Is It True? Can I Be Arrested If I Don’t Show Up Jury Duty?

We all hate to get the dreaded letter saying we have been summonsed for jury duty. I have never heard of anyone who just wants to show up for jury duty. I love law and litigation but I don't want to go to jury duty. I always tell people just go, you probably won't get picked anyway. The last time I had jury duty I got picked for a panel, and had to go through the entire process to be the 56th person on the jury selection, meaning I wouldn't even come close to being an alternate juror.

It is one of your civic duties as an American citizen to report to jury duty if you are summonsed. So what happens if you don't show up? Can you be arrested?

According to txcourts.gov, you can receive a fine but nothing states that you could be arrested or receive jail time.

A person who receives a summons for jury service and fails to answer the summons as directed by the summons is subject to a contempt action that is punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.

You can receive a fine of up to $1000.00. So why not just go to avoid a fine?  Typically nine times out of ten you are not going to get picked, so just show up. If you are called to jury duty and show up and you most likely won't be called to report again for two years.

If you are unable to make your selected time you can always try for an exemption or reschedule.