Jury Duty Frequently Asked Questions

If I am called to serve on an extended trial will my job be in jeopardy?

  • No, your job is protected during the time you serve on jury duty.

Do I have to report to work when I am not on standby for jury duty?

  • Yes, you are expected to work your normal schedule until you are required to report to jury duty.

If I am on jury duty and court is not in session during work hours, do i have to report to work?

  • You are not expected to return to work during your lunch break. If you are required to report later than your normal work shift, or are released early, you should contact your supervisor regarding whether you should report to work.
  • If you are excused for an extended time or Court is not in session on a given day you are expected to report to work.

If I work swing or grave-yard shift, do i have to report to work before or after jury duty?

  • Your time at jury duty is equivalent to your time at work, therefore you are not required to work a swing or grave-yard shift during your jury duty service. It is important that you communicate with your supervisor regarding your requirement to report, as well as how to post your jury duty time.
    • Example A: If you normally work a 5:00 p.m. To 1:00 a.m. Shift, you may not be aware of your requirement to report to jury duty until your shift ends. You should immediately notify your supervisor via your unit’s call-in policy, but will be required to report to jury duty. You would not be expected to work the shift immediately following your day of jury duty service.
    • Example B: If you normally work an 11:00 p.m. To 7:00 a.m. Shift, and are instructed to report to jury duty at 8:00 a.m. following the end of your scheduled shift, typically you would not be expected to work the shift immediately before reporting for jury duty.

If I work an extended shift (e.g. 12 hours), do I have to report to work before or after jury duty?

  • If you are required to report to jury duty later than your normal work shift, or are released from jury duty early, you should contact your supervisor regarding whether you should report to work. 

If I am on standby jury service and I am notified after hours to report on the following work day, how do i notify my supervisor?

  • If you receive the information after hours you should follow your unit or division’s call-in policy

Does my supervisor have to approve my time off for jury duty?

  • By law, when you are summoned to jury duty, you are required to attend; however, you are required to provide your supervisor with a copy of your jury summons upon receipt.
  • Your legal requirement to appear for jury duty does not negate your responsibility to appropriately notify your Supervisor of your status per your unit or divisions procedures.
  • You should remain in contact with your Supervisor during your jury duty. In addition, your jury duty pay will not be approved without the required documentation.

I am a part-time employee. Will I get paid for jury duty?

  • You will be compensated for the hours you would normally be at work.

I am a temporary employee. Will the county write a letter to the courts advising I do not get paid for jury duty, and it would be a hardship to serve?

  • The County will write a letter to the Courts advising of your pay status, but cannot make the decision regarding hardship, because that is up to the Courts.

If I am called to jury duty while I'm on an unpaid leave of absence, will I receive jury duty pay?

  • No, the use of your balances is solely at your discretion during jury duty.

If i am a temporary employee and use vacation during my jury duty, am I entitled to keep the jury duty fees issued by the court?

  • Yes, since you are using your leave balances rather than receiving pay you are entitled to keep the jury duty fees issued by the Court.

If I am a permanente employee, am I entitled to keep the jury duty fees issued by the court?

  • At the time you are summoned to California Superior Court you should advise the Jury Commissioner’s office that you are a County employee and they should not issue juror pay to you.
  • However, if you do receive juror pay in error, you should cash the check received from the Courts, then write a personal check to the County of Sacramento for the amount received less mileage, and turn it in to your payroll contact with the Department of Personnel Services.
  • While jury duty fees for regular County employees have been eliminated for regular California State Superior Court jury duty, they have not been eliminated for the following purposes:
    • County Grand Jury Duty
    • Federal Grand Jury Duty
    • Juries of Inquest Jury Duty
    • Federal Criminal or Civil Jury Duty Any jury fees received from the above courts must be remitted to the County (with the exception of any mileage fees).
  • Subject to the provisions of Section 7.2 of this policy, temporary employees are entitled to keep all jury duty fees. 

Does the county pay for my parking while on jury duty?

  • No, parking is provided by the courts whiel you are on jury duty.

What verificaation do I need to show that I attended jury duty?

  • For each day of service the Courts will provide you with a slip showing that you appeared. These slips should be attached to your time sheet, or given to your Supervisor, when recording your time.