Jury Duty Laws in Minnesota (2026): Your Complete Survival Guide

Most people freak out when that jury summons arrives in the mail. Totally normal. But here’s the thing: Minnesota’s jury duty laws aren’t as scary as they seem. The state actually just changed some major rules in 2025 that make the system fairer for everyone.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know. We’ll cover who has to serve, what happens if you skip it, and how to handle it without losing your job.

What Is Jury Duty in Minnesota?

Jury duty is your legal responsibility as a citizen. You sit on a panel with other people from your county. Together, you listen to evidence and decide court cases.

Think of it like being a referee in a really important game. Except instead of sports, you’re helping decide someone’s guilt or innocence. Or figuring out who wins a lawsuit.

Minnesota takes this seriously. The state Constitution guarantees everyone the right to a jury trial. That means they need regular people like you to make it work.

Who Has to Serve on a Jury?

Here’s where things get interesting. Minnesota has pretty clear rules about who qualifies for jury duty.

You must be at least 18 years old. You need to be a U.S. citizen. You have to live in Minnesota for at least 30 days before serving.

Stay with me here. You also need to live in the county that summons you. And you must speak English well enough to understand what’s happening in court.

Sound complicated? It’s actually pretty straightforward.

The Big 2025 Law Change

Okay, this one’s important. Starting July 1, 2025, Minnesota changed who can serve on juries.

People with felony convictions can now serve. But there’s a catch. They need to have their voting rights restored first.

Before this change, you couldn’t serve if you were on probation or supervised release. Now you can, as long as you’re not currently locked up. Pretty big deal, honestly.

This brought Minnesota in line with voting eligibility. If you can vote, you can serve on a jury.

Who Can’t Serve?

Some people are automatically disqualified. Makes sense when you think about it.

You can’t serve if you’ve lost your voting rights due to a felony conviction. You’re also out if you served on a state or federal jury in the past four years. Current Minnesota judges can’t serve either.

Wondering if this applies to you? Check your voting status online at the Minnesota Secretary of State website. That’ll tell you everything you need to know.

How Jury Selection Works

The state picks potential jurors randomly from three lists. Driver’s licenses, state ID cards, and voter registration.

Your name gets pulled by a computer. Totally random. You can’t volunteer for jury duty even if you want to.

Most people summoned never actually serve on a jury. In 2024, only 5.1 percent of people called actually ended up on a trial. That’s like 11,000 out of 217,000 people. The rest either got excused or the cases settled before trial.

You’ll get a summons in the mail. It tells you when and where to show up. You fill out a questionnaire about your background and availability.

Then you wait. Literally. Most people spend time in a jury assembly room. Reading, using their phones, just hanging around.

If you get selected for a trial, you go through something called “voir dire.” French words that basically mean “speak the truth.” Lawyers ask you questions to see if you can be fair and impartial.

Getting Paid for Jury Duty

Let’s be real about the money situation. It’s not great.

Minnesota pays $20 per day when you report to the courthouse. You also get 54 cents per mile for the round trip from home. Federal court pays better at $50 per day, but that’s a different system.

Does your boss have to pay you? Nope. Minnesota law doesn’t require employers to pay you during jury service. Some companies do it anyway as a nice gesture. Many have jury duty policies in their employee handbooks.

Union workers might have better luck. Check your contract. Union agreements sometimes cover jury duty pay.

You can request reimbursement for child care costs too. Up to $40 per day for unlicensed care, or $50 for licensed care. You’ll need receipts though.

Honestly, this is the part most people complain about. Taking time off work without pay stings. But the penalties for skipping are way worse.

What Happens If You Skip Jury Duty

Hold on, this part is serious. Don’t blow off a jury summons.

Skipping jury duty is a misdemeanor in Minnesota. Think of it like a traffic ticket, but more serious. You could face up to a $1,000 fine. You could also get up to 90 days in jail.

The court will order you to appear and explain yourself. If your excuse isn’t good enough, those penalties kick in. Not worth the risk, trust me.

Most judges are reasonable if you have a legitimate reason. Medical emergencies, family crises, that kind of thing. Just communicate with the court.

