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

South Carolina's circuit courts draw jurors at random from a list the State Election Commission builds each fall by merging the county's registered voters with residents who hold a driver's license or state ID card and are eligible to vote. If your name is drawn, you must serve unless the court disqualifies or excuses you. Most people serve for a single week of court.

The headline numbers depend on where you live. Juror pay is set county by county: the Code still prints a decades-old table of $2 to $12.50 a day, but counties pay more today, such as $20 a day in Greenville County. Your employer doesn't have to pay you, but if it fires or demotes you for serving, you can sue for up to a year's pay. A juror who skips a summons without a good excuse faces a civil penalty of up to $100, and anyone 65 or older can opt out with a phone call.

The rules are in Chapter 7 of Title 14 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, with job protection in § 41-1-70. Everything below is current as of November 2026.

South Carolina jury duty at a glance

Who can serve

South Carolina's Constitution sets the floor: "Each juror must be a resident of this State and have such other qualifications as the General Assembly may prescribe" (S.C. Const. art. V, § 22).

Where names come from. Every September the Department of Motor Vehicles sends the State Election Commission a file of U.S. citizens over 18 in each county who hold a valid South Carolina driver's license or ID card. In October the Commission merges that file with the county's registered voters, keeps only people eligible to register to vote, and sends the result to the county's jury commissioners. That list "constitutes the roll of eligible jurors in the county" (§ 14-7-130). The commissioners draw names at random and may not excuse anyone themselves (§ 14-7-160).

You must serve once drawn. A person whose name is drawn "shall serve as a juror unless disqualified or excused by the court" (§ 14-7-360). The Judicial Branch adds that you must live in the county that summoned you (SC Courts).

Who is disqualified. Section 14-7-810 bars four groups from any South Carolina jury:

(1) He has been convicted in a state or federal court of record of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year and his civil rights have not been restored by pardon or amnesty.

The other three are people who can't read, write, speak or understand English; people whose mental or physical infirmities keep them from serving well; and people with less than a sixth-grade education or its equivalent. Legal blindness alone doesn't disqualify you. If you know or suspect you're disqualified, you must say so when the judge or clerk asks; staying quiet is punishable as contempt, and the trial judge has the final word (§ 14-7-810).

Court and county officials. Clerks and deputy clerks, constables, sheriffs, probate judges, county commissioners, magistrates, other county officers and anyone who works inside a courthouse aren't eligible, though only the court can disqualify them on that ground (§ 14-7-820). The Judicial Branch's list also names commissioned law enforcement officers.

Exemptions and excuses

South Carolina keeps its list of true exemptions short. Section 14-7-840 begins:

No person is exempt from service as a juror in any court of this State except men and women sixty-five years of age or over.

Age 65 or older. This is an option, not a bar: you may serve if you wish. To use it, you can be excused by confirming your date of birth and age by telephone to the clerk of court or the chief magistrate (§ 14-7-840). Greenville County's summons form adds that unless the clerk excuses you before your term begins, you must report.

Caregivers. Three groups who want to be excused must file an affidavit with the clerk of court (§ 14-7-860(B)):

• a person with legal custody and the duty of care for a child under 7;
• the primary caretaker of a person 65 or older; and
• the primary caretaker of a severely disabled person who can't care for himself or be left alone.

The affidavit must say you can't provide adequate care while serving. If it does, the statute says you "must be excused by the presiding judge from jury service." The Judicial Branch notes the affidavit is a notarized statement.

Workers a business can't run without. If your work is so essential that a business, commercial or farm operation would have to close while you serve, you can file an affidavit asking to be excused. The judge may excuse you or move you to another term (§ 14-7-860(D)).

Good cause. Beyond those lists, the presiding judge may excuse anyone for cause. Once you've been drawn for a term, the excuse must be for "good and sufficient cause," and your application stays on file with the clerk (§ 14-7-860(A)). Most people excused this way aren't let off for good: the commissioners put their names on a later panel of the same term or a future term. That doesn't happen if the excuse is a permanent physical disability or you're 65 or older (§ 14-7-870).

A criminal backstop. The section ends with its own penalty: violating it is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both (§ 14-7-860(E)).

Other items on the court's list. The Judicial Branch also lists guards, keepers and other officers of a state penitentiary, and people who recently served on a circuit court or grand jury (SC Courts). A completed grand jury term exempts you from all jury service for five calendar years (§ 14-7-1510(C)).

How to ask. Claim your exemption or excuse on the response form that comes with the summons and return it with any doctor's statement or affidavit. Greenville County warns in capital letters that you're expected to report unless the judge approves your request before your date, and that the clerk will tell you by mail if you don't have to come (Greenville County Clerk of Court).

