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Jury Duty in Maine

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

Short answer: The Governor, active-duty military members and persons exempt under 37-B M.R.S. §185 are exempt from jury service. A person 80 or older who does not wish to serve is excused. 14 M.R.S. §§1211, 1213, 1216

Who can be excused from jury dutyThe Governor, active-duty military members and persons exempt under 37-B M.R.S. §185 are exempt from jury service. A person 80 or older who does not wish to serve is excused. Others may be excused by the presiding justice or clerk, on request, only for undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity or a physical or mental disability (a doctor's certificate may be required); election officials have specific election-day excuses. Over a lifetime a person may not be required to serve as a trial juror more than 3 times, and not more than once in any 5-year period.
Source: 14 M.R.S. §§1211, 1213, 1216
Penalty for skipping jury dutyA person summoned who fails to appear or complete jury service must be ordered to appear and show cause. A prospective juror who cannot show good cause is guilty of contempt and may be fined up to $100, jailed up to 3 days, or both.
Source: 14 M.R.S. §1217
Jury duty pay and your jobAn employer may not fire an employee, cut off the employee's health insurance, or threaten or coerce the employee because the employee is summoned for, responds to, attends or serves on jury duty; a violation is a Class E crime. A fired employee may sue within 90 days for lost wages (up to 6 weeks) or lost health benefits and reinstatement, plus reasonable attorney's fees. The statute does not require the employer to pay wages during service. Jurors are paid $15 per day of required attendance plus mileage at the state rate.
Source: 14 M.R.S. §§1218, 1215

More Maine criminal law

FAQ

Who is exempt from jury duty in Maine?
The Governor, active-duty military members and persons exempt under 37-B M.R.S. §185 are exempt from jury service. A person 80 or older who does not wish to serve is excused. Others may be excused by the presiding justice or clerk, on request, only for undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity or a physical or mental disability (a doctor's certificate may be required); election officials have specific election-day excuses. Over a lifetime a person may not be required to serve as a trial juror more than 3 times, and not more than once in any 5-year period.
What happens if you miss jury duty in Maine?
A person summoned who fails to appear or complete jury service must be ordered to appear and show cause. A prospective juror who cannot show good cause is guilty of contempt and may be fined up to $100, jailed up to 3 days, or both.
Does your employer have to let you serve on a jury in Maine?
An employer may not fire an employee, cut off the employee's health insurance, or threaten or coerce the employee because the employee is summoned for, responds to, attends or serves on jury duty; a violation is a Class E crime. A fired employee may sue within 90 days for lost wages (up to 6 weeks) or lost health benefits and reinstatement, plus reasonable attorney's fees. The statute does not require the employer to pay wages during service. Jurors are paid $15 per day of required attendance plus mileage at the state rate.

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.