When to attend court for jury service

In Jury service

If you’re summoned to court for jury service, you’re legally required to attend, when required.

The period of a summons for jury service is generally not more than four weeks.

During that time you may need to attend court on certain days to go through the jury selection process (empanelment).

If you’re selected to serve on a jury (empanelled), you’ll attend court each day until the trial ends.

If you're absent from court without an excusal from the deputy sheriff or judge, you may be fined or imprisoned.

Attendance during jury selection

During your jury service period, you may be required to attend court on certain days to participate in the jury selection process.

The court decides the evening before the trial begins if they need you for jury selection the next day.

It’s your responsibility to check if you need to attend court the next day. When checking, refer to the panel number on your summons.

Each afternoon you may receive an SMS message, or you can find out if you need to attend court the next day by:

calling the phone number on your summons for a recorded message, such as:
- Jurors on Panel E numbers 133 to 163 inclusive are required for Wednesday 30 June 2025 at 9.15am
checking the daily law list, which has jury information for each Supreme and District Court, updated at no later than 6pm for the following day
receiving a text message (around 5pm) advising you of the time and date of your attendance—if you’ve provided your mobile number.

If you're not chosen to serve on a jury (not empanelled), you may be:

taken to another courtroom for jury selection for a different trial
released for the day and summoned to court another day for jury selection for a different trial.

The deputy sheriff or bailiff will tell you when you're free to leave for the day.

Go to the jury assembly area. A court officer will tell you where this is. (In Brisbane, it's Level 2, Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law, 415 George Street, where the Supreme Court and District Court are located.)
Check in with court staff. A bailiff or court officer will confirm your attendance. In some locations they may use an electronic device to:
- scan the barcode on your summons
- ask you to answer questions on the device’s screen.
Attend orientation (first day only). Court staff will provide an orientation, including:
- the layout of a courtroom
- the process of selecting a jury (empanelment)
- a short information video.

If you don't understand something, ask the court staff.

Prospective and empanelled jurors receive a travel allowance.

There are no dedicated juror parking facilities at courthouses. Contact the courthouse on your summons to find out alternatives.

We do not pay any parking fees you may incur while participating in jury service.

You should consider using public transport, including the time you'd need to leave home to get to the court on time.

After you receive a summons, you can enter your travel expense claims online.

If you know you're going to be late for court:

Contact the deputy sheriff using the phone number on your summons or the relevant courthouse.
When you get to the courthouse, go directly to the jury assembly area and tell the bailiff or deputy sheriff you've arrived.

If you're sick and can't attend court on a required day:

Call the number on your summons between 8.30am and 9.15am.
Provide the court with a medical certificate confirming you were sick and unable to attend.

If you are chosen to serve on a jury (empanelled), you’ll:

Trials in the Supreme or District Court typically last 3–5 days but can take longer, depending on the case.

You may be empanelled on more than one trial during your jury service period.