Maine Jury Duty Laws: Pay, Exemptions and Employer Rules (2026)

Maine state-court jury service is governed by chapter 305 of Title 14 of the Maine Revised Statutes, with qualifications and exemptions in 14 M.R.S. § 1211 and excuses in § 1213. The state pays jurors $15 for each day of required attendance plus mileage at the state employee rate (§ 1215).

An employer may not take away your job or your health insurance because of jury service, and a fired employee has 90 days to sue (§ 1218). A person 80 or older who does not wish to serve is excused, but has to ask (§ 1213(2)(C)).

Information last verified on October 7, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This page covers jury service in Maine state courts, handled by the clerk of the Superior Court in each county. A summons from the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine 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, exempt, or the court excuses or postpones your service. Maine's statutory exemptions are short: the Governor, active-duty military and certain members of the state military forces. Everyone else who wants out of a particular date goes through an excuse or postponement request decided by the presiding justice or the clerk under the justice's supervision (§ 1213(1)).

To sort out which route might fit before you call the clerk, try our jury duty exemption checker.

Who can serve on a jury in Maine

Under 14 M.R.S. § 1211, "A prospective juror is disqualified to serve on a jury if that prospective juror is not a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age and a resident of the county, or is unable to read, speak and understand the English language." So to serve you must be:

• a U.S. citizen;
• at least 18;
• a resident of the county; and
• able to read, speak and understand English.

The section sets no minimum length of residence. The Judicial Branch juror page adds that an inability to read, speak and understand English does not disqualify you if it "is the result of a physical disability"; that qualifier appears on the court's page, not in § 1211.

How you were chosen

Jurors are drawn from the lists of licensed drivers and people issued a Maine ID card, plus anyone who asks the clerk in their county to be added (§ 1252-A). A person without a license or ID can ask to be included using the court's Request for Inclusion on Juror Source List (CR-CV-214). The Judicial Branch says it does not accept volunteers, since a person with a license or ID is already on the list.

That will change. The Legislature's enacted law summaries say P.L. 2025, c. 708 (LD 338) "adds registered voters and recipients of state unemployment compensation to the source list of prospective jurors in each county, effective January 1, 2028."

Felony convictions

Maine's jury chapter does not list a felony conviction as a disqualification. We opened every qualification-related section of chapter 305 and found no felony or pending-charge rule, and the Judicial Branch juror page lists none.

That does not mean a person with a record will always be seated. The parties can still challenge a juror for cause, and the court may examine any juror (§ 1301). We did not search other titles or the Supreme Judicial Court's jury selection plan for a separate rule, so if this matters to you, ask the clerk's office.

Exemptions, excuses and postponements in Maine

The Judicial Branch's guide says a person who is exempt still has the option to serve.

Age 80 and older

Under § 1213(2)(C), "A person 80 years of age or older who does not wish to serve on a jury is excused from jury service." The Judicial Branch puts it this way: "If you are 80 years of age or older, you may be excused if you wish. Please contact the jury clerk."

Maine has no maximum age and no automatic age-out. The statute does not say whether the excuse covers only the current summons or future ones as well.

Military and National Guard members

Section 1211 exempts "active duty military and all persons exempt under Title 37-B, section 185." Under 37-B M.R.S. § 185(3), "Every member of the state military forces, while going to, attending or returning from active state service or federal military duty, is exempt from jury duty," and a certificate from the commanding officer "is prima facie proof that the person is entitled to the exemption." The Judicial Branch says active-duty members are excused but must contact the jury clerk, themselves or through someone on their behalf.

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).

Hardship and medical excuses

Under § 1213(2), "A qualified prospective juror may be excused from jury service only upon a showing of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity or inability to render satisfactory jury service because of physical or mental disability." For a disability excuse, the court may require a certificate from a physician or an accredited Christian Science practitioner (§ 1213(2)(A)). The decision is made on your juror qualification form, plus other evidence when the court considers it necessary (§ 1213(1)).

The Judicial Branch says to contact the clerk's office "as soon as possible before the date you are scheduled to appear," that you "will be required to provide written documentation to the court," and that a medical excuse "must be accompanied by a note from your medical provider." It also says:

• "The court will not excuse you from jury service because you are self-employed."
• Your employer cannot provide an excuse for you.
• A breastfeeding juror can ask to postpone service and may request an accommodation such as a private room.
• The courthouse has no childcare.
• A student away at school should contact the clerk to defer service to a time when they are home.

