Kentucky Jury Duty Laws: Pay, Excuses and Employer Rules

Kentucky sets the rules for state-court jury service in chapter 29A of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, with every qualification and disqualification listed in KRS 29A.080. Jurors receive $12.50 a day, made up of $5 for service and $7.50 for expenses, a statewide rate in KRS 29A.170.

Your employer may not fire, threaten or coerce you because of jury service, and a fired employee has 90 days to sue (KRS 29A.160). A person 70 or older may ask on the qualification form to be excused for the period summoned; it is not automatic.

Information last verified on October 6, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This page covers jury service in Kentucky state courts (Circuit and District Courts). A summons from a federal court in Kentucky follows federal law, summarized on our jury duty laws by state hub.

Do you have to go? The short answer

Yes, unless you are disqualified or the court excuses or postpones you. Kentucky's statute is blunt: "There shall be no automatic exemptions from jury service" (KRS 29A.090). Apart from the disqualifications below, every way out of service, including the age-70 option, requires you to ask.

The Kentucky Court of Justice's statewide jury page links to local juror information by county and says to contact your local jury office with questions (Kentucky Court of Justice, Jury Service). To see which category might fit your situation before you contact the court, try our jury duty exemption checker.

Who can serve on a jury in Kentucky

The court decides your qualifications from the juror qualification form (KRS 29A.080). You are disqualified if you:

• are under 18;
• are not a U.S. citizen;
• are not a resident of the county;
• have insufficient knowledge of English;
• have been convicted of a felony and have not been pardoned or had your civil rights restored (see below);
• are presently under indictment;
• have already served on a jury within the 24-month limits of KRS 29A.130; or
• are 70 or older and asked on the qualification form to be excused for the period summoned.

The statute sets no minimum length of county residence. "There shall be no waiver of these disqualifications, except that pursuant to the Federal Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, an individual with a disability shall not be disqualified solely by reason of the disability" (KRS 29A.080(4)).

Felony convictions and restoration of rights

The felony bar in KRS 29A.080(2)(e) applies to a person who "Has been previously convicted of a felony and has not been pardoned or received a restoration of civil rights by the Governor or other authorized person of the jurisdiction in which the person was convicted." So the statute ties eligibility to a pardon or restoration of civil rights, not to a waiting period.

For Kentucky convictions, KRS 196.045 has the Department of Corrections process restoration requests from people who have completed their sentence or received final discharge from parole, have no pending warrants, charges or indictments and have paid restitution, and forward them to the Governor; the civil rights restored expressly include the ability to serve on a jury. If you have a felony record and a summons, answer the qualification form truthfully and ask the jury office or a Kentucky lawyer whether your civil rights have been restored.

The juror qualification form

The form must be returned within 5 days of receipt unless you are told otherwise, and it carries your signed declaration that your answers are true and an acknowledgment "that a willful misrepresentation of a material fact may be punished by a fine or by imprisonment, or both" (KRS 29A.070). If you do not return a properly completed form, the court may direct you to appear and complete one, and ignoring that direction without good cause may be punished as contempt.

A person who does not return the form within ten days may be personally served by the sheriff (KRS 29A.060).

Exemptions, excuses and postponements in Kentucky

Because there are no automatic exemptions, Kentucky works through requests. Here is what chapter 29A provides.

Hardship and postponement

Under KRS 29A.100(1), the judge "may excuse such juror upon a showing of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, or public necessity." The word "may" means the court decides. On the day prospective jurors are told to appear, "any person not previously excused who desires to be excused shall be heard."

Expect a postponement before an outright excuse. The statute tells judges: "Whenever possible the judge shall favor temporary postponement of service or reduced service over permanent excuse" (KRS 29A.100(3)). It does not cap how many times service can be postponed.

Age: the 70-and-over request

Kentucky has no automatic age-out. Under KRS 29A.080(2)(h), a person is disqualified if they are "seventy (70) years of age or older and has requested in a space provided on the juror qualification form that he or she be excused from service for the period summoned."

Both parts matter: you must make the request on the form, and it covers the period you were summoned for, not every future summons. Chapter 29A sets no maximum age. The 2023 General Assembly added this rule (2023 Ky. Acts ch. 149, effective June 29, 2023).

