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Jury Duty in Florida

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

Short answer: Florida excuses several groups on request: people 70 or older (who may also ask in writing to be permanently excused), expectant mothers, a parent not working full time who has custody of a child under 6, women who gave birth within 6 months before the reporting date, caregivers of… Fla. Stat. §§ 40.013(2)(b), (4)-(12), 40.23(2)

Who can be excused from jury dutyFlorida excuses several groups on request: people 70 or older (who may also ask in writing to be permanently excused), expectant mothers, a parent not working full time who has custody of a child under 6, women who gave birth within 6 months before the reporting date, caregivers of someone who cannot care for themselves, and full-time students aged 18 to 21. A person who reported for jury duty in their county within the past year is exempt for 1 year. Full-time law enforcement officers are excused unless they choose to serve, and a judge may excuse practicing lawyers, physicians, physically infirm people, or anyone showing hardship, extreme inconvenience or public necessity. Service may also be postponed for up to 6 months on written or oral request.
Source: Fla. Stat. §§ 40.013(2)(b), (4)-(12), 40.23(2)
Penalty for skipping jury dutyA person who is properly summoned for jury duty and fails to attend without a sufficient excuse must pay a fine of up to $100, set by the court that sent the summons. The failure may also be treated as contempt of court.
Source: Fla. Stat. § 40.23(3)
Jury duty pay and your jobFlorida employers may not fire an employee because of the nature or length of jury service, and threatening to fire someone for being summoned may be treated as contempt of court. A fired employee can sue for compensatory and punitive damages plus reasonable attorney fees. Jurors who keep getting their regular wages are not paid by the court for the first 3 days; jurors who are not regularly employed or not paid by their employer get $15 a day for the first 3 days, and every juror gets $30 a day from the fourth day on. There is no extra pay for travel or other expenses.
Source: Fla. Stat. §§ 40.271, 40.24(3)-(5)

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FAQ

Who is exempt from jury duty in Florida?
Florida excuses several groups on request: people 70 or older (who may also ask in writing to be permanently excused), expectant mothers, a parent not working full time who has custody of a child under 6, women who gave birth within 6 months before the reporting date, caregivers of someone who cannot care for themselves, and full-time students aged 18 to 21. A person who reported for jury duty in their county within the past year is exempt for 1 year. Full-time law enforcement officers are excused unless they choose to serve, and a judge may excuse practicing lawyers, physicians, physically infirm people, or anyone showing hardship, extreme inconvenience or public necessity. Service may also be postponed for up to 6 months on written or oral request.
What happens if you miss jury duty in Florida?
A person who is properly summoned for jury duty and fails to attend without a sufficient excuse must pay a fine of up to $100, set by the court that sent the summons. The failure may also be treated as contempt of court.
Does your employer have to let you serve on a jury in Florida?
Florida employers may not fire an employee because of the nature or length of jury service, and threatening to fire someone for being summoned may be treated as contempt of court. A fired employee can sue for compensatory and punitive damages plus reasonable attorney fees. Jurors who keep getting their regular wages are not paid by the court for the first 3 days; jurors who are not regularly employed or not paid by their employer get $15 a day for the first 3 days, and every juror gets $30 a day from the fourth day on. There is no extra pay for travel or other expenses.

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.