Minnesota Jury Duty Laws: Pay, Excuses and Employer Rules

Minnesota runs state-court jury service mostly through court rules, not a statute: the qualifications and the age-70 option sit in Minnesota General Rule of Practice 808, and excuses and deferrals in Rule 810. Jurors are paid $20 for each day they report to the courthouse plus round-trip mileage at 54 cents a mile, according to the Minnesota Judicial Branch's juror FAQ.

Your employer may not fire, threaten or coerce you over jury service, must release you from your regular schedule including shift work, and cannot make you work an alternative shift on a day you report (Minn. Stat. 593.50). A person 70 or older may ask to be excused without proof of inability to serve; it is not automatic.

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 Minnesota state courts (the district courts). A summons from a federal court in Minnesota follows federal law, summarized on our jury duty laws by state hub.

Do you have to go? The short answer

Yes, unless you are not qualified or the court excuses or defers you. Minnesota's rule is unusually strict: "All automatic excuses or disqualifications from jury service are eliminated except as provided in Rule 808" (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 810(a)). There is no category for teachers, doctors, police, students, parents or business owners that excuses them just for being in it.

What Minnesota does offer is flexibility on timing. A one-time postponement is available on request, and longer deferrals are possible for listed situations. 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 Minnesota

Under Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 808(b), a prospective juror must be:

1. a citizen of the United States;
2. at least 18 years old;
3. a resident of the county;
4. able to communicate in the English language;
5. able to render satisfactory jury service, with reasonable disability accommodations if necessary;
6. if convicted of a felony, a person whose civil right to vote has been restored; and
7. a person who has not served as a state or federal grand or petit juror in the past four years.

The four-year window can shrink to two years in a county where the jury commissioner finds too few prospective jurors and the state court administrator approves (Rule 808(b)(7)). Sitting Minnesota district court and court of appeals judges and supreme court justices are disqualified; federal judges, tribal judges, referees and magistrates are not (Rule 808(c)).

Rule 809 bars excluding a citizen from jury service because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, age, occupation, sexual orientation, or economic status.

Felony convictions: the July 2025 change

Rule 808 was amended effective July 1, 2025. The court's juror FAQ explains the result: "Beginning July 1, 2025, individuals with felony convictions in Minnesota are eligible to serve on a jury as long as their civil right to vote is restored; the right to vote is restored during any period when an individual is not incarcerated for the offense."

That tracks Minn. Stat. 201.014 subd. 2a, which says an individual ineligible to vote because of a felony conviction "has the civil right to vote restored during any period when the individual is not incarcerated for the offense." The FAQ says the earlier requirement of full civil-rights restoration was removed. We did not research whether out-of-state or federal felony convictions follow the same test; if that is your situation, ask the jury office.

Exemptions, excuses and postponements in Minnesota

Apart from not being qualified, every route out of service in Minnesota is a request, and most are decided by the jury commissioner or a judge.

Age: the 70-and-over request

Minnesota has no upper age limit in Rule 808 and no automatic age-out. Instead, Rule 808(e) says: "If a qualified prospective juror is 70 years of age or older and requests to be excused from jury service, the person shall be automatically excused from service without having to submit evidence of an inability to serve."

The court's own page adds that such a person may choose to serve if able. Neither the rule nor the court pages we read say whether the excusal covers only the current summons or every future one, so if you are summoned again, make the request again or ask the jury office.

Hardship excusal

Hardship requests must be in writing and are not automatically granted; under the State Jury Administration Plan, court staff try to defer you first (State Jury Administration Plan). The plan says that "After all options are exhausted, the following are examples of situations that may result in excusal":

• a juror traveling for employment or out of state for school with no reasonable window of time when they will be in Minnesota; and
• a juror with an ongoing and serious health condition, or caring for a family member with one, with no other options for care.

These are examples, not entitlements. The court's FAQ also says being self-employed does not excuse you from jury service. If staff deny a request you think is justified, the plan points persistent requesters to a detailed written request for judicial review.

Disability and medical requests

Under Rule 808(d), if you claim a disability makes you incapable of serving, "the judge may require the person to provide medical documentation proving the inability to serve." The judge "may direct that reasonable accommodations be given to enable the person to serve in lieu of excusing the person from jury service." So expect the court to consider accommodations before an excuse.

Postponing (deferring) your service

The State Jury Administration Plan says: "Upon request, a one-time deferral is granted without question for petit jurors if made prior to their service start date. For petit jury service, additional deferrals can be granted at the discretion of the CJU or the local county court." The court's FAQ describes this as a one-time postponement of up to nine months that you can request online, on your summons, or by calling the number on your summons.