Permanent medical exemption

"The Chief Circuit Judge may grant a permanent exemption based upon an individual's request and a finding by the Chief Circuit Judge of a permanent medical condition rendering the individual incapable of serving" (KRS 29A.080(3)). The statute does not say what documentation you need. The Jefferson County Court Clerk's FAQ says you must present sufficient proof of a permanent medical condition (Jefferson County Court Clerk, Jury Service). Ask your jury office what it accepts.

Breastfeeding mothers

"The judge shall excuse a mother who is breastfeeding a child or expressing breastmilk from jury service until such time as the child is old enough that the mother is no longer breastfeeding the child" (KRS 29A.100(4)). The excuse is mandatory once the court knows, but since nothing in Kentucky is automatic, tell the jury office when you respond to the summons.

Military service members

Chapter 29A has no military category, the state military chapters (KRS chapters 35 to 38) contain no jury exemption, and the old militia jury exemption (KRS 36.190) was repealed in 1962. A Guard member who cannot serve on the summoned dates can ask for a hardship excuse or postponement under KRS 29A.100, like any other juror.

Federal law separately says an active-duty member of the armed forces may not be required to serve on a state or local jury if the member's branch Secretary determines that service would unreasonably interfere with military duties or adversely affect unit readiness, and that determination is conclusive (10 U.S.C. § 982). Ask your command about it if that applies to you.

How much does jury duty pay in Kentucky?

Under KRS 29A.170, "All jurors in Circuit and District Court shall be paid five dollars ($5) per day for jury service. In addition thereto, they shall be paid seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per day as reimbursement of expenses incurred."

The rate is set statewide and has not changed since the section took effect in 1978. The Jefferson County clerk's FAQ says "Jurors are compensated $12.50 per day by the state during jury service." A 2026 bill, HB 440, would have raised the daily fee from $5 to $15, but it was sent to the House Judiciary Committee on January 28, 2026 and went no further, so the rate remains $12.50 (2026 HB 440 bill record).

Kentucky employer rules for jury duty

Your job is protected

"An employer shall not deprive an employee of his employment, or threaten or otherwise coerce him with respect thereto, because the employee receives a summons, responds thereto, serves as a juror, or attends court for prospective jury service" (KRS 29A.160(1)).

The protection starts with the summons itself. The section states no advance-notice requirement, no minimum employer size, and no full-time limitation. The Jefferson County clerk's FAQ puts it this way: "Employers, by law, must release someone who has been summonsed to jury service from his or her regular work schedule."

Does your employer have to pay you?

Kentucky's jury statutes do not require private employers to keep paying you while you serve; KRS 29A.160 protects your job, not your wages. The Jefferson County clerk's FAQ says: "Employers are not required, however, to compensate individuals for time spent away from regular employment during jury service." Teachers and state employees are different: under KRS 161.153, a teacher or state employee who serves on a jury in any local, state or federal court must be granted leave with full compensation for the period of actual jury service, in addition to their other leave. For teachers and state employees outside the KRS Chapter 18A merit system, that pay is reduced by any jury pay received; for state employees under Chapter 18A, it is not. Other public employees, such as city and county workers, are not covered by that section and should check their own leave rules.

The statute also says nothing about whether an employer may require you to use vacation or sick leave, or about shift scheduling around jury service, so check your employer's policy or union contract.

If you are fired for jury service

"If an employer discharges an employee in violation of subsection (1) of this section, the employee may within ninety (90) days of such discharge bring a civil action for recovery of wages lost as a result of the violation and for an order requiring the reinstatement of the employee with full seniority and benefits" (KRS 29A.160(2)).

"Damages recoverable shall not exceed lost wages," and a prevailing employee is allowed a reasonable attorney's fee. The 90-day clock runs from the discharge, and this civil remedy covers discharge, not threats or coercion short of firing. Separately, "Any employer who violates KRS 29A.160(1) or (2) is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor" (KRS 29A.990(1)).

Ninety days is short, so talk to a Kentucky employment lawyer promptly. For how this rule fits with other limits on firing, see our page on Kentucky at-will employment laws.

What happens if you miss jury duty in Kentucky

"A person summoned for jury service who fails to appear as directed shall be ordered by the court to appear forthwith and show cause for his failure to comply with the summons. If he fails to show good cause for noncompliance with the summons, he may be punished for contempt" (KRS 29A.150(1)).

The section sets no fine amount or jail range. A juror who stops paying attention, leaves the courthouse while court is in session, or otherwise fails to complete service without leave may also be punished for contempt (KRS 29A.150(2)). If you missed your date, contact the jury office right away and explain what happened.