Postponing your service

Depending on the circumstances, the court may finally excuse you, require you to serve at a later specific time, or have you serve less than "the usual 15 court days" (§ 1213(3)). The statute sets no limit on how many postponements you may request. The Judicial Branch's printed guide says a postponement request must be in writing and include why and when you can serve in the future.

How much does jury duty pay in Maine?

14 M.R.S. § 1215 says "A juror is entitled to compensation at the rate of $15 for each day of required attendance at sessions of the court." The Judicial Branch confirms that "All jurors are paid $15 per day by the State, plus mileage reimbursement to and from the courthouse."

The rate is statewide; counties do not set it. Since July 1, 2016, juror mileage has followed the state employee mileage allowance in 5 M.R.S. § 8, which for state employees not covered by a bargaining agreement has since July 1, 2021 been "the lower of the rate included in the bargaining agreement representing the most employees or the federal rate of reimbursement." The statute itself names no cents-per-mile figure. The court's printed guide lists $.54 a mile, but the guide is undated and that figure may not reflect the current rate, so check with the clerk.

If you are receiving Maine unemployment benefits, the benefits law says they "may not be denied to an individual solely because the individual is selected to serve as a juror," and your weekly benefit is reduced by what you earn for jury service (26 M.R.S. § 1192-A(6)).

Maine employer rules for jury duty

Job and health insurance protection

Under 14 M.R.S. § 1218, "An employer may not deprive an employee of employment or health insurance coverage, or threaten or otherwise coerce the employee with respect to loss of employment or health insurance coverage, because the employee receives a summons for jury service, responds to a summons for jury service, serves as a juror or attends court for prospective jury service."

Maine's protection covers health insurance as well as the job itself. The section has no minimum employer size, no full-time limit and no requirement that you give your employer advance notice. It does not address shift scheduling after court or whether you must use vacation or sick time.

Penalties and the 90-day deadline

"Any employer who violates this section is guilty of a Class E crime" (§ 1218).

If an employer fires you or ends your health coverage in violation of the section, you "may bring a civil action within 90 days for recovery of wages or health insurance benefits lost as a result of the violation and for an order requiring the reinstatement of the employee." Damages for wages "may not exceed lost wages for 6 weeks," and a prevailing employee "must be allowed a reasonable attorney's fee fixed by the court." Ninety days is short, so talk to a Maine employment lawyer promptly. For how this fits with other limits on firing, see our page on Maine at-will employment laws.

Does your employer have to pay you?

Maine's jury statute does not require private employers to keep paying your wages during jury service; § 1218 protects the job and health insurance only. Under federal wage rules, an employer that pays you as a salaried exempt employee generally cannot deduct jury-duty absences from your salary in a week you also work, though it may offset the juror fees you receive (29 C.F.R. § 541.602). We also searched the state personnel and labor titles of the Maine statutes and found no jury-pay rule for employees there.

For state government workers, the Bureau of Human Resources Civil Service Rules give classified employees (other than intermittent employees) paid leave for jury service with the approval of the appointing authority; the employee receives only the difference between regular pay and the juror fees received (18-389 C.M.R. ch. 11). School and local government employees should check their own leave rules or collective bargaining agreement, which we did not review. Private employees should check their contract, union agreement or handbook.

What happens if you miss jury duty in Maine

The process starts with the juror qualification form mailed with your summons. If you do not return it as instructed, the court may order you to appear and show cause why you should not be held in contempt (§ 1254-A(4)). The clerk may phone you to fix an omission or error on a returned form.

Under § 1217, a person who fails to appear or to complete jury service as directed "shall be ordered by the court to appear forthwith and show cause for his failure to comply with the summons." A prospective juror who fails to show good cause "is guilty of contempt and upon conviction may be punished by a fine of not more than $100 and by imprisonment for not more than 3 days, or by both." If you missed your date, call the clerk's office right away.

Lying on the qualification form carries the same maximums. A person who "intentionally misrepresents a material fact on a juror qualification form for the purpose of avoiding or securing service as a juror" may be fined up to $100, jailed up to 3 days, or both (§ 1254-A(5)).

