Ontario Jury Duty – Master FAQ

Ontario law requires that jurors be at least 18 years old, hold Canadian citizenship and have lived in Ontario for a minimum of 12 consecutive months before the summons is issued. You must also have adequate English or French skills to understand court proceedings without an interpreter and be free of the specific disqualifications listed in the Juries Act, such as recent indictable-offence convictions or certain justice-sector occupations (police, practising lawyers, judges). A prior criminal record does not automatically exclude you—only convictions within the last five years for indictable offences or current charges will. If you have doubts, run our quick Eligibility Self-Assessment Tool or read the full eligibility guide. The sheriff’s office ultimately makes the decision, so provide honest answers on your questionnaire to avoid fines for misrepresentation.

Each year Elections Ontario supplies an updated database of individuals who are at least 18 years old and registered on the provincial voters list. The sheriff for every judicial district runs a computerised random draw that selects far more names than will eventually be needed in court. Those names become the “juror roll” for the coming year. People drawn receive a questionnaire first; only those who remain eligible after the questionnaire stage move on to the summons stage. The roll is refreshed annually, so your odds reset every year. You cannot volunteer or remove yourself from the draw—only statutory disqualifications or valid excusal requests can remove your name once selected.

First, verify that your name and address on the envelope match your government ID. Open the package, note the reply deadline for the online questionnaire and locate your eight-digit access code beside the barcode. Complete the questionnaire immediately—even if you believe you are ineligible—because failing to respond can trigger fines up to $1 000. After submission you may be instructed to call a pre-recorded message or check a website in the weeks before your report date for scheduling updates. Keep every page of the summons together; you will need the barcode page for quick check-in at the courthouse. For a line-by-line breakdown see our summons explained guide.

Yes. Ontario distinguishes between a permanent excusal (you are removed from the current jury roll) and a deferral (you serve at a later date). Valid grounds include documented medical issues, pre-booked travel that cannot be refunded, caregiving with no alternative, critical work obligations and serious financial hardship. You must provide supporting documents, such as a doctor’s letter describing functional limitations or an employer memo explaining operational impact. Submit your request by the deadline printed on your summons—often within seven days of receipt—to avoid automatic rejection. Courts rarely grant open-ended postponements; propose specific alternative weeks within the next 12 months. Full instructions and a scriptable sample letter appear in our dedicated page on requesting a deferral or excusal.

Plan to arrive 30 minutes early to clear airport-style security. After a brief orientation video and roll call in the juror lounge, sheriff’s officers escort panels to the courtroom. The judge explains the case type, and the voir dire process begins: potential jurors are called by number, sworn, and may be questioned for impartiality. Lawyers can challenge jurors for cause, and the judge may excuse anyone with an obvious conflict of interest. Expect significant waiting—only a small percentage of the day is spent in the courtroom. Bring a book or download podcasts, but keep one ear open for your number. If selected, you are sworn in and receive scheduling instructions; if not, you may be dismissed or returned to the lounge for another panel. Our day-in-the-life guide explains the flow hour by hour.

The majority of criminal jury trials in Ontario finish within five to ten court days, but complexity, number of witnesses and legal motions can extend proceedings. Multi-defendant cases or homicides often run several weeks, and rare mega-trials can last months. The summons estimates a one-week reporting window; if picked, the judge will give a more precise forecast on selection day. Remember that court typically sits Monday to Friday, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with lunch and short recesses. Overnight sequestration—where jurors stay in a hotel under supervision—occurs only after deliberations begin or in high-profile cases. Employers should plan for an indeterminate absence; our employer guide suggests contingency steps.

Ontario offers a daily allowance that starts at $0 for days 1–10, rises to $40 per day for days 11–49, and $100 per day from day 50 onward. Travel reimbursement covers round-trip mileage at $0.34 /km, public-transit fares and, if you live more than 200 km away, modest hotel costs. Parking fees at municipal lots are usually waived when you present your summons barcode, and lunch vouchers are issued if court sits past noon. All receipts must be submitted within 30 days of the verdict using Form JUR-5. Use our interactive compensation calculator to estimate your take-home amount.

Section 50 of Ontario’s Employment Standards Act guarantees unlimited, unpaid job-protected leave for jury duty. Employers cannot discipline, terminate or threaten reprisal because of your service. While they are not required to pay wages during the leave, many voluntarily top-up or continue benefits to retain talent and maintain goodwill. If an employer refuses to accommodate, remind them of the statute and, if necessary, file a complaint with the Ministry of Labour within two years of the alleged violation. Detailed steps—including template communication letters—are available in our employer obligations guide.

Absolutely. The Employment Standards Act prohibits employers from firing, demoting, cutting hours or otherwise penalising employees for responding to a summons or serving as a juror. Upon return you must be reinstated to the same or a comparable position, with seniority and benefits preserved as if you never left. If an employer breaches these rules, the Ministry of Labour can order back pay, reinstatement and administrative penalties up to $50 000. Keep records: emails, pay stubs and copies of your Certificate of Attendance are vital if you file a claim. For a step-by-step enforcement timeline, visit our employer obligations page.

Ontario courts must provide reasonable accommodations under both the Juries Act and the AODA. Examples include wheelchair-accessible jury boxes, real-time captioning, ASL interpreters, quiet rooms for anxiety management, lactation rooms and schedule tweaks for sole caregivers. You request support by writing to the Jury Office at least ten business days before your report date, outlining your functional needs—not your diagnosis—and attaching supporting documents if available. Some expenses, such as child-care up to $50/day, are reimbursable. Full details, including a ready-to-copy request letter and a deadline calculator, appear in our accommodation requests guide.

Financial hardship can justify a deferral or, in rare cases, an excusal, but you should disclose only the minimum information necessary. The judge or designated officer reviews your statement in camera, and documents are typically sealed. Provide concrete numbers—monthly income, fixed expenses—and evidence such as pay stubs or benefit statements to show the hardship is genuine and significant. Courts balance your burden against the public interest in having representative juries, so propose a workable alternative date if possible. Never assume your request will be granted; continue preparing for service until you receive written confirmation.

Yes. Being a college or university student does not automatically exempt you. However, if your summons conflicts with mid-terms, finals or essential practicums, you can request a deferral. Attach your registrar’s exam schedule or practicum requirement letter to demonstrate the clash. Most courts will offer a new date outside the academic crunch, often during summer or inter-semester breaks. Keep in mind that many trials last under two weeks, so you may still be able to balance attendance with coursework if professors allow flexibility.

Jurors must not discuss evidence, deliberations or voting with anyone outside the jury room—ever. Section 649 of the Criminal Code makes disclosure a criminal offence punishable by up to two years in prison. Social-media posts, encrypted chats and casual conversations with family all count as disclosure. You can, however, talk about your general experience—courtroom hours, lunch options, how long the trial lasted—once the verdict is delivered. If the material you heard proves emotionally difficult, you may speak confidentially with a counsellor under the Juror Support Program; counsellors are exempt from compelled testimony about those