Postponing jury duty

Students and school staff. South Carolina gives a right to postpone, not just a chance. If you're a student and are picked during the school term, your service "must be postponed to a date that does not conflict with the school term" when you ask (§ 14-7-845(A)). Students include anyone in high school, college or technical college. The same rule covers public and private school teachers, building-level certified staff and bus drivers, home-school and charter-school educators, and college and technical-college instructors. The school term means the instructional year, generally September 1 to May 30. You must send proof of enrollment, employment or teaching duties (§ 14-7-845(B)-(C)).

Everyone else. There's no general statutory right to postpone, but clerks do move jurors. Greenville County lets circuit court jurors with scheduling conflicts ask for a one-time postponement to a later term through an online form. Asking doesn't excuse you; you must report as scheduled unless the clerk approves (Greenville County). Other counties handle requests through the response form or a phone call, so follow your summons.

Juror pay

South Carolina has no single statewide juror rate. The Judicial Branch tells jurors that per diem and mileage vary from county to county, that everyone who serves gets the same pay whether or not they sit on a case, and that the clerk usually mails payment after service ends (SC Courts).

The statute is a museum piece. Section 14-7-1370 still lists a per diem for each county, starting at "two dollars" in counties such as Greenville, Richland and York and topping out at "twelve dollars and fifty cents" in Beaufort, with mileage "at the rate of five cents per mile going to and returning from court" as the base. It was last amended in 1978 (§ 14-7-1370). Counties now set their own, higher amounts. Georgetown County says plainly that "Juror’s compensation is set by Georgetown County Council."

What some counties pay (as of November 2026):

• Greenville County: "A juror is paid $20.00 a day for each day that he or she serves on jury duty." Payment comes by debit card, mailed within two business days after your service ends (Greenville County Clerk of Court).
• Newberry County: $15.00 a day and $0.30 a mile for each day you report (Newberry County Clerk of Court).
• Georgetown County: $25 a day (Georgetown County).

Check your county clerk of court's website or call the number on your summons for your county's rate.

Magistrate court. Jurors in magistrate court and on coroner's juries get a per diem of ten dollars plus mileage, paid by the county (§ 22-2-160).

Your job is protected

South Carolina protects jurors through a lawsuit rather than a criminal penalty. Section 41-1-70 provides:

Any employer who dismisses or demotes an employee because the employee complies with a valid subpoena to testify in a court proceeding or administrative proceeding or to serve on a jury of any court is subject to a civil action in the circuit court for damages caused by the dismissal or demotion.

What that means:

1. Firing or demotion is actionable. If you lose your job or are demoted because you served, you can sue your employer in circuit court.
2. Damages are capped. For a firing, damages are limited to one year's salary, or 52 weeks of wages based on a 40-hour week at the rate you earned when the summons arrived. For a demotion, they're limited to one year of the difference between your old and new pay.
3. No pay requirement. The statute doesn't require your employer to pay you while you serve. Ask about your company's policy.

(§ 41-1-70)

What happens if you don't show up

Section 14-7-1390 sets the penalty:

If a person duly drawn and summoned to attend as a juror in any court neglects to attend, without sufficient excuse, he shall pay a civil penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars which must be imposed by the court to which the juror was summoned and paid into the county treasury.

That's the floor of the risk, not the ceiling. Greenville County warns that missing jury duty "may result in a citation for contempt of court, and a bench warrant may be issued for your arrest" (Greenville County FAQ). The county also sends the sheriff's office a list of people who don't respond to their summons, so deputies can follow up in person (Greenville County), and a judge may have the sheriff escort a no-show to the courthouse (Greenville County). If you can't come, return the form or call the clerk before your date.

Your first day

Details vary by county, so follow your summons. The Judicial Branch and Greenville County's pages give a good picture:

• You'll get notice. Jurors must be told when and where to report at least 15 days ahead, unless the judge needs more jurors right away (§ 14-7-160). The clerk may serve the summons by certified mail (§ 14-7-410). Greenville mails summonses 20 to 30 days before your date and tells jurors the summons is the only notice they'll get.
• Return the form. Fill out the juror information section and send it back in the envelope provided. Newberry asks for it within two days of receipt.
• Plan for the week. Greenville says service normally lasts one week and you should plan to be there the whole week. Court usually starts about 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. and ends about 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. You'll get a phone line to call for reporting instructions.
• Roll call. When your name is called, stand and give your name, occupation and the mileage from your home to the courthouse (SC Courts).
• Phones. Turn off or silence your phone before entering a courtroom, under a March 10, 2023 Supreme Court order. If you're seated on a jury, expect to hand your phone to the clerk or bailiff (SC Courts).
• Security and dress. Expect a metal detector, and leave weapons, including pocket knives and mace, in your car. Greenville suggests simple business attire; tank tops, shorts, hats and flip-flops are out.
• Lunch. Meals usually aren't provided. Jurors can generally leave for lunch and go home at night.
• Paid either way. Greenville pays for every day you attend, even if you aren't picked for a trial.