The plan lists examples of when service may be deferred beyond the usual nine months, including seasonal employment, a previously scheduled vacation, full-time students, recovery from illness or caring for a seriously ill family member, being the only employee of a business, daycare issues, childbirth or newborn care, active military service, legislators in session, and candidates. Each is an example the court may weigh, not a right. The FAQ says a student may postpone to a date during a school break.

Military service members

Minnesota's rules have no military exemption: Rule 810(a) eliminates automatic excuses, and active military service appears in the State Jury Administration Plan only as an example for a longer deferral. Minnesota's former statutory jury exemption for National Guard members (Minn. Stat. 192.24) was repealed in 1977. If you serve in the Guard, raise any conflict with the jury office as a deferral request.

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). It is a decision by the Secretary, not an automatic exemption.

How much does jury duty pay in Minnesota?

Minn. Stat. 593.48 sets no dollar amount; it pays jurors "at rates determined by the supreme court." The Judicial Branch's FAQ gives the current figures: "Jurors are paid $20.00 for each day that they report to the courthouse, plus roundtrip mileage from home to the courthouse at the rate of 54 cents per mile."

The daycare reimbursement is for jurors who normally care for their children or a disabled family member during the day. The claim form "must be received by your County Court Administrator's Office NO LATER THAN 21 DAYS (3 weeks) after the last day of your term of jury service" (After the Trial).

Counties pay jurors out of the county treasury on the jury commissioner's authorization and are reimbursed monthly by the supreme court; in the Eighth Judicial District the state pays directly (Minn. Stat. 593.48).

Taxes on juror pay

The court's After the Trial page says: "The $20.00 per diem must be reported as income for tax purposes. You must keep a record of the amounts you receive as no tax has been withheld and no W-2 forms are furnished." It adds that only jurors who receive $600 or more in juror compensation get a 1099 form from the Minnesota Department of Management and Budget.

Minnesota employer rules for jury duty

Your job and your schedule are protected

Minn. Stat. 593.50 subd. 1 says: "An employer shall not deprive an employee of employment, or threaten or otherwise coerce the employee with respect to employment status, because the employee receives a summons, responds thereto, serves as a juror, or attends court for prospective jury service."

The same subdivision goes further than many states on scheduling. "An employer must release an employee from the employee's regular work schedule, including any shift work, to permit the employee to attend court for prospective jury service. An employer must not require an employee to work an alternative shift on any day the juror is required to report to the courthouse for jury service."

The section states no minimum employer size, no length-of-employment requirement and no advance-notice requirement. It allows an employee to voluntarily ask for an alternative schedule, as long as the employer does not encourage, prompt or ask for it. The legislature last amended subdivision 1 in 2024.

Does your employer have to pay you?

Minnesota's jury statute, section 593.50, does not require private employers to keep paying you while you serve. The Judicial Branch's FAQ says the same and adds: "Some employers do pay normal salaries to employees serving on a jury." For many state employees, a pay plan answers the question: the Nonrepresented Employees Compensation Plan for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027, which covers non-managerial state employees who are not in a union, lists "Jury duty leave for time to serve on a jury" among its paid leaves of absence, and requires the employee to report to work when not impaneled or required by the court to be present. The court's FAQ adds that union members "may be covered through their union contracts." We did not research other public employers, so school and local government employees should check their own leave rules.

Section 593.50 also says nothing about whether an employer may require you to use vacation or sick leave for jury days. Check your employer's policy or union contract.

To show your employer the days you reported, ask your county jury office for a Service Work Certificate. The FAQ says you may print a copy from the Juror Questionnaire system.

If you are fired or pressured over jury service

"If an employer discharges an employee in violation of subdivision 1 the employee within 30 days may 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. Damages recoverable shall not exceed lost wages for six weeks. An employee who prevails shall be allowed a reasonable attorney's fee fixed by the court" (Minn. Stat. 593.50 subd. 3).

The statute does not say exactly when the 30 days begin, so treat the deadline as running from the discharge and act quickly. Separately, "An employer who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of criminal contempt and upon conviction may be fined not more than $700 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both" (subd. 2).

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

What happens if you miss jury duty in Minnesota

Minn. Stat. 593.42 subd. 4 says: "Any person summoned for jury service who fails to appear as directed shall be ordered by the court to appear and show cause for failure to comply with the summons. Absent a showing of good cause for noncompliance with the summons, the juror is guilty of a misdemeanor."

Section 593.42 states no fine or jail range. The penalty comes from Minnesota's general definition of a misdemeanor: "a crime for which a sentence of not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both, may be imposed" (Minn. Stat. 609.02 subd. 3). The court's FAQ gives the same figures. Under the State Jury Administration Plan, staff may first reschedule a no-show, and a judge may issue an Order to Show Cause served by the sheriff.

