If any juror who has been given due notice to appear in court shall fail to do so without sufficient excuse, he shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $200.
§ 8.01-356.Failure of juror to appear.
Chapter 11. Juries · Article 4. Jury Service · Last amended 2004 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceImposes a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $200 on any juror who receives due notice to appear but fails to show up without a sufficient excuse.
Full Text of § 8.01-356
Plain-English Summary
Jury service comes with an obligation to show up, and this section attaches a real consequence to skipping it. A juror who received due notice and fails to appear without a sufficient excuse faces a fine of at least $50 and no more than $200.
The statute leaves the “sufficient excuse” judgment to the court rather than listing qualifying reasons, which gives judges room to weigh real hardship against a plain no-show. The fine applies whether the notice came through the sheriff’s formal process or the judge’s verbal direction under § 8.01-353, since both count as due notice under this chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fine range for a juror who fails to appear in Virginia?
Not less than $50 nor more than $200.
Does every absent juror get fined?
No, only a juror who was given due notice to appear and fails to do so without sufficient excuse.
Who decides what counts as a sufficient excuse?
The statute does not list qualifying excuses, leaving that determination to the court based on the circumstances.
Must the notice be formal in writing for the fine to apply?
No. The fine applies where the juror had “due notice,” which under § 8.01-353 can include verbal notice from the judge.
Can a juror who fails to appear be jailed under this section?
No. This section provides only for a monetary fine.
Amendment History
Code 1950, § 8-208.18; 1973, c. 439; 1977, c. 617; 2004, c. 116.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Code of Virginia, published by the
Code of Virginia, Virginia Division of Legislative Automated Systems. Last verified July 16, 2026.
· Official source
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