Vermont Jury Duty Laws: Pay, Excuses and Employer Rules (2026)

Vermont state-court jury service is governed by chapter 25 of Title 4 of the Vermont Statutes, with qualifications and the excuse rule in 4 V.S.A. § 962. Jurors may request $30 a day under 32 V.S.A. § 1511 unless their employer pays them, and the Vermont Judiciary says it pays $15 for up to four hours of service.

An employer may not fire or penalize you because of jury service (21 V.S.A. § 499). Vermont has no age exemption, and "No person shall be automatically excused from jury service" (4 V.S.A. § 962(b)).

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 Vermont state courts, administered statewide by the Vermont Judiciary's Jury Administration Office. A summons from the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont 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, you are serving in the Vermont State Guard (20 V.S.A. § 1274), or the presiding judge excuses or postpones your service. Vermont's jury statute has no list of exempt occupations or age groups. 4 V.S.A. § 962(b) says "No person shall be automatically excused from jury service; however, the presiding judge may excuse a person for all or part of the two-year period upon individual request showing undue hardship on the prospective juror or the employer."

So every request goes to the court with documentation. To sort out which route might fit before you write to the court, try our jury duty exemption checker.

Who can serve on a jury in Vermont

Under 4 V.S.A. § 962(a), a person is qualified for jury service if the person:

• is a U.S. citizen who has reached the age of majority;
• lives within the geographical jurisdiction of the court that called them;
• can read, write, understand and speak English;
• is capable, by reason of mental or physical condition, of satisfactory jury service; and
• "has not served a term of imprisonment in this State after conviction of a felony."

The Vermont Judiciary says you serve only in the county where you live, and that names are drawn at random by computer from lists of registered voters and licensed drivers. It also says "By law, the courts will excuse from jury duty anyone with a mental or physical condition that would keep them from serving as a juror," which tracks the capability requirement in § 962(a)(4).

Separately, a person summoned as a petit juror for a term of the Superior Court who is a party to an action pending in that court, marked to be tried by a jury at that term, is disqualified for that term (12 V.S.A. § 65). If that describes you, tell the court.

Felony convictions

Section 962(a)(5) makes a person qualified only if the person "has not served a term of imprisonment in this State after conviction of a felony." So a person who has served a prison term in Vermont after a felony conviction is not qualified, and 12 V.S.A. § 64 likewise says such a person "shall be disqualified to act as a grand or petit juror." The text turns on an actual prison term served in Vermont, not on the conviction alone.

The bar is limited to a prison term served "in this State," and the statute does not address sentences that involved no prison term, pending charges, or whether a pardon changes the result. If your Vermont record was expunged, Vermont law says you "shall be treated in all respects as if" you "had never been arrested, convicted, or sentenced for the offense" (13 V.S.A. § 7606(b)(1)). A sealed record is treated the same way, subject to the exceptions in the sealing statute (13 V.S.A. § 7607). If any of these describe you, ask the Jury Administration Office or a Vermont lawyer before you answer the questionnaire.

Served in the last two years

The Judiciary's page lists "Have not served jury duty in a state court in the previous two years" among the qualifications. That item is not in the text of § 962(a). It reflects 4 V.S.A. § 953(d), which says no person's name "shall be placed on venire to serve in any State court of the State of Vermont more than once in any two-year period." The court's two-year rule is described below: if you are summoned again within two years of serving, tell the court and ask to be disqualified.

Excuses and postponements in Vermont

The Judiciary says you "may ask to postpone or be excused from jury duty" for these reasons:

• a mental or physical condition that would make it difficult to serve;
• financial reasons;
• undue hardship to you or your employer;
• scheduled out-of-state travel or another serious scheduling conflict; and
• providing care for another person.

The court decides each request and notifies you. The Judiciary says to "submit a detailed letter to the Jury Administration Office clearly explaining your situation" as soon as possible, with supporting documentation such as a letter from a health care provider, travel reservations, or a student ID or class schedule. Requests may be denied without documentation.

