ignoring the eligibility form can lead to the same order to appear and, in the end, contempt (ORS 10.245(6)).

Oregon's contempt law caps the punishment. A punitive sanction can include "A fine of not more than $500 or one percent of the defendant’s annual gross income, whichever is greater," confinement for no more than six months, or probation or community service (ORS 33.105). In a quick summary proceeding the limits are a $500 fine or 30 days.

The OJD calls the summons a legal order from the court and warns that, rarely, a judge may issue an arrest warrant. It also says courts accept only urgent, unexpected and unavoidable reasons for missing service, and may simply reschedule you (OJD juror FAQ). If something comes up, contact the jury office before your date.

Your first day

Each county runs its own jury office, so follow your summons and your county's jury schedule page. Multnomah County Circuit Court, in Portland, gives a good picture (Multnomah juror FAQs):

• Respond first. Use the Juror Response Form online. In Multnomah, if you forgot to respond to a regular summons, you can just come on your start date and check in.
• Check the schedule. Look at your county's jury schedule page the day before. Multnomah needs jurors downtown on most Mondays and Wednesdays.
• Arrive early. Regular jurors report by 8:00 a.m. and should plan to stay until 5:00 p.m. on both days. Doors at the Central Courthouse open at 7:30 a.m., and there's airport-style security.
• What to bring. Your summons postcard, or the JuryPass email with a QR code. Bring lunch or a snack; the court doesn't pay for lunch and has no cafeteria. Bring something to read or work on.
• Leave at home. Knives (including pocketknives and multi-tools), scissors, pepper spray, glassware and firearms aren't allowed and won't be held for you.
• Phones and laptops. You may bring them, and the jury room has Wi-Fi. In a courtroom, turn your phone fully off.
• Dress. Comfortable, but respectful of the role; suits aren't required. Skip strong perfume or cologne.
• Parking. Downtown, the court doesn't validate parking; many jurors take transit or bike.
• The day itself. You start with orientation, then wait to be called for jury selection. If you're not chosen, your service ends after the two days. If you are, you serve until the trial ends.
• Proof for your employer. Print an attendance letter from the response portal after you serve.

Statewide, ORS 10.105 caps a trial juror's term at 10 days unless a trial needs longer, and the Chief Justice must work toward "one day, one trial" service (ORS 10.107).

Grand jury service

An Oregon grand jury has seven members, drawn at random from the jurors already in attendance at the circuit court, and they must meet the same eligibility rules as criminal trial jurors (ORS 132.010, 132.020). Grand jurors decide whether there's enough evidence to charge a crime, not guilt or innocence. In Multnomah County, grand jury selection happens by video, and those chosen serve in person every weekday for four weeks. Grand jurors are paid the same daily fees.

Jury duty scams

Scammers call, text or email claiming you missed jury duty and must pay or face arrest. The Oregon Judicial Department's scam warning lists what the state courts never do, including:

Threaten you or demand money in relation to jury service.

Oregon courts also never require you to pay to respond to a summons or to give sensitive information by phone, email or text. They may text you jury reminders, but those texts won't ask for personal details or money. Don't click links in suspicious messages; official court pages have "courts.oregon.gov" in the address. Hang up, then call your county's jury office to check (OJD scam warning; see also the federal courts' juror scam warning).

Recent and pending changes

Juror pay could change in 2027. The task force's report may include recommendations for legislation, and it goes to the Chief Justice, the Governor and the Legislature's judiciary committees. The law creating it is repealed on December 31, 2026 (SB 1175). The $10 and $25 fees have not changed as of November 2026, and no bill changing jury service was found in the 2026 session. The 2027 session begins in January.

Frequently asked questions

How much does jury duty pay in Oregon?

Oregon circuit courts pay $10 a day for the first two days of service and $25 a day from the third day on, plus 20 cents a mile or your transit fare. If your employer keeps paying your wages, you generally must waive the juror fee, though you can still claim mileage. Payment comes by check after you serve.

Can my employer fire me for jury duty in Oregon?

No. It's an unlawful employment practice to fire, threaten, intimidate or coerce an employee because of jury service, and your employer can't make you use vacation or sick leave or refuse you unpaid leave. Your employer doesn't have to pay you. If it retaliates, you can file a complaint with the Bureau of Labor and Industries or sue, generally within one year.

How do I get out of jury duty in Oregon?

The court must excuse you on request if you're 70 or older or breastfeeding, and usually if you're the sole caregiver for a dependent and can't arrange care. Anyone can ask to be excused for undue hardship or extreme inconvenience, and you can ask for one deferral of up to a year. Make the request in your county's online portal after completing the qualification form.

What happens if I miss jury duty in Oregon?

The court will order you to appear and explain why you didn't come. If you don't appear, or can't show good cause, you can be held in contempt, which can mean a fine of up to $500 or 1% of your annual income, or up to six months in jail. Often the court just reschedules you, but don't count on it; call ahead if you can't make it.

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

After you're discharged from jury service in an Oregon state court or a federal court in Oregon, you can't be required to serve again for 24 months, unless the court runs short of jurors. Selection is random, so some people are called more often than others.

Is there an age limit for jury duty in Oregon?

You must be at least 18. There's no upper limit, but anyone 70 or older can ask to be excused, and the court must grant the request. You still need to respond to the summons to claim it.

Where these rules live

• ORS 10.030 — Eligibility for jury service
• ORS 10.050 — Excuse from jury duty
• ORS 10.055 — Deferment of jury service
• ORS 10.061 and 10.065 — Juror fees and mileage
• ORS 10.090 and 10.092 — Employer protections
• ORS 10.990 — Penalties
• ORS 33.105 — Contempt sanctions
• ORS 659A.820 to 659A.885 — BOLI complaints and civil actions
• Oregon Judicial Department: Find Juror Information
• ORCP 57 — Jury selection, on this site
• Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure on this site
• Law schools in Oregon