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Jury Duty in Georgia

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

Short answer: A Georgia resident 70 or older may ask the clerk in writing (with the clerk's affidavit form) to be excused, and the clerk must then take them off the active list. O.C.G.A. § 15-12-1.1(a)-(c) (secondary source: public copy of the state code; check the official code)

Who can be excused from jury dutyA Georgia resident 70 or older may ask the clerk in writing (with the clerk's affidavit form) to be excused, and the clerk must then take them off the active list. Excusal or deferral must be granted on request for full-time college or vocational students during enrollment, the primary caregiver of a child 6 or younger with no other reasonable child care, the primary teacher in a home study program, the unpaid primary caregiver of a dependent adult (with a medical provider's statement), and service members on ordered military duty and their spouses (with a copy of a military ID). A judge or designee may also defer or excuse people doing work vital to public health or safety or who show other good cause, usually by moving service to a later date. Requests are made on the affidavit form the court provides.
Read on codes.findlaw.com (a public copy of the official code); check against the official code.
Source: O.C.G.A. § 15-12-1.1(a)-(c) (secondary source: public copy of the state code; check the official code)
Penalty for skipping jury dutyA Georgia trial or grand juror who is summoned and neglects or refuses to appear, or who leaves without the court's permission, may be punished for contempt of court after notice and a hearing. The section does not set a fine amount.
Read on codes.findlaw.com (a public copy of the official code); check against the official code.
Source: O.C.G.A. § 15-12-10 (secondary source: public copy of the state code; check the official code)
Jury duty pay and your jobGeorgia employers may not fire, discipline or otherwise penalize an employee, or threaten to, for missing work to answer a jury summons or other court order. An employer who violates this is liable for the employee's actual damages and reasonable attorney's fees; the employer may still require reasonable advance notice of the absence. The law does not say employers must pay wages during jury service. Juror pay is set county by county at not less than $5 and not more than $50 per day.
Read on codes.findlaw.com (a public copy of the official code); check against the official code.
Source: O.C.G.A. §§ 34-1-3, 15-12-7(a)(2) (secondary source: public copy of the state code; check the official code)

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FAQ

Who is exempt from jury duty in Georgia?
A Georgia resident 70 or older may ask the clerk in writing (with the clerk's affidavit form) to be excused, and the clerk must then take them off the active list. Excusal or deferral must be granted on request for full-time college or vocational students during enrollment, the primary caregiver of a child 6 or younger with no other reasonable child care, the primary teacher in a home study program, the unpaid primary caregiver of a dependent adult (with a medical provider's statement), and service members on ordered military duty and their spouses (with a copy of a military ID). A judge or designee may also defer or excuse people doing work vital to public health or safety or who show other good cause, usually by moving service to a later date. Requests are made on the affidavit form the court provides.
What happens if you miss jury duty in Georgia?
A Georgia trial or grand juror who is summoned and neglects or refuses to appear, or who leaves without the court's permission, may be punished for contempt of court after notice and a hearing. The section does not set a fine amount.
Does your employer have to let you serve on a jury in Georgia?
Georgia employers may not fire, discipline or otherwise penalize an employee, or threaten to, for missing work to answer a jury summons or other court order. An employer who violates this is liable for the employee's actual damages and reasonable attorney's fees; the employer may still require reasonable advance notice of the absence. The law does not say employers must pay wages during jury service. Juror pay is set county by county at not less than $5 and not more than $50 per 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.