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Jury Duty in Louisiana

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

Short answer: Louisiana's Code of Criminal Procedure leaves the list of who is exempt from jury service to rules of the Louisiana Supreme Court (Art. 403). Separately, a person is not qualified to serve unless he or she is a U.S. La. C.Cr.P. arts. 401, 403

Who can be excused from jury dutyLouisiana's Code of Criminal Procedure leaves the list of who is exempt from jury service to rules of the Louisiana Supreme Court (Art. 403). Separately, a person is not qualified to serve unless he or she is a U.S. and Louisiana citizen who has lived in the parish for at least one year, is at least 18, can read, write and speak English, is not under interdiction or unable to serve because of a mental or physical infirmity (hearing loss alone does not disqualify), and does not have certain recent felony charges, probation or parole or a conviction for a felony crime of violence or felony sex offense (Art. 401). Requests to be excused go to the court that issued the summons.
Art. 401 text: https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=112500. The Supreme Court rule itself (Rule XXV) was not read.
Source: La. C.Cr.P. arts. 401, 403
Jury duty pay and your jobAn employer may not fire or take any other adverse action, without cause, against an employee who is called to or is serving on jury duty, as long as the employee tells the employer about the summons within a reasonable time and before appearing. An employer that fires an employee for this must reinstate the employee with the same wages, benefits and conditions and is fined $100 to $1,000 for each employee fired. A regularly employed person called to a state petit or grand jury or central jury pool must be given up to one day of leave without loss of wages or sick, emergency or personal leave; an employer that violates this must pay the employee's full wages for that day and is fined $100 to $500 for each offense.
Source: La. R.S. 23:965

More Louisiana criminal law

FAQ

Who is exempt from jury duty in Louisiana?
Louisiana's Code of Criminal Procedure leaves the list of who is exempt from jury service to rules of the Louisiana Supreme Court (Art. 403). Separately, a person is not qualified to serve unless he or she is a U.S. and Louisiana citizen who has lived in the parish for at least one year, is at least 18, can read, write and speak English, is not under interdiction or unable to serve because of a mental or physical infirmity (hearing loss alone does not disqualify), and does not have certain recent felony charges, probation or parole or a conviction for a felony crime of violence or felony sex offense (Art. 401). Requests to be excused go to the court that issued the summons.
Does your employer have to let you serve on a jury in Louisiana?
An employer may not fire or take any other adverse action, without cause, against an employee who is called to or is serving on jury duty, as long as the employee tells the employer about the summons within a reasonable time and before appearing. An employer that fires an employee for this must reinstate the employee with the same wages, benefits and conditions and is fined $100 to $1,000 for each employee fired. A regularly employed person called to a state petit or grand jury or central jury pool must be given up to one day of leave without loss of wages or sick, emergency or personal leave; an employer that violates this must pay the employee's full wages for that day and is fined $100 to $500 for each offense.

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.