Jury Duty in Utah

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

Short answer: Utah law says no qualified prospective juror is exempt from jury service, but a court may excuse a person who shows undue hardship, public necessity, that she is a mother breastfeeding a child, or that the person is incapable of jury service, for as long as that reason lasts. Utah Code §§ 78B-1-108, 78B-1-109, 78B-1-110

Who can be excused from jury duty	Utah law says no qualified prospective juror is exempt from jury service, but a court may excuse a person who shows undue hardship, public necessity, that she is a mother breastfeeding a child, or that the person is incapable of jury service, for as long as that reason lasts. The showing is made by affidavit, sworn testimony or other evidence, and the court may also postpone service for good cause. In any two-year period, a person generally may not be required to attend court as a trial juror more than one court day (except to finish a case) or to serve on more than one grand jury. Source: Utah Code §§ 78B-1-108, 78B-1-109, 78B-1-110
Penalty for skipping jury duty	In Utah, a person summoned for jury service who fails to appear or to complete service as directed is in contempt of court and subject to the penalties in Utah's contempt statutes (Title 78B, Chapter 6, Part 3). Failing to timely answer the juror qualification questions is also contempt, and willfully misrepresenting a material fact to get excused or postponed is an infraction. Source: Utah Code § 78B-1-115
Jury duty pay and your job	A Utah employer may not fire, threaten, take adverse action against or coerce an employee because the employee is summoned for, responds to or serves on a jury or grand jury, and may not require or ask the employee to use vacation, annual or sick leave for that time. A violating employer is guilty of criminal contempt, punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to six months in jail, or both; a fired employee may sue within 30 days for reinstatement and up to six weeks of lost wages plus attorney fees. Jurors are paid $18.50 for the first day and $49 for each later day, plus $1 for every four miles traveled beyond 50 miles (one way). The statutes reviewed do not require employers to pay wages during jury service. Source: Utah Code §§ 78B-1-116, 78B-1-119

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FAQ

Who is exempt from jury duty in Utah?

Utah law says no qualified prospective juror is exempt from jury service, but a court may excuse a person who shows undue hardship, public necessity, that she is a mother breastfeeding a child, or that the person is incapable of jury service, for as long as that reason lasts. The showing is made by affidavit, sworn testimony or other evidence, and the court may also postpone service for good cause. In any two-year period, a person generally may not be required to attend court as a trial juror more than one court day (except to finish a case) or to serve on more than one grand jury.

What happens if you miss jury duty in Utah?

In Utah, a person summoned for jury service who fails to appear or to complete service as directed is in contempt of court and subject to the penalties in Utah's contempt statutes (Title 78B, Chapter 6, Part 3). Failing to timely answer the juror qualification questions is also contempt, and willfully misrepresenting a material fact to get excused or postponed is an infraction.

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

A Utah employer may not fire, threaten, take adverse action against or coerce an employee because the employee is summoned for, responds to or serves on a jury or grand jury, and may not require or ask the employee to use vacation, annual or sick leave for that time. A violating employer is guilty of criminal contempt, punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to six months in jail, or both; a fired employee may sue within 30 days for reinstatement and up to six weeks of lost wages plus attorney fees. Jurors are paid $18.50 for the first day and $49 for each later day, plus $1 for every four miles traveled beyond 50 miles (one way).

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.