Ontario Jury Duty FAQ

Basic qualifications: you must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen, listed on the municipal voters list, and have lived in Ontario for the past 12 months. There is no maximum age, but citizens aged 70+ can opt out by completing the excusal portion of the summons. If you moved provinces 10 months ago you are not yet eligible—mark your calendar and update your address with Elections Ontario when you cross the 12-month mark. Practical tip: use the address-change form on the Elections Ontario site so your record matches courthouse rolls.

Under the Juries Act, residency means living in Ontario for 12 consecutive months immediately before selection and keeping a habitual home here. Weekend trips or short vacations do not break “continuous residence.” Students studying out-of-province but maintaining an Ontario permanent address usually count. However, if you signed a long-term lease elsewhere and changed your health-card address, you may be excluded from the pool until you restore Ontario residency. Keep utility bills or lease agreements as proof if the sheriff’s office requests verification.

No. The disqualification period lasts five years from the date sentence is completed, including parole or probation. A prior indictable conviction from six years ago generally restores eligibility. Record suspensions (pardons) granted under the Criminal Records Act also remove the disqualifier. Practical tip: keep your pardon certificate handy; if the court record still shows the conviction, presenting the certificate avoids last-minute confusion when you check in at the courthouse.

Students are not automatically excused, but Ontario courts understand exam periods. You may request a deferral by submitting proof of exam schedules or required placements. Most registrars move your service to the next academic break if paperwork arrives within seven days of receiving the summons. Miss that window and you might have to appear in person to explain. Best practice: attach a registrar’s letter and propose alternative dates—showing flexibility increases approval odds.

Courts accommodate disabilities whenever possible—ASL interpreters, ergonomic chairs, or frequent breaks are common. If service is impossible, ask your doctor for a note detailing functional limitations (e.g., “cannot sit longer than 15 minutes”) rather than diagnoses. Send the note with your summons reply. For ongoing mental-health care, attach a therapist letter explaining treatment frequency and potential harm of interruption. For accessibility-specific guidance, visit our accommodations page.

The envelope bears the Ontario court crest and arrives via Canada Post. Inside you’ll find a summons page, a reply form and instructions for an online questionnaire. Read it immediately. Confirm the report date, courthouse address and reference number printed in the top-right corner. Then add the date to your calendar, notify your employer, and complete the questionnaire. Keeping the envelope is smart—parking marshals sometimes ask for visual proof when you request a juror discount.

Yes—deferrals are common for pre-planned travel, exams, major surgery or essential work projects. You must tick the “request deferral” box on the reply slip and submit supporting documents within seven days of receiving the summons. Late requests risk denial. Attach flight invoices, medical letters or employer statements, propose alternative months, and use registered mail or the e-Jury portal so delivery is timestamped. More detail is in our deferral guide.

If you moved within Ontario and remain in the same jury district, you must attend. If you relocated to another district, contact the sheriff’s office listed on the summons. They can either transfer your file or withdraw it if commuting is impractical. Out-of-province moves usually cancel the summons, but you must provide proof of new residency such as a lease or driver’s licence. Never assume the summons is void—written confirmation protects you from fines.

The questionnaire screens basic eligibility before you show up—think of it as a digital triage. You’ll answer age, citizenship, language and criminal-record questions. The system assigns a confirmation number; write it on your reply slip. Failure to complete the form can trigger a compliance hearing or $1 000 fine under Juries Act s. 32, even if you qualify for excusal. Keep a screenshot of the “Submission Successful” page in case technical logs are lost.

Ignoring a summons is a provincial offence. Judges may issue a warrant compelling you to appear on 24-hours’ notice, leaving little time to arrange childcare or work shifts. Fines can reach $1 000 and, in extreme cases, contempt proceedings follow. A non-response also forfeits your chance to request deferral on your own schedule. If you realise you have missed the date, contact the sheriff’s office immediately. More details are in our non-compliance guide.

Yes. Section 50 of Ontario’s Employment Standards Act (ESA) grants unpaid leave for the entire period of jury service. Employers cannot fire, discipline or cut benefits because you are serving. Retaliation can lead to Ministry of Labour fines. Keep copies of your summons and attendance certificates—these are your proof if you need to file an ESA claim. For tips on employer discussions, see our forthcoming employer-obligations page.