How long jury duty lasts in Maine

The statutes refer to "the usual 15 court days" (§ 1213(3)). Being required to serve or attend for more than 15 court days, except to finish a particular case, counts as a separate call to service (§ 1216(1)(A)).

In practice it is usually much shorter. The Judicial Branch's trial jury page says "the majority of trials last only one-three days," and the printed guide says service is usually no longer than 1 or 2 days for jury selection plus 2 to 3 days for each trial.

Over your lifetime, you cannot be required to serve or attend as a trial juror more than 3 times, or more than once in any 5-year period (§ 1216(1)(A)). The same subsection limits grand jury service to 3 times in a lifetime and once in any 5 years, and bars requiring you to serve as both a grand and a trial juror within 5 years. Grand jury terms are set by the Chief Justice of the Superior Court, up to 12 months (§ 1216(2)). The Judicial Branch says a person who has already served is welcome to serve again if they wish.

How to respond to a Maine jury summons

1. Fill out and return the juror qualification form that came with your summons, as instructed.
2. If you need to be excused or to postpone, contact the clerk's office of the Superior Court that summoned you as soon as possible before your date, with written documentation (a medical provider's note for a medical excuse). The Judicial Branch's guide asks for postponement requests in writing, saying why and when you can serve.
3. The Judicial Branch's Information for Jurors page covers the process and lists county juror information lines. We did not find a statewide online response portal; requests go to the county clerk.
4. For a disability accommodation, the Judicial Branch lists accessibility@courts.maine.gov and 207-822-0718; dial 711 for TTY.

Watch for jury duty scams

In a March 3, 2025 release, the Maine Judicial Branch warned about callers posing as law enforcement and demanding payment of a fine for missed jury duty: "Court staff and law enforcement never call and request personal or financial information or money over the telephone or threaten people who don't comply. Most contact between the Judicial Branch and people who have been contacted for jury service is by U.S. Mail." It added that a caller challenged about a state court may switch to claiming the call is about federal jury service.

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

Disclaimer: This page is general legal information about Maine state-court jury service, not legal advice. The court that summoned you decides every excuse and postponement request. Information verified October 7, 2026. For questions about your summons, contact the clerk's office listed on it; for an employment dispute, consult a lawyer licensed in Maine.

Related pages

• Jury duty laws by state
• Maine at-will employment laws
• Maine court records
• Maine scam and fraud laws
• New Hampshire jury duty laws

Last updated: October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does jury duty pay in Maine?

Maine pays $15 for each day of required attendance (14 M.R.S. § 1215). Mileage from home to court and back is paid at the state employee rate set in 5 M.R.S. § 8; the statute names no fixed cents-per-mile figure.

Can I get out of jury duty in Maine if I am over 80?

Yes, a person 80 or older who does not wish to serve is excused under § 1213(2)(C). It is not automatic; contact the jury clerk.

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

Maine's jury statute does not require private employers to pay wages during jury service; § 1218 protects your job and health insurance. Classified state employees get paid jury leave, less juror fees, under the state Civil Service Rules; school and local government employees should check their own leave rules or bargaining agreement.

Can I be fired for jury duty in Maine?

No. Section 1218 bars an employer from taking away your job or health insurance over jury service, and a violation is a Class E crime. A fired employee may sue within 90 days for up to 6 weeks of lost wages and reinstatement.

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

You cannot be required to serve or attend as a trial juror more than once in any 5-year period or more than 3 times in your life (§ 1216). Raise it with the clerk if you are summoned again sooner.

Can a felon serve on a jury in Maine?

Maine's jury chapter does not list a felony conviction as a disqualification, but the parties can still challenge a juror for cause. Ask the clerk's office if you are unsure.

Can I get out of jury duty if I am self-employed in Maine?

The Judicial Branch says it will not excuse you just because you are self-employed. You can still ask for an excuse based on undue hardship or extreme inconvenience under § 1213(2), and the court decides.

What happens if I miss jury duty in Maine?

The court orders you to appear and show cause. Without good cause, it is contempt punishable by a fine of up to $100, up to 3 days in jail, or both (§ 1217).

How long is jury duty in Maine?

The statute refers to a usual term of 15 court days, but the Judicial Branch says most trials last one to three days. Service beyond 15 court days, other than to finish a case, counts as a separate call (§ 1216).