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Jury Duty in Minnesota

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

Short answer: A person 70 or older who asks to be excused is automatically excused without proof. You are not qualified if you served as a state or federal juror in the past four years (two years if the county is short of jurors), and sitting Minnesota state judges are disqualified. Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 808, 810

Who can be excused from jury dutyA person 70 or older who asks to be excused is automatically excused without proof. You are not qualified if you served as a state or federal juror in the past four years (two years if the county is short of jurors), and sitting Minnesota state judges are disqualified. Otherwise, a person may be excused only if a judge finds they cannot perform juror duties, or the jury commissioner excuses them because service would be a continuing hardship; deferral to a later date is encouraged instead. Legislators and staff get a deferral during session, and filed candidates may defer until after their election. Requests go to the county jury commissioner.
Rule 810: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/court_rules/gp/id/810/
Source: Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 808, 810
Penalty for skipping jury dutyA person who fails to appear for jury service as summoned will be ordered to appear and show cause. Without good cause, the juror is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
Source: Minn. Stat. §593.42 subd. 4; §609.02 subd. 3
Jury duty pay and your jobAn employer may not fire, threaten or coerce an employee because of a jury summons or jury service, must release the employee from the regular work schedule (including shift work) to attend, and may not require an alternative shift on any day the juror must report (the employee may volunteer to). An employer who violates this is guilty of criminal contempt, punishable by up to $700 and/or six months. A fired employee may sue within 30 days for lost wages (up to six weeks) and reinstatement, plus attorney's fees. Juror pay and mileage are set by the Minnesota Supreme Court, not by statute.
Source: Minn. Stat. §§593.50, 593.48

More Minnesota criminal law

FAQ

Who is exempt from jury duty in Minnesota?
A person 70 or older who asks to be excused is automatically excused without proof. You are not qualified if you served as a state or federal juror in the past four years (two years if the county is short of jurors), and sitting Minnesota state judges are disqualified. Otherwise, a person may be excused only if a judge finds they cannot perform juror duties, or the jury commissioner excuses them because service would be a continuing hardship; deferral to a later date is encouraged instead. Legislators and staff get a deferral during session, and filed candidates may defer until after their election. Requests go to the county jury commissioner.
What happens if you miss jury duty in Minnesota?
A person who fails to appear for jury service as summoned will be ordered to appear and show cause. Without good cause, the juror is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
Does your employer have to let you serve on a jury in Minnesota?
An employer may not fire, threaten or coerce an employee because of a jury summons or jury service, must release the employee from the regular work schedule (including shift work) to attend, and may not require an alternative shift on any day the juror must report (the employee may volunteer to). An employer who violates this is guilty of criminal contempt, punishable by up to $700 and/or six months. A fired employee may sue within 30 days for lost wages (up to six weeks) and reinstatement, plus attorney's fees. Juror pay and mileage are set by the Minnesota Supreme Court, not by statute.

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.