ByWhat Are the Penalties for Missed Jury Duty in Arizona?
Every citizen of Arizona has a right to trial by jury, which means that every summoned citizen must respond to their summons—this keeps the judicial system’s integrity intact.
Not reporting for jury duty in Arizona is a legal infraction that comes with penalties. How do the courts deal with missed jury duty in Arizona?
We'll show you what the punishments are and how to excuse yourself from jury duty legally. You'll also learn how the can help you with a vital element of preparing for jury duty.
What Happens if You Miss Jury Duty in Arizona?
You can suffer penalties if you:
- Receive a summons but don't respond to it
- Respond to it but don't show up in court for the juror selection process
- Get a place on a jury but don't show up for the trial
If you missed jury duty in Arizona, you might be brought before a judge to explain your absence.
The table below shows the penalties that will apply to you if your reason for missing jury duty is not deemed sufficient in any state or federal court:
| Federal Court Penalties | State Court Penalties |
|---|---|
|
|
What Reasons Do People Give for Not Wanting To Serve?
Jury duty is based on a one-day/one-trial policy in Arizona, so the length of service is usually not a sticking point for prospective jurors in the state. Other reasons people may decide to skip jury duty include:
- Jury duty pay—The federal juror pay is significantly higher than state juror pay, although states differ in their payment
- Employer's jury duty policy—Employers cannot penalize you for serving, but they can decide not to pay you during your jury leave
- Personal scheduling issues—Sometimes, jury schedules clash with an already planned activity or event
- Frequent summoning—Some people keep getting summoned more frequently than others
The courts recognize some reasons here, but you have to respond to the summons first to seek exemption the right way.
Eligible Reasons for Jury Exemption in Arizona
The table below shows the common exemption reasons and the type of court—state or federal—that accepts them:
| Reasons for Exemption | Federal/State Court |
|---|---|
| A physical or mental condition that affects the ability to serve | State and federal |
| Inability to properly read and write in English | State |
| Involvement as the sole caregiver to a dependent | State and federal |
| Tough financial situation or other undue hardship that jury service will worsen | State and federal |
| Employment as a certified peace officer of the state | State |
| Jury duty service within the last two years | State and federal |
| Age of 75 and above | State |
| Grand jury duty—excluding alternate grand jurors—fulfilled in a state court within the last four years | State |
| Attendance of full-time study programs | State |
| Age of 70 and above | Federal |
Looking for Time Off Work? DoNotPay Can Craft a Professional Jury Leave Request for You
Having time off work when you get a jury summons is vital as you most likely won't be able to fit work and jury schedules into your day. Before approving your leave request, many employers would like to ensure that your summons is real. A DoNotPay leave request letter can notify your employer and provide a document to verify your summons.
and take these steps to get your letter:
- Look for the Request Jury Duty Leave product
- Select whether you have a state or federal court summons and indicate the summoning state
- Indicate your jury service days and upload an image of your jury summons
- Check whether you want DoNotPay to email the letter to your employer and verify your signature
If you don't want us to email your employer, you can download the letter and send it yourself.
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