Jury Duty FAQs

Jurors must be 18 years of age or older, a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of Florida, and reside in the county in which they are called to serve.

Q. What criteria must be met to be qualified to serve as a juror

Disqualifications from serving as a juror are as follows:

1. Any person convicted of a felony (unless their civil rights have been restored)
2. Any person convicted of bribery, forgery, perjury, or larceny
3. Any person under prosecution for any crime
4. The governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet officers, clerks of court, or judges
5. Any person with an interest in any issue to be tried (e.g., family members, victims, etc.)
6. Any person determined to be mentally incompetent
7. No longer a resident of St. Lucie County
8. Non US Citizen

Q. What are the disqualifications from serving as a juror in Florida

What are the exemptions from serving as a juror in Florida?

Exemptions from serving as a juror are as follows:

• 70 years old or older. Please note if you would like to be permanently excused.
• Full-time high school or college student, 18 - 21 years old
• Expectant mother or a woman who has given birth within six months before the report date.
• Parent not employed full-time with a child under 6 years old
• Physically unable to serve (Download Medical Request Excusal Form)
• Served as a juror in St. Lucie County within the last 12 months. Please include the date last served.
• Sole unpaid caregiver of a person who is incapable of caring for himself/herself because of physical and/or mental illness

Q. What are the exemptions from serving as a juror in Florida

Yes, at the judge's discretion:

1. Practicing attorneys
2. Practicing physicians (more often postponed to a more convenient time or assigned to panels for one-day trials)
3. Any person who is physically infirm in a manner consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
4. Any person expressing a hardship, extreme inconvenience, or public necessity

Q. Are there reasons for a juror to be excused

Yes, Section 40.23, Florida Statutes, allows postponements of jury service to be made for up to six months.

Jurors are allowed two postponements, the third postponement requires written documentation by fax, email, or mail. Typical postponements are between four and six months depending on availability. If you want to postpone your service, please email your request along with your Candidate/Juror Number to the Jury Department at [email protected], fax it in at 772-462- 2124, or contact our office at 772-462-6983. One of our Jury Clerks will get back to you within 2-3 business days.

Q. May a juror be postponed

Yes, you may.

Q. May I serve as a juror even though I'm over the age of 70

Jurors who are not regularly employed or who do not continue to receive regular wages while serving as a juror are entitled to receive $15 per day for the first 3 days of juror service. Further, each juror who serves more than 3 days is entitled to be paid by the State of Florida for the fourth day of service and each day thereafter at the rate of $30 per day of service. 

Q. Are jurors entitled to be compensated for their service

No, they are not. 

Q. Is a juror entitled to additional reimbursements by the State of Florida for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses

No, they are not. 

Q. If a juror is excused from jury service at his or her own request, are they still entitled to be compensated for the day that they appeared

Willful failure to respond to juror summons is a contempt of court, punishable by up to $100 in fines and possible incarceration in a local jail for a period to be determined by the presiding judge.

Q. What are the consequences of failure to report for jury duty

Please dress in keeping with the importance and dignity of your position as a juror. Business or business casual attire is appropriate. You may want to bring a jacket or sweater as courtrooms are often cool.

Q. Is there a dress code for jury service

Vending is available for purchase via credit card and is located outside the Jury Room; however, all food must be consumed inside the Jury Room.

Q. Is there a vending machine available

Yes, there is free Wi-Fi inside the Jury Room.

Q. Is there Wi-Fi available in the jury room

You were randomly selected for jury service from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles list of licensed drivers and ID holders. The right to a trial by jury is a fundamental American principle guaranteed by the Constitution. It is the duty of every citizen to serve when called upon to do so. FAILURE TO APPEAR may render you liable to arrest and a fine of up to $100.00 for contempt of court. (s.40.23, Fla. Stat.)

Q. What if I simply do not want to participate in Jury Duty

If you receive a summons to report for jury service and you are a limited English speaker, you will still need to report to the courthouse as instructed by your jury summons. Jury staff does not have the authority to excuse you from your jury service. In the courtroom, the judge will inquire whether any jurors have issues understanding the English language and the judge will determine whether you can be excused from your jury service. If you are summoned in the future and a judge has previously excused you from jury service due to limited English understanding, you will still need to report for jury service. A judge must make a determination each time a juror is summoned whether they can be excused based on language issues.

Q. My English is limited, do I still need to report for service

If you failed to report for jury service, please contact the Jury Department via email at [email protected] as soon as possible. One of our Jury Clerks will get back to you within 2-3 business days to reschedule your report date, you will not receive a fine or other sanctions.

Q. What happens if I forgot to report for jury service