(Greenville County FAQ; Where to Park and Report; Newberry County)

Grand jury service

Each county grand jury has 18 members, and 12 must agree before a matter goes to the court (S.C. Const. art. V, § 22). Twelve new grand jurors are drawn each year, and six from the previous year stay on for a second year. Nobody serves more than two consecutive years, and after finishing you're exempt from all jury service for five calendar years (§§ 14-7-1510, 14-7-1540). A separate state grand jury, called by the Attorney General for crimes such as drug trafficking and public corruption, is chosen from 60 people summoned for selection, and pays a daily subsistence allowance plus the per diem and mileage paid to members of state boards (§ 14-7-1660).

Jury duty scams

Scammers call or text pretending to be deputies or court staff, say you missed jury duty, and demand a fine by gift card, prepaid card, wire transfer or Bitcoin. Newberry County's Clerk of Court warns:

The Clerk of Courts office or anyone claiming to call on our behalf would NEVER ask for any type of payment over the phone.

South Carolina's penalty for missing jury duty is imposed by a judge in court, never collected over the phone. Hang up and call your county clerk of court at the number on its official website (Newberry County Clerk of Court; see also the federal courts' juror scam warning).

Recent and pending changes

No law changing jury service was enacted in 2024, 2025 or 2026. Three bills were filed and went no further than committee:

(S. 216; H. 4056; H. 4420)

The 2025-2026 legislative session has ended, so the age bills would have to be filed again in 2027. Until then, the opt-out age stays at 65.

Frequently asked questions

How much does jury duty pay in South Carolina?

It depends on your county. State law still lists old county rates of $2 to $12.50 a day, but counties now set their own: Greenville pays $20 a day, Newberry $15 a day plus mileage, and Georgetown $25 a day. Magistrate court jurors get $10 a day plus mileage. Your clerk of court's website or summons gives your county's rate.

Can my employer fire me for jury duty in South Carolina?

No. An employer who fires or demotes you because you served on a jury can be sued in circuit court. Damages for a firing are capped at one year's salary or 52 weeks of 40-hour wages; for a demotion, at one year of the pay difference. Your employer doesn't have to pay you while you serve.

How do I get out of jury duty in South Carolina?

If you're 65 or older, call the clerk of court to confirm your age and you can be excused. Parents of children under 7 and caregivers of older or severely disabled people who can't arrange care can file an affidavit, and workers whose business would have to close can ask too. Students and school employees can move service out of the school term. For anything else, the judge decides, and most people excused for cause are put on a later panel.

What happens if I miss jury duty in South Carolina?

The court can impose a civil penalty of up to $100 on a juror who doesn't attend without a sufficient excuse. Some counties warn that a no-show can also be cited for contempt or face a bench warrant, and the sheriff may follow up. If you can't come, contact the clerk before your date.

How often can you be called for jury duty in South Carolina?

No one can be drawn to serve more than once every three calendar years, or serve more than once in a calendar year. If you finish a grand jury term, you're exempt from all jury service for five calendar years. Serving before a magistrate doesn't count toward the limit.

Is there an age limit for jury duty in South Carolina?

There's no upper limit, but anyone 65 or older may decline. You can be excused by confirming your date of birth to the clerk of court or chief magistrate by phone. Bills filed in 2025 to raise the age to 70 or 75 did not pass.

Where these rules live

• S.C. Code § 14-7-130 — The roll of eligible jurors
• S.C. Code § 14-7-810 — Disqualifications
• S.C. Code § 14-7-840 — Age 65 exemption
• S.C. Code § 14-7-845 — Postponement for students and school employees
• S.C. Code § 14-7-850 — How often you can serve
• S.C. Code § 14-7-860 — Excuses by the judge, caregivers and essential workers
• S.C. Code § 14-7-1370 — Juror pay in circuit court
• S.C. Code § 14-7-1390 — Penalty for not attending
• S.C. Code § 41-1-70 — Employer liability for firing or demoting a juror
• South Carolina Judicial Branch: Juror Information
• SCRCP Rule 47 — Jurors (on this site)
• Law schools in South Carolina