The questionnaire matters too. A prospective juror who fails to return it "may be ordered by the court to appear and show cause," and one who then fails to appear on that order or cannot show good cause is guilty of a misdemeanor. A person "who willfully misrepresents a material fact on a juror qualification questionnaire for the purpose of avoiding or securing service as a juror is guilty of a misdemeanor" (Minn. Stat. 593.40 subds. 4-5). If you missed your date, contact the jury office right away.

How long jury duty lasts in Minnesota

Under Rule 811 and the State Jury Administration Plan, the maximum term for a petit (trial) juror depends on the county's population:

Wherever you live, "No person is required to continue to serve after the person has reported to the courthouse for ten days within a term of jury service" (Rule 811(b)). But a juror who reaches the maximum while assigned to a trial stays until that trial ends (Rule 811(c)).

Serving on more than one trial in the same term does not count against the four-year rule, and after one trial to deliberation you must be excused if the jury commissioner finds the county has enough jurors (Rule 811(e)). Grand jury terms are longer: four months in Ramsey and Hennepin, six months in Anoka, Dakota, St. Louis (Duluth), Washington and Wright, and 12 months in all other county courthouses, according to the plan.

How to respond to a Minnesota jury summons

1. Your summons and juror qualification questionnaire are one document. Return the questionnaire by mail or complete it online within 10 days of receipt (State Jury Administration Plan).
2. To respond online, use the Juror Questionnaire login linked from the court's Jury Service page; the FAQ says you need the Juror Number, PIN and birth date from your summons.
3. Use the questionnaire to request a deferral or an excusal. If you are 70 or older and want to be excused, say so there.
4. Put hardship requests in writing and explain why a deferral would not solve the problem.
5. Treat your report date as firm until the court confirms its decision, and contact your county jury office with questions.

Watch for jury duty scam calls

The Minnesota Judicial Branch warns: "Although jury service is an important civic responsibility, Minnesota courts/law enforcement will never call you and demand that you pay a fine for missing jury service" (Beware of Jury Scams). It tells people not to give out a credit card number or make any payment, not to share personal information such as a Social Security number, to report the call to local law enforcement, and to contact the jury office with questions.

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

After the trial

The Judicial Branch says it has partnered with BetterHelp "to provide up to four free therapy sessions to all jurors who participated in voir dire." Use is voluntary.

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

Related pages

• Jury duty laws by state
• Minnesota at-will employment laws
• Minnesota court records
• Minnesota scam and fraud laws
• Wisconsin jury duty laws
• Iowa jury duty laws

Last updated: October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does jury duty pay in Minnesota?

The Minnesota Judicial Branch's juror FAQ says jurors are paid $20 for each day they report to the courthouse, plus round-trip mileage at 54 cents a mile. Minn. Stat. 593.48 leaves the rate to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

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

If you are 70 or older and ask to be excused, you are automatically excused without having to prove you cannot serve (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 808(e)). You have to make the request, and you may choose to serve instead.

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

Minnesota's jury statute, Minn. Stat. 593.50, does not require private employers to pay you while you serve, though some employers do. State, school and local government employees should check their own leave rules.

Can I be fired for jury duty in Minnesota?

No. Minn. Stat. 593.50 bars an employer from depriving you of your job, threatening or coercing you because of jury service. A fired employee may sue within 30 days for up to six weeks of lost wages, reinstatement and attorney's fees.

Can my employer make me work a night shift on a jury day in Minnesota?

No. An employer must release you from your regular schedule, including shift work, and must not require you to work an alternative shift on any day you must report to the courthouse (Minn. Stat. 593.50 subd. 1).

What happens if I miss jury duty in Minnesota?

The court orders you to appear and show cause. Without good cause, it is a misdemeanor (Minn. Stat. 593.42 subd. 4), which under Minn. Stat. 609.02 carries up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

Can I postpone jury duty in Minnesota?

Yes. Petit jurors who ask before their start date get a one-time deferral without question, generally within the next nine months, and you can request it online, on your summons or by phone. More deferrals are at the court's discretion.

Can a felon serve on a jury in Minnesota?

Since July 1, 2025, a person with a Minnesota felony conviction may serve once their civil right to vote is restored, and the right to vote is restored during any period they are not incarcerated for the offense (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 808(b)(6); Minn. Stat. 201.014).

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

A person who served as a state or federal grand or petit juror in the past four years is not qualified, though a short-staffed county may shorten that window to two years with approval (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 808(b)(7)).