How long jury duty lasts in Kentucky

Your summons requires you "to be available for jury service for thirty (30) judicial days thereafter," and it must be mailed or served at least 30 days before you have to attend (KRS 29A.060(3)).

Under KRS 29A.130, in any 24-month period no one can be required to:

• serve or attend court for prospective service as a trial (petit) juror more than 30 court days, except to finish a particular case;
• serve on more than one grand jury; or
• serve as both a grand and a trial juror.

Service in federal courts and other states' courts counts toward these limits. The Jefferson County clerk's FAQ says that in practice service may be as short as 14 days in some urban areas and as long as 150 days in some rural areas, that a jury stays seated once it begins a case, and that the judge sets the length. That is a county explanation, not the statute.

How to respond to a Kentucky jury summons

1. Read your summons and the juror qualification form, and return the form within 5 days of receipt unless told otherwise (KRS 29A.070).
2. If you are 70 or older and want to be excused for this period, use the space on the qualification form (KRS 29A.080(2)(h)).
3. If you are breastfeeding, have a permanent medical condition, or face undue hardship, contact your local jury office about how to make the request.
4. If you need a different date, ask for a postponement; court staff may postpone up to 12 months and a judge up to 24 months (KRS 29A.100).
5. Treat your report date as firm until the court confirms its decision.

The Kentucky Court of Justice's Jury Service page has a county-by-county lookup for local juror information and notes that some counties offer text notifications. We did not find a single statewide online juror portal described there.

Watch for jury duty scam calls

The Kentucky Court of Justice warns: "Kentucky Court of Justice personnel will never ask for payment, a credit card number or Social Security number for failure to appear for jury service." It tells people not to give bank or credit card information over the phone to anyone claiming to be with the court's jury program, and to contact the local jury office, local law enforcement, the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General or the FBI about a suspicious call, email or other message.

Our guide to government impersonation scams explains how these schemes work, and our page on Kentucky scam and fraud laws covers where to report.

Disclaimer: This page is general legal information about Kentucky state-court jury service, not legal advice. The court that summoned you decides every excuse and postponement request. Information verified October 6, 2026. For questions about your summons, contact the jury office listed on it; for an employment dispute, consult a lawyer licensed in Kentucky.

Related pages

• Jury duty laws by state
• Kentucky at-will employment laws
• Kentucky court records
• Kentucky scam and fraud laws
• Ohio jury duty laws
• Indiana jury duty laws

Last updated: October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does jury duty pay in Kentucky?

Kentucky jurors receive $12.50 a day: $5 for service plus $7.50 as expense reimbursement (KRS 29A.170). You are paid for each day you must attend, even if you are never sworn onto a jury.

Can I get out of jury duty in Kentucky if I am over 70?

You may ask. A person 70 or older who requests it in the space on the juror qualification form is excused for the period summoned (KRS 29A.080(2)(h)). It is not automatic and does not cover future summonses.

Does my employer have to pay me for jury duty in Kentucky?

Kentucky's jury statutes do not require private employers to pay you while you serve, and the Jefferson County clerk's FAQ says the same. Teachers and state employees must be granted jury leave with full compensation under KRS 161.153; other public employees, such as city and county workers, should check their own leave rules.

Can I be fired for jury duty in Kentucky?

No. KRS 29A.160 bars an employer from depriving you of your job, or threatening or coercing you, because of jury service. A fired employee may sue within 90 days for lost wages, reinstatement and attorney's fees, and the employer commits a Class B misdemeanor.

What happens if I miss jury duty in Kentucky?

The court orders you to appear and show cause for missing it. If you cannot show good cause, you may be punished for contempt (KRS 29A.150).

How long is jury duty in Kentucky?

Your summons requires you to be available for 30 judicial days (KRS 29A.060). No one can be required to serve more than 30 court days of trial jury service, or on more than one grand jury, in any 24-month period, except to finish a case (KRS 29A.130).

Is there a breastfeeding exemption for jury duty in Kentucky?

Yes. The judge shall excuse a mother who is breastfeeding or expressing breast milk until the child is old enough that she is no longer breastfeeding (KRS 29A.100(4)). Tell the jury office when you respond to your summons.

Can a felon serve on a jury in Kentucky?

Not unless pardoned or given a restoration of civil rights by the Governor or other authorized person of the jurisdiction where the conviction happened (KRS 29A.080(2)(e)). A person currently under indictment is also disqualified.