Jury Duty in Delaware

Who can be excused from jury duty in Delaware, what happens if you skip it, juror pay, and whether your employer must let you serve.

Short answer: Everyone is qualified for jury service except people who are not U.S. citizens, under 18, not residents of the county, unable to read, speak and understand English, unable to serve because of a physical or mental disability, or convicted felons whose civil rights have not been restored; 10 Del. C. §§ 4509, 4511

Who can be excused from jury duty	Everyone is qualified for jury service except people who are not U.S. citizens, under 18, not residents of the county, unable to read, speak and understand English, unable to serve because of a physical or mental disability, or convicted felons whose civil rights have not been restored; the court may require a physician's certificate. Someone who is qualified may be excused by the Court only for undue hardship, extreme inconvenience or public necessity, for a period the Court sets, and the Court may treat certain groups or occupations as meeting that standard. Women currently breastfeeding a child must be excused for at least one year. The statute sets no age at which older people are automatically exempt. Source: 10 Del. C. §§ 4509, 4511
Penalty for skipping jury duty	A person who ignores a jury summons or the clerk's direction to complete a juror qualification form may be ordered by the Court to appear and show cause. Failing to appear and show cause as ordered is criminal contempt, punishable by a fine of not more than $100, up to 3 days in jail, or both. Source: 10 Del. C. §§ 4508(c), 4510(b), 4516
Jury duty pay and your job	An employer may not fire, threaten or coerce an employee because the employee receives a jury summons, responds to it, serves, or attends court for prospective jury service. An employer who does is guilty of criminal contempt, punishable by a fine of not more than $500, up to 6 months in jail, or both, and a fired employee may sue in Superior Court within 90 days for lost wages and reinstatement plus attorney's fees. The statute does not require employers to pay wages during service. Jurors receive $20 a day as an allowance for travel, parking and other expenses (not counted as pay by the employer); jurors who serve only one day or one trial get no reimbursement for the first day. Source: 10 Del. C. §§ 4514, 4515

More Delaware criminal law

FAQ

Who is exempt from jury duty in Delaware?

Everyone is qualified for jury service except people who are not U.S. citizens, under 18, not residents of the county, unable to read, speak and understand English, unable to serve because of a physical or mental disability, or convicted felons whose civil rights have not been restored; the court may require a physician's certificate. Someone who is qualified may be excused by the Court only for undue hardship, extreme inconvenience or public necessity, for a period the Court sets, and the Court may treat certain groups or occupations as meeting that standard. Women currently breastfeeding a child must be excused for at least one year. The statute sets no age at which older people are automatically exempt.

What happens if you miss jury duty in Delaware?

A person who ignores a jury summons or the clerk's direction to complete a juror qualification form may be ordered by the Court to appear and show cause. Failing to appear and show cause as ordered is criminal contempt, punishable by a fine of not more than $100, up to 3 days in jail, or both.

Does your employer have to let you serve on a jury in Delaware?

An employer may not fire, threaten or coerce an employee because the employee receives a jury summons, responds to it, serves, or attends court for prospective jury service. An employer who does is guilty of criminal contempt, punishable by a fine of not more than $500, up to 6 months in jail, or both, and a fired employee may sue in Superior Court within 90 days for lost wages and reinstatement plus attorney's fees. The statute does not require employers to pay wages during service. Jurors receive $20 a day as an allowance for travel, parking and other expenses (not counted as pay by the employer); jurors who serve only one day or one trial get no reimbursement for the first day.

Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.