Probability of Being Called for Jury Duty

Approximately 32 million jury duty summonses are issued in the United States each year, reaching roughly 15% of the eligible adult population. However, only about 8 million potential jurors actually report to a courthouse, and only about 1.5 million end up serving on a jury (both trial and grand juries).

The selection process varies by jurisdiction but generally draws from voter registration rolls, driver's license databases, tax records, or a combination. About 45% of summoned jurors are excused or deferred, and about 15-20% of summonses are returned as undeliverable. The probability of serving on a jury in a given year is about 0.7% (1 in 150), while the lifetime probability of serving at least once is estimated at about 30%.

Jury service compensation is notoriously low: federal court pays $50 per day, while state courts range from $5 to $50 per day (some states pay nothing for the first few days). Most employers are not required to pay employees during jury duty, though many do. This creates a significant hardship for hourly workers. Reforms to improve jury representation include one-day/one-trial systems, better compensation, employer mandate laws, and expanded source lists.