The judge may also excuse you for only part of your service period and order you to report at a future time. The Judiciary's page states no numerical limit on postponements.

Is there an age exemption?

No. The Judiciary says: "There is not an exemption based on age, but you may request to be excused if you have a hardship that would make it difficult to serve." We searched 4 V.S.A. §§ 955, 957, 958, 961, 962 and 963 and the jury selection rules on excuses and service limits, and found no age-out provision.

Military members, students and other groups

One statute outside the jury chapter creates an exemption: every officer and enlisted member of the Vermont State Guard is, "during service in the State Guard," exempt "from jury duty" (20 V.S.A. § 1274). We found no similar rule for Vermont National Guard members, students, first responders, or breastfeeding parents in the chapter 25 sections, Title 20 military chapters and jury selection rules we read, so those situations go through the general hardship request.

Members of the Vermont General Assembly who are scheduled as jurors during legislative sessions are entitled to a leave of absence or postponement when their legislative duties are more compelling (21 V.S.A. § 496(f)). The Judiciary lists a student ID or class schedule only as an example of supporting documentation.

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).

How much does jury duty pay in Vermont?

32 V.S.A. § 1511 allows grand and petit jurors "for attendance, $30.00 a day, on request, unless the jurors were otherwise compensated by their employer." The Judiciary's page adds a half-day tier under its Administrative Directive 19: "Eligible jurors will be paid $15 for up to four hours or $30 for more than four hours for each day of service."

Pay is not automatic: you request it, and the court gives you a form to do so. The statute sets no fixed mileage figure, and the Judiciary's page does not mention mileage. We could not read the text of Administrative Directive 19 itself (the posted copy is a scanned image), so the $15 tier rests on the Judiciary's page.

Vermont employer rules for jury duty

Job protection

Under 21 V.S.A. § 499(a)(1), "An employer shall not discharge an employee because of the employee's service as a juror, or penalize the employee or deprive the employee of any right, privilege, or benefit in a manner that discriminates between the employee and other employees not serving as jurors."

You are also treated as in your employer's service while serving as a juror for purposes of seniority, fringe benefits, vacation credit and other rights and benefits of employment (§ 499(a)(2)). The section has no employer-size threshold, no full-time limit and no notice requirement. The Judiciary's page says "You employer must give you time off for jury duty."

Penalty

"A person who violates a provision of this section shall be fined not more than $200.00" (§ 499(c)). The section itself does not create a lawsuit, reinstatement or back-pay remedy. We did not research whether other Vermont law gives a fired juror a claim, so if you were fired or penalized, talk to a Vermont employment lawyer promptly. For how this fits with other limits on firing, see our page on Vermont at-will employment laws.

Does your employer have to pay you?

21 V.S.A. § 499 does not require private employers to keep paying you during jury service, and the Judiciary's page says "Your employer is not required to compensate you while you are on jury duty." If your employer does pay you, you cannot also collect the juror fee.

State, school and local government employees should check their own leave rules, which we did not research for this page. The statute does not address whether an employer may require you to use vacation time or how shifts after court are handled.

What happens if you miss jury duty in Vermont

The process starts with the jury questionnaire, due within 14 days of receipt. Under 4 V.S.A. § 961(a), a person who does not return it "may be summoned by the Superior Court clerk to appear forthwith before the clerk to fill out a jury questionnaire." A person who ignores that summons is ordered to show cause and "may be found in contempt of court."

If you are summoned and do not appear, 4 V.S.A. § 958 applies: a juror who does not appear "and does not submit an excuse satisfactory to the court in which the juror was summoned to appear, shall be assessed a civil penalty by the presiding judge of not more than $200.00." The judge may waive the penalty "for good cause shown or in the interests of justice." If you missed your date, contact the Jury Administration Office right away.

Willfully misrepresenting a material fact on the questionnaire to avoid or secure service may be fined up to $50 (§ 961(b)).