Deliver a copy of the summons and a written notice of leave as soon as you receive it. Include the report date, possible length of service, and a promise to update them after voir dire. Many HR departments have templates—ask if unsure. For small businesses, offer remote check-ins if court recesses allow; proactive solutions make approval smoother. Keep a timestamped email trail in case payroll disputes arise.

Submit your summons to scheduling as quickly as possible. Employers must grant unpaid leave, but you can propose shift swaps to minimise understaffing. If you work night shifts, ask the judge for a late-start schedule during the trial—some courts stagger juror arrival times to accommodate fatigue. Bring a printed roster to court on the first day; judges appreciate concrete evidence when considering adjustments.

You are still obligated to serve, but the courts recognise income volatility. Prepare a brief financial statement showing projected losses and contracts at risk, then request either a deferral or stand-by arrangement. Some judges allow jurors to be “on call” from home for the first week, attending only if panel numbers drop. Keep client communication transparent—most will respect your civic duty when you provide clear timelines and links to our selection guide.

Ontario pays jurors starting on Day 4 of in-court attendance: $40 per day up to Day 10, then $100 per day thereafter. Stand-by days at home pay $12 (Days 1-10), $20 (Days 11-49) and $40 (Day 50+). Sequestration adds $50 nightly. Use our upcoming Jury Duty Compensation Calculator to model long trials and compare them to your work income.

You can claim 40 ¢ per kilometre round-trip using the most direct route. Log your odometer readings on Form JUR-2 and attach a Google-Maps print-out if your route is unusual. Alternative: submit PRESTO summaries if GO or TTC is cheaper; courts reimburse the lower cost. Practical tip: photograph the odometer each morning to avoid disputes if your handwriting is unclear.

Yes—economy-rate parking, transit fares and rideshares are reimbursable when cheaper than mileage. Original receipts are mandatory; screenshots often fail audits. Some courthouses validate parking for jurors at nearby municipal lots—ask the jury officer on Day 1. If you choose premium underground parking, be ready to prove cheaper lots were full.

Basic daytime childcare is not reimbursed, but extra costs caused by sequestration or late sitting hours may be. Keep itemised invoices noting dates and time-stamped pick-ups after 6 p.m. Attach them to Form JUR-2 with a short note referencing the judge’s late sitting order. Courts assess reasonableness and often cap reimbursement at prevailing community rates.

Expect airport-style metal detectors and x-ray scanners. Remove belts and large jewellery. Pocketknives, pepper spray and scissors will be confiscated. Prescription medication is allowed, but keep it in labelled bottles to avoid delays. Leave umbrellas at the umbrella rack—wet items slow the conveyor belt. Arrive 30 minutes early to clear security before roll call.

Bring government photo ID, a phone charger, snacks that do not require refrigeration, and reading material. The lounge Wi-Fi is free but sometimes overloaded; downloading podcasts in advance saves data. Dress in layers—the thermostat swings from warm hallways to cool courtrooms. A refillable water bottle is permitted, but avoid coffee spill hazards.

Phones must be silenced and stored during proceedings; many judges order them switched off entirely. Laptops are banned unless the judge expressly permits electronic note-taking, which is rare in criminal trials. The sheriff’s officer may store devices in sealed bags. Tweeting or posting about the trial violates publication bans and risks contempt charges.

Yes. Jurors receive notebooks labelled with their juror number. Notes stay in court and cannot be taken home. They help you remember timelines during deliberations but are not evidence—listen carefully even while writing. If you miss a detail, raise it with the foreperson during deliberations; the court can have testimony reread.

Lunch is only provided when the jury is sequestered or if the judge orders a working lunch. On regular days you have 60-90 minutes to visit the cafeteria or nearby eateries. Keep meal receipts over $10 if you plan to claim them. Courthouses generally prohibit alcohol; returning after a drink could lead to dismissal.

Sequestration means jurors stay in a hotel, supervised by sheriffs, to prevent outside influence. It usually occurs only during deliberations and is rare for trials under five days. You’ll receive a $50 nightly allowance plus hotel and meal coverage. Pack overnight basics in your car once voir dire begins—better safe than a late-night dash home.

Service length depends on trial complexity. Simple assaults may wrap in three days; homicide trials can span months. Average Ontario criminal trials last nine days. Even if released early, you won’t be summoned again for at least three years within the same district. Keep your Certificate of Attendance for future proof of service.