Never just ignore the summons and hope it goes away. It won’t. The court has your information. They will follow up.

How Your Job Is Protected

Here’s some good news. Your employer can’t punish you for serving on a jury.

Minnesota law makes it illegal to fire, demote, or threaten employees who get jury summons. Your boss must give you time off. No questions asked, basically.

The legal protection is real. Employers who violate this can face fines up to $700 and six months in jail. Yep, that’s right. They can go to jail for punishing you.

You have 30 days to file a civil lawsuit if your employer retaliates. You can win back pay, get your job back, or both. Courts take these cases seriously.

Right? The law actually has your back on this one.

Getting Excused or Postponed

Not everyone has to serve immediately. Minnesota gives you some options.

People 70 years or older can request automatic excuse. No proof needed. Just ask and you’re done.

You can postpone your service once for up to nine months. Online, by phone, or on your summons form. Students can push it to summer break. Self-employed people can delay for a better time.

Valid Reasons to Be Excused

Courts will excuse you for serious medical conditions. You’ll need a doctor’s note though. Don’t just claim you’re sick without proof.

Active caregivers for young children or disabled family members can get excused. Severe financial hardship sometimes works too. You have to prove these things to the court.

Wondering if your situation qualifies? Call the jury commissioner’s office listed on your summons. They handle these requests all day. They’ve heard every excuse imaginable.

Not sure what counts as a valid excuse? Here’s the deal. Vacation plans usually don’t cut it unless you booked them before the summons arrived. Work conferences might qualify if they’re essential. Simple preference or inconvenience won’t get you out of it.

The Reality of Serving

Let’s talk about what actually happens when you serve. Most jury duty involves a lot of waiting around.

You show up. You check in. Then you sit in a room with other potential jurors. Some counties let you work on laptops or read. Free wifi usually available.

Many times you’ll just wait all day and get dismissed. Cases settle. Lawyers pick other jurors. You go home. That still counts as service.

If you do get picked for a trial, it could last a day or several weeks. The average trial in Minnesota is pretty quick though. Most wrap up in a few days.

Criminal trials need 12 jurors for felonies. Civil cases and minor crimes only need six. You’ll have alternates too in case someone gets sick.

Special Circumstances to Know

Minnesota has some unique rules worth mentioning. College students living away from home have interesting options.

If you’re summoned by a county where you don’t permanently live, you might be disqualified. Your driver’s license address determines your home county. That’s where you should serve.

Legislative members, officers, and employees get automatic excuse during session. Makes sense. They’re literally making laws instead.

People serving as volunteer firefighters or rescue squad members can request excuse. Same with those caring for young children under 10 years old.

Dress Code and Courtroom Rules

Courts expect you to look professional. Think business casual at minimum.

Men should wear slacks or khakis with a button-down shirt or polo. Women should wear professional pants or skirts with appropriate tops. Pretty straightforward stuff.

Never wear shorts, tank tops, t-shirts with logos, or ripped jeans. Hats are banned in courtrooms. Period.

Courtrooms get cold, honestly. Bring a light jacket or sweater. You’ll thank yourself later.

You can bring your phone and laptop to the jury assembly room. Reading materials are fine too. But once you’re in the actual courtroom? Everything gets put away. No exceptions.

Understanding Your Rights

You have the right to ask questions during jury selection. Actually, the lawyers want you to be honest about any biases or conflicts.

Say you were in a car accident last year. The trial is about a car accident. Tell them. They need to know if you can be fair.

You’re not in trouble for having opinions or experiences. The system just needs honest answers to work properly.

If you feel sick during service, tell someone immediately. Courts accommodate medical needs. They have to under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Recent Statistics and Facts

Here’s something interesting. Minnesota held 1,047 trials in 2024. That’s 932 criminal trials and 115 civil trials.

The state summoned 217,476 people for jury duty that year. Only 11,179 actually served on juries. Why so few? Most cases settle before trial. Lawyers work out deals. Charges get dropped.

This means your chances of actually sitting through a full trial are pretty low. Most people just report for a day or two and go home.

