Jury Duty in Iowa

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

Short answer: An Iowa court must excuse a person who gives written proof that he or she is solely responsible for the daily care of a household member with a permanent disability whose health would be put at substantial risk, or who is the mother of a breastfed child and responsible for the child's… Iowa Code §§ 607A.4(1)(a), 607A.5, 607A.6 (Iowa Code 2026)

Who can be excused from jury duty	An Iowa court must excuse a person who gives written proof that he or she is solely responsible for the daily care of a household member with a permanent disability whose health would be put at substantial risk, or who is the mother of a breastfed child and responsible for the child's daily care; this automatic excuse does not apply if the person regularly works outside the home. The court may also put off a person's jury service because of hardship, inconvenience or public necessity, and the person may be required to serve later. The statute does not set an age-based excuse; jurors must be at least 18. Source: Iowa Code §§ 607A.4(1)(a), 607A.5, 607A.6 (Iowa Code 2026)
Penalty for skipping jury duty	If you fail to appear for jury duty in Iowa when told to report, without a sufficient reason, the court may order you to come in and explain why you should not be punished, and you may be punished for contempt of court. The statute does not set a fine amount. Source: Iowa Code § 607A.36 (Iowa Code 2026)
Jury duty pay and your job	Iowa employers may not fire, threaten or pressure an employee because the employee gets a jury notice, responds to it, serves or attends court for jury selection; an employer who does commits contempt. A fired employee may sue within 60 days for lost wages and reinstatement, but damages are capped at 6 weeks of lost wages, plus reasonable attorney fees if the employee wins. Jurors are paid $30 per day plus mileage and parking costs. Source: Iowa Code §§ 607A.45, 607A.8 (Iowa Code 2026)

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FAQ

Who is exempt from jury duty in Iowa?

An Iowa court must excuse a person who gives written proof that he or she is solely responsible for the daily care of a household member with a permanent disability whose health would be put at substantial risk, or who is the mother of a breastfed child and responsible for the child's daily care; this automatic excuse does not apply if the person regularly works outside the home. The court may also put off a person's jury service because of hardship, inconvenience or public necessity, and the person may be required to serve later. The statute does not set an age-based excuse; jurors must be at least 18.

What happens if you miss jury duty in Iowa?

If you fail to appear for jury duty in Iowa when told to report, without a sufficient reason, the court may order you to come in and explain why you should not be punished, and you may be punished for contempt of court. The statute does not set a fine amount.

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

Iowa employers may not fire, threaten or pressure an employee because the employee gets a jury notice, responds to it, serves or attends court for jury selection; an employer who does commits contempt. A fired employee may sue within 60 days for lost wages and reinstatement, but damages are capped at 6 weeks of lost wages, plus reasonable attorney fees if the employee wins. Jurors are paid $30 per day plus mileage and parking costs.

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.