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Jury Duty in Vermont

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

Short answer: Vermont does not automatically excuse anyone from jury service, and there is no age-based exemption in the statute. 4 V.S.A. §§ 962, 963

Who can be excused from jury dutyVermont does not automatically excuse anyone from jury service, and there is no age-based exemption in the statute. The presiding judge may excuse a person for all or part of the two-year jury period on an individual request showing undue hardship on the prospective juror or the employer. A person must be an adult U.S. citizen living in the court's area, able to read, write, understand and speak English, mentally and physically capable of service, and must not have served a prison term in Vermont for a felony; a petit juror cannot be called for selection more than three times in two years.
Source: 4 V.S.A. §§ 962, 963
Penalty for skipping jury dutyA Vermont juror who does not appear after being summoned, and does not give the court a satisfactory excuse, can be assessed a civil penalty of up to $200 by the presiding judge, which may be waived for good cause. A person who ignores an order to come in and fill out the jury questionnaire can be held in contempt, and willfully lying on the questionnaire to avoid or get jury service can bring a fine of up to $50.
Source: 4 V.S.A. §§ 958, 961
Jury duty pay and your jobA Vermont employer may not fire an employee because of jury service, or penalize the employee or take away rights or benefits in a way that treats jurors differently from other employees. Employees serving as jurors are treated as still in the employer's service for seniority, fringe benefits, vacation credit and other employment rights. An employer who violates the law may be fined up to $200. The statute reviewed does not require the employer to pay wages during jury service.
Source: 21 V.S.A. § 499

More Vermont criminal law

FAQ

Who is exempt from jury duty in Vermont?
Vermont does not automatically excuse anyone from jury service, and there is no age-based exemption in the statute. The presiding judge may excuse a person for all or part of the two-year jury period on an individual request showing undue hardship on the prospective juror or the employer. A person must be an adult U.S. citizen living in the court's area, able to read, write, understand and speak English, mentally and physically capable of service, and must not have served a prison term in Vermont for a felony; a petit juror cannot be called for selection more than three times in two years.
What happens if you miss jury duty in Vermont?
A Vermont juror who does not appear after being summoned, and does not give the court a satisfactory excuse, can be assessed a civil penalty of up to $200 by the presiding judge, which may be waived for good cause. A person who ignores an order to come in and fill out the jury questionnaire can be held in contempt, and willfully lying on the questionnaire to avoid or get jury service can bring a fine of up to $50.
Does your employer have to let you serve on a jury in Vermont?
A Vermont employer may not fire an employee because of jury service, or penalize the employee or take away rights or benefits in a way that treats jurors differently from other employees. Employees serving as jurors are treated as still in the employer's service for seniority, fringe benefits, vacation credit and other employment rights. An employer who violates the law may be fined up to $200. The statute reviewed does not require the employer to pay wages during jury service.

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.