How long jury duty lasts in Vermont

Under 4 V.S.A. § 963, a person summoned to petit jury service "shall not appear before the court for jury selection more than three times in any two-year period of time and shall be required to appear at the courthouse to serve as a juror on the date of trial no more than three times in that two-year period."

The Judiciary says most jurors come to the courthouse for ten days or less, and a normal day runs from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. It also says: "The court will not summon you to appear for jury duty for at least two years after you have served on a jury. If you receive a summons within this two-year period, let the court know and ask to be disqualified."

How to respond to a Vermont jury summons

1. Complete the jury questionnaire within 14 days, either through the online Juror Questionnaire linked from the Judiciary's Jury Services page or by mailing the paper form to the Jury Administration Office, 32 Cherry Street, Suite 350, Burlington, VT 05401-7305.
2. To ask for a postponement or excuse, use Request Schedule Change or Request Excuse in the online questionnaire and upload your documents, or use page 4 of the paper questionnaire or a separate letter. You can also email jury@vtcourts.gov or fax 802-651-1959.
3. Call the Jury Administration Office at 802-865-5879 with questions.
4. After 5:00 pm the day before your appearance date, call the jury phone line or check the court-specific reporting instructions to confirm whether you need to report.

Watch for jury duty scams

The Judiciary warns: "Do not provide your social security number, credit card number, or mother's maiden name over the phone. The court will never call to ask you for this information." In one scam it describes, the caller claims to be from the Sheriff's Office, says you failed to appear for jury duty and must pay a fine, and may say there is a warrant for your arrest. The Judiciary's advice: "hang up and contact law enforcement."

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

Disclaimer: This page is general legal information about Vermont state-court jury service, not legal advice. The court decides every excuse and postponement request. Information verified October 6, 2026. For questions about your summons, contact the Jury Administration Office; for an employment dispute, consult a lawyer licensed in Vermont.

Related pages

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

Last updated: October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does jury duty pay in Vermont?

Under 32 V.S.A. § 1511 jurors may request $30 a day unless their employer pays them. The Vermont Judiciary says it pays $15 for up to four hours and $30 for more than four hours each day.

Is there an age limit for jury duty in Vermont?

No. The Vermont Judiciary says there is no exemption based on age, but you may ask to be excused if a hardship would make it difficult to serve (4 V.S.A. § 962(b)).

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

21 V.S.A. § 499 does not require private employers to pay you, and the Judiciary says your employer is not required to compensate you. If your employer does pay, you cannot also collect the juror fee.

Can I be fired for jury duty in Vermont?

No. 21 V.S.A. § 499 bars an employer from firing or penalizing you because of jury service and keeps your seniority and benefits running. A violation carries a fine of up to $200.

Can a felon serve on a jury in Vermont?

A person who has served a term of imprisonment in Vermont after a felony conviction is not qualified (4 V.S.A. § 962(a)(5)). The bar covers only prison terms served in Vermont, and an expunged Vermont record is treated as if there had been no conviction (13 V.S.A. § 7606), as is a sealed one subject to exceptions (13 V.S.A. § 7607), so ask the Jury Administration Office if you are unsure.

How do I get excused from jury duty in Vermont?

Send a detailed letter or online request to the Jury Administration Office with documentation, such as a health care provider's letter or travel reservations. Apart from Vermont State Guard members during State Guard service (20 V.S.A. § 1274), no one is automatically excused; the judge decides based on undue hardship to you or your employer (4 V.S.A. § 962(b)).

What happens if I miss jury duty in Vermont?

If you do not appear and give no excuse the court accepts, the presiding judge may assess a civil penalty of up to $200, which can be waived for good cause (4 V.S.A. § 958).

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

You cannot be made to appear for jury selection more than three times in any two-year period (4 V.S.A. § 963). The Judiciary says it will not summon you for at least two years after you serve on a jury.