What to Do When You Get Summoned

Okay, let’s say that envelope arrives today. Here’s your action plan.

Read the entire summons carefully. Note the date, time, and location. Write it on your calendar immediately.

Complete the juror questionnaire right away. Don’t wait until the last minute. Courts need this information to plan.

Tell your employer as soon as possible. Give them official documentation. Most employers appreciate advance notice.

Check if you need to call the night before. Many counties use a call-in system. You dial a number after 5 PM to confirm you’re still needed.

Plan your route to the courthouse. Figure out parking. Courthouses usually charge for parking, and it comes out of your daily pay.

The Importance of Jury Service

I looked this up recently. The jury system is actually pretty ancient. It dates back hundreds of years in English law.

The American founders thought juries were essential to freedom. They wrote jury rights into the Constitution. Both the federal one and Minnesota’s state constitution.

Jury duty feels like a hassle. I get it. But it’s literally how we keep the justice system fair. Without regular citizens serving, we’d only have judges and lawyers making all the decisions.

Your service matters more than you think. Defendants get to have people like them decide their fate. Not just government officials or legal experts.

Common Mistakes People Make

Don’t make these rookie errors. Seriously.

Never lie on your juror questionnaire. That’s a crime itself. Answer honestly even if you think your answer will get you dismissed.

Don’t try to get out of service by acting crazy or biased during voir dire. Lawyers can spot fake behavior instantly. You just waste everyone’s time.

Never research the case online during trial. No googling defendants’ names. No looking up legal terms. The judge will specifically tell you not to do this. Listen to them.

Don’t discuss the case with anyone until deliberations. Not your spouse, not your best friend, not even other jurors until the judge says it’s okay.

After Your Service Ends

Once you finish serving, you’re done for a while. Minnesota can’t call you again for four years. Some counties might not call you for even longer.

You’ll get a certificate showing you completed jury duty. Keep it for your records. Your employer might want a copy for their files.

The court usually processes your payment within a few weeks. Don’t expect it immediately. Government payments take time.

Your jury service is confidential. You can’t talk about jury deliberations publicly. Ever. Even years later. Some details about trials are okay to share, but the private discussions stay private.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be called for jury duty if I’m not registered to vote?

Yes. Minnesota pulls names from driver’s licenses and state ID cards too. Not just voter registration. If you have any of these three, you might get summoned.

What if I don’t speak English very well?

You need to speak English well enough to understand court proceedings. If you can’t, you can request excuse based on language barriers. The court will evaluate your situation.

Do I have to serve if I’m a full-time student?

Yes, but you can postpone to summer break or another school break. Being a student doesn’t automatically excuse you. Just delays your service to a more convenient time.

Can my employer make me use vacation days for jury duty?

Only if that’s their consistent policy for all types of leave. They can’t single out jury duty specifically. Most employers don’t do this. Check your employee handbook.

What happens if I get sick during my service period?

Contact the court immediately. Provide a doctor’s note if possible. They’ll either excuse you entirely or reschedule you for later. Courts understand that genuine illness happens.

Final Thoughts

Now you know the basics of Minnesota jury duty laws. The rules aren’t perfect, and the pay definitely isn’t great. But the system needs regular people to work.

Most people only serve once or twice in their entire lives. It’s usually just a day or two of your time. Sometimes it’s interesting, sometimes it’s boring. Always it’s important.

If you get summoned, don’t panic. Follow the instructions. Show up on time. Be honest during selection. That’s literally all you need to do.

Stay informed, stay prepared, and remember that jury duty is one of the few times average citizens directly participate in the justice system. Pretty cool when you think about it.

References

1. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 593 – Juries: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/593
2. Minnesota Judicial Branch – Jury Service: https://www.mncourts.gov/jurors.aspx
3. Minnesota General Rules of Practice for District Courts: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/court_rules/gp/
4. Minnesota House of Representatives – State Jury Service Report (2025): https://www.house.mn.gov/hrd/pubs/ss/ssjury.pdf
5. Minnesota Supreme Court Order on Jury Eligibility (Effective July 1, 2025): https://www.mncourts.gov/