Jury Duty Laws in Colorado (2026): Rules You Can’t Ignore
Most people panic when they see that jury summons in the mail. Honestly, I get it. But ignoring it? That’s a mistake you don’t want to make. Colorado takes jury duty seriously, and the penalties for skipping out can hit you hard. Let’s break down exactly what you need to know about serving on a jury in Colorado.
What Is Jury Duty?
Jury duty means you’re called to serve on a jury in a court case. You help decide if someone is guilty or innocent in criminal cases. Sometimes you decide who wins in civil cases.
Think of it like this. The court randomly picks citizens from voter lists and driver’s license records. If your name comes up, you get a summons in the mail. That summons tells you when and where to report.
Who Has to Serve on a Jury in Colorado?
Not everyone can serve on a jury. Colorado has specific rules about who qualifies.
You must be at least 18 years old. You need to be a U.S. citizen. You have to live in Colorado for at least six months of the year. You also need to read, speak, and understand English.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Colorado is one of only nine states with no age exemption. Most states let people over 70 or 75 opt out automatically. Not Colorado.
In 2025, lawmakers passed House Bill 25-1065. This bill would have let Coloradans 72 and older choose to skip jury duty. The legislature loved it. It passed with strong support from both parties.
But Governor Jared Polis vetoed it in May 2025. His reason? He said older adults have too much to contribute. He argued that age alone shouldn’t excuse anyone from civic duty.
So right now, there’s no age limit. If you’re 75, 85, or even 95, you can still get that summons. Pretty surprising, right?
Who Can’t Serve on a Jury?
Some people are automatically disqualified. You can’t serve if you have pending felony charges. If you’ve been convicted of a felony without having your civil rights restored, you’re out.
People with permanent physical or mental disabilities that prevent jury service are also excused. So are full-time military members, police officers, firefighters, and elected officials.
One more thing. If you’re the primary caregiver for a permanently disabled person and you don’t work outside the home, you’re disqualified. But this doesn’t include professional caregivers employed by outside agencies.
How Often Can You Be Called for Jury Duty?
Colorado uses a one day/one trial system. This makes jury service way more convenient than in other states.
You only have to serve for a single day. Or if you’re selected for a trial, you serve for that trial’s duration. Either way, once you’re done, you’re off the hook for a while.
You can’t be summoned again for 12 months. So if you served in January 2026, you won’t get another summons until at least January 2027.
Hold on, this part is important. State courts, federal courts, and municipal courts all have separate jury pools. You could technically be called for jury duty in a federal court even if you just served in state court. They’re completely separate systems.
Valid Reasons to Be Excused from Jury Duty
Wondering if you can get out of jury duty? Colorado offers a few ways to be excused, but they’re pretty limited.
Medical Excuses
You can be temporarily excused if you have a serious physical or mental illness. You’ll need a doctor’s note on official letterhead. The note must include your appearance date and juror number.
The excuse is usually temporary. Once you recover, you go back in the jury pool. If your condition is permanent, the court may excuse you permanently.
Breastfeeding Mothers
If you’re breastfeeding a child, you can request a temporary excuse. You need a medical statement from a doctor, nurse, physician’s assistant, or lactation professional.
The excuse typically lasts one year. You can reapply for another year if you’re still breastfeeding. The medical statement must be on official letterhead.
Caregiving Responsibilities
You might be excused if serving would cause extreme physical hardship. This includes situations where you’d have to abandon someone under your direct care. You can’t find appropriate substitute care during jury service.
You’ll need to provide documentation. Think guardianship certificates or medical statements proving the dependency.
Postponements
Don’t qualify for a medical excuse? You can still postpone your service. Everyone gets one postponement of up to six months. You don’t need to give a reason.
Students attending college out of state can postpone for up to 12 months. This lets them serve when they’re home for breaks or holidays.
Okay, pause. Read this carefully. A postponement isn’t the same as getting excused. You still have to serve. You’re just moving the date.
What Happens If You Ignore Your Jury Summons?
This is probably the most important section. Missing jury duty in Colorado is no joke.
If you don’t show up, the jury commissioner will send you a delinquency notice. This notice gives you a chance to explain and reschedule. Most people can resolve the issue at this stage.
But if you ignore the delinquency notice? The court can treat it as contempt of court. A judge may issue an Order to Show Cause. This is a court order requiring you to appear and explain yourself.
Ignoring that order makes things way worse. The court can issue a bench warrant for your arrest. Police can literally arrest you during a routine traffic stop.
State Court Penalties
In state courts, contempt of court for missing jury duty can result in serious consequences. You could face fines or even jail time up to six months. The judge has discretion to decide your punishment.
Federal Court Penalties
Federal courts are even stricter. If you fail to appear for federal jury duty, the U.S. Marshal can bring you to court. You could face a fine up to $1,000, up to three days in jail, community service, or all three combined.
Sound complicated? It’s actually not. Just show up when summoned, or contact the court ahead of time to reschedule.
Your Employer Must Give You Time Off
Here’s some good news. Colorado law protects your job when you serve on a jury.
Your employer cannot fire you for jury duty. They can’t withhold your benefits. They also can’t harass, threaten, or coerce you for responding to a jury summons.
Your boss can’t make demands that interfere with your jury service either. State law (Section 13-71-134) makes all of this illegal.
If your employer violates these rules? You can sue them. The court may award you treble damages. That means three times the actual damages. You can also get your attorney fees covered.
Employers who willfully harass jurors commit a class 2 misdemeanor. This is a criminal offense, not just a civil matter.
Does Your Employer Have to Pay You?
Yep, for the first three days. This is one area where Colorado is actually pretty generous compared to other states.
Your employer must pay you regular wages for the first three days of jury service. The maximum is $50 per day, unless you and your employer agree to more.
This applies to all regularly employed workers. That includes full-time, part-time, temporary, and casual employees. If you’ve worked for the same employer for three months or more with a set schedule, you count as regularly employed.
After the third day, the state pays all jurors $50 per day. Your employer doesn’t have to pay you anymore.
Special Situations
If you’re self-employed, you can ask the court for up to $50 per day for the first three days. The court decides if your business would face financial hardship without you.
Unemployed people can apply for reimbursement of certain expenses during the first three days. Talk to the jury commissioner about this.
Small Businesses
If your company has five or fewer full-time employees, only one employee can serve jury duty at a time. The court automatically postpones or reschedules if a second employee gets summoned during the same period.
What to Expect on Jury Duty Day
Call the night before. Seriously. Most courts have a recording you must call the evening before your service date. This tells you if you actually need to report.
Sometimes not all summoned jurors need to show up. Calling this number can save you an unnecessary trip. The number is on your summons.
If you do need to report, arrive on time. You’ll go through security screening like at an airport. Plan extra time for this.
Bring something to read. You might spend hours waiting in the jury assembly room. Most people bring a book or download shows on their phone.
You can’t bring children with you. Make childcare arrangements beforehand. The court won’t make exceptions for this.
The Selection Process
Once you arrive, court staff will show you to the jury assembly room. They’ll play a video explaining the trial process.
If your number is called, you’ll be brought to a courtroom for jury selection. This is called voir dire. The judge and attorneys will ask you questions. They’re checking if you can be fair and impartial.
Attorneys can dismiss potential jurors for specific reasons. They also get a limited number of dismissals without giving a reason. Don’t take it personally if you’re dismissed.
If you’re selected for the jury, you’ll take an oath. The judge will give you instructions on what you can and can’t do during breaks. You’ll also get a better idea of how long the trial will last.
Colorado law lets you take notes during trials. You’ll get a notebook and pen in the jury box.
Travel Reimbursements and Expenses
If you live far from the courthouse, you might get reimbursed for travel and lodging.
Federal courts reimburse mileage for jurors traveling to the courthouse. The rate is calculated as the shortest practical route from your home.
Jurors who live 50 or more miles from federal courthouses can get hotel reimbursement. You can also receive meals and incidental expenses.
For 2025-2026, the Denver federal courthouse reimburses up to $215 per night for hotels in October 2025. That drops to $165 from November 2025 through March 2026. Then it goes back up to $215 from April through September 2026.
Daily meal allowances for Denver are $92 from October 2025 through September 2026. Colorado Springs gets $86, Durango gets $80, and Grand Junction gets $68.
State courts have different reimbursement policies. Ask your jury commissioner about specific amounts and requirements.
Beware of Jury Duty Scams
Wait, it gets better. There’s a scam you need to know about.
Scammers call people pretending to be from the sheriff’s office or court. They say you missed jury duty. Then they demand money to avoid arrest.
This is completely fake. Courts and law enforcement never call demanding money for missed jury summons. They send official legal documents by mail. These are titled “Failure to Appear Notice.”
You’ll never be asked for your Social Security number by phone or email. You’ll never be required to wire money or buy gift cards to avoid arrest.
If you get a suspicious call, contact your local law enforcement agency. Report it to the Colorado State Attorney General’s Office at their Stop Fraud Colorado website.
How to Contact the Jury Commissioner
Each Colorado county has its own jury commissioner. This person handles jury-related questions and requests.
You can find your county’s jury commissioner contact information on the Colorado Judicial Branch website. They can help you with postponements, excuses, and general questions about your service.
For state court questions, contact the Office of the State Court Administrator at 720-625-5000. Their toll-free number is 800-888-0001.
Federal court jurors should contact the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. Email them at [email protected] with your full name and 9-digit participant number.
Your Rights as a Juror
You have important rights when serving on a jury. You can’t be forced to discuss the case outside the jury room. You’re protected from harassment by your employer.
If you have a disability, you can request reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Submit your request at least five business days before your service date.
You might be postponed to a later date to arrange proper accommodations. Contact your county’s ADA coordinator for more information.
What About Military Members?
Military members are not exempt from jury duty in Colorado. This surprises a lot of people.
If you live in the county where you’re summoned at least 50% of the time, you must report. Colorado doesn’t consider your home of record. The county where you’re actually living controls.
You can request a one-time postponement of up to six months if you’re not available on your summons date. This applies to all jurors, not just military members.
Students and Jury Duty
Students aren’t automatically excused either. If you’re a student in Colorado, you have two options.
You can postpone to a date within six months when you’re home in your county. Or you can transfer your service to the county where you attend school.
Out-of-state students still have to serve if they hold a Colorado driver’s license or are registered to vote in Colorado. But you can postpone for up to 12 months to a time when you’re home for a break or holiday.
Honestly, this is the part most people miss. Just because you’re away at college doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.
The Bottom Line on Colorado Jury Duty
Here’s what you really need to remember. Colorado has no age exemption for jury duty. Everyone from 18 to 108 can be summoned.
You can be excused for medical reasons, breastfeeding, or caregiving hardships. You need documentation for all of these. Everyone gets one postponement without needing a reason.
Your employer must give you time off. They must also pay you up to $50 per day for the first three days. After that, the state pays $50 per day.
Missing jury duty without a valid excuse? Bad idea. You could face fines up to $1,000 and jail time. The court can issue a warrant for your arrest.
If you get summoned, don’t panic. Call the night before to see if you need to report. Show up on time if required. Bring something to read and valid ID.
Most jury duty only lasts one day. If you’re selected for a trial, you serve for that trial’s duration. Either way, you won’t be called again for at least 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get out of jury duty if I’m over 70 in Colorado? No. Colorado has no age exemption for jury duty. A 2025 bill to let people 72 and older opt out was vetoed by the governor. You can request a medical excuse if you have health issues that prevent service.
What happens if I miss jury duty in Colorado? You’ll receive a delinquency notice first. If you ignore it, the court may issue an Order to Show Cause. Continued non-compliance can result in contempt of court charges, fines up to $1,000, jail time up to six months (state) or three days (federal), and possibly a bench warrant for your arrest.
Does my employer have to pay me for jury duty? Yes, for the first three days. Colorado law requires employers to pay regular wages up to $50 per day for regularly employed workers. This includes full-time, part-time, temporary, and casual employees who have worked three months or more. After three days, the state pays $50 per day.
Can I postpone my jury duty in Colorado? Yes. Everyone gets one postponement of up to six months without needing to give a reason. Out-of-state college students can postpone for up to 12 months. Contact your jury commissioner at least five days before your service date to request a postponement.
How do I know if I need to report for jury duty? Call the phone number on your summons the night before your scheduled date. A recording will tell you if you need to report. You can also check online through your county’s jury system if available. Not all summoned jurors need to appear every day.
Final Thoughts
Now you know the basics. Jury duty in Colorado is mandatory with few exceptions. The state takes it seriously, and so should you.
If you get a summons, read it carefully. Note the date and time. Call the night before to confirm you need to report. Show up prepared if required.
Have a legitimate reason you can’t serve? Contact the jury commissioner as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the last minute. Most issues can be resolved with proper communication.
And remember, jury duty is more than just a legal obligation. It’s how ordinary citizens participate in the justice system. You might find it more interesting than you expect.
When in doubt, reach out to your county’s jury commissioner. They’re there to help.
