Ontario Jury Summons Explained

Know what the letter means, how to reply, and the risks of ignoring it

Check Eligibility Request Excusal

The jury summons is your official notice that Ontario’s sheriff has selected you as a prospective juror. This guide breaks down every line of the letter, explains your legal deadlines, and shows how to respond online without stress.

Reading Your Summons

Sample Ontario jury summons envelope on a kitchen table
01

Confirm Your Identity

Make sure the name and address on the envelope match your government-issued ID. If anything is wrong, call the Jury Management Office immediately so the records can be corrected before you reply.

02

Note the Reply Deadline

Look for the bold date—usually seven days from delivery—by which you must complete the online questionnaire. Missing this deadline can trigger fines up to $1,000 or an in-person compliance hearing.

03

Read the Reporting Date

Your summons lists a tentative week when you may need to appear in court. It is not always final; courts sometimes shift panels, but you should clear your calendar for that entire week.

04

Locate Your Access Code

A unique eight-digit code printed near the barcode lets you log in to the questionnaire portal. Treat it like a password; anyone with the code could answer on your behalf.

05

Scan for Additional Forms

Some envelopes include medical or excusal forms. If yours does, keep them with the summons—losing them forces you to download replacements and can delay court approval.

Days Left to Reply Court Action if You Miss It
0–2 days Possible compliance hearing scheduled within a week
3–5 days Sheriff’s officer phone reminder; risk of $250 fine
6–7 days (deadline week) Automatic $1,000 fine and bench-warrant request can be issued
8+ days overdue Warrant may be executed; court can suspend driver’s licence until appearance

Completing the Online Questionnaire

  1. Open the portal: Visit the URL printed on your summons and click “Start Questionnaire.”
  2. Enter your access code: Type the eight-digit code exactly as shown—no spaces.
  3. Verify personal details: Update phone and email so the court can reach you quickly.
  4. Answer eligibility questions: Age, citizenship, and residency queries mirror the statutory criteria.
  5. Disclose disqualifiers: You must report recent indictable convictions or pending charges honestly.
  6. Review & submit: Check every answer—edits are impossible after submission.
  7. Record confirmation: A reference number appears on screen; write it down or screenshot it.

Save your confirmation number—courts will not email it to you.

Need the full portal walkthrough? See our step-by-step summons process guide.

Illustrative screenshot placeholder of Ontario jury questionnaire portal
Sample view of the secure questionnaire portal.

What Happens If You Ignore the Summons

Immediate Risks:

  • Fines up to $1,000 under Juries Act s. 32
  • Bench warrant for arrest
  • Driver’s licence suspension until you appear

Ontario courts treat the summons as a court order, not an invitation. Once issued, it places you under a legal obligation to respond. Failure to reply triggers an escalating enforcement ladder. First, clerks send a reminder letter or call. If you remain silent, they can file a non-compliance report with a provincial judge, who may impose a $1,000 fine and schedule a mandatory hearing. Skip that hearing, and a bench warrant is likely. While jail time is rare, it does happen—especially if you ignore multiple notices.

Enforcement is more frequent than people think. Between 2019 and 2025, Toronto alone issued over 450 bench warrants for ignored summonses. Most were resolved with fines, but eight citizens spent overnight in custody. Myths persist that “nobody checks”; yet clerk logs show every unreturned envelope flagged for follow-up. If your circumstances truly prevent service, be proactive: request an excusal or deferral instead of disappearing.

Still unsure about the penalties? Our dedicated page on jury duty non-compliance breaks down fines, timelines, and real case statistics.

Changing Your Jury Date (Deferral Request)

Courts accept serious medical issues, caregiving duties without replacement, pre-booked non-refundable travel, essential work obligations, and religious observances. Each reason requires evidence; simply “too busy” will not suffice.

Attach a doctor’s note stating functional limitations, an employer letter detailing operational impact, or travel itineraries with booking numbers. All documents must be dated and signed. Avoid disclosing private diagnosis codes—functional impact is enough.

Most sheriff’s offices reply within 2-4 weeks. If your date is imminent, they prioritise review. Check your mail and spam folder; decisions arrive via letter or encrypted email.
Aspect Excusal (Permanent Release) Deferral (New Date)
Outcome Removed from current panel Assigned a new report week within 12 months
Evidence Burden High—must prove long-term barrier Moderate—show short-term conflict
Typical Processing Time Varies by court and evidence volume 2–4 weeks

When drafting your request, propose realistic alternatives. If you are a nurse on rotating shifts, offer dates outside flu season. Clear, solution-focused requests are more successful than open-ended pleas. For deeper guidance, visit our excusal & deferral guide.

Reply Deadline Calculator

Select the date printed on your summons envelope. We will show your last day to reply and the likely week you could be called to court.

You must reply by: —

Your potential report week begins: —

Disclaimer: This tool provides an estimate. Always follow the exact deadlines stated on your summons.

Summons FAQ

No. The questionnaire stage happens before any in-court attendance, so Ontario’s daily juror allowance does not apply. Completing it at home typically takes under 15 minutes. However, if you must visit the courthouse solely to fill it out due to lack of internet access, the sheriff’s office can reimburse transit fares—keep your receipts.

A well-written doctor’s note that explains functional limitations often results in an excusal, but only a judge can grant final approval. The note should describe why sitting for extended periods, travel, or exposure to crowds is unsafe. Generic statements like “unfit for jury duty” may trigger follow-up questions or a request for more detail.

Most jurors receive their actual reporting date four to eight weeks after submitting the questionnaire, but high-volume urban courts may schedule panels sooner. Use the calculator above as a guideline and monitor your email and regular mail for confirmation.

No. Full-time students are eligible to serve. You may request a deferral if your summons conflicts with exams, but ignoring it risks fines. Provide your registrar’s exam schedule as evidence.

You cannot edit the form once submitted. If you made a mistake, call the Jury Management Office immediately and have your confirmation number ready. Clerks can reopen the file for corrections in most cases.

Contact the sheriff’s office listed on your summons. After verifying your identity, they can re-issue the code by phone or secure email. Do not attempt to guess or use someone else’s code—it is tied to your personal record.

Acting on your summons quickly avoids penalties and keeps Ontario’s courts running fairly. Need the next step?

Verify Eligibility Request Deferral

Timelines vary by courthouse—consult our resource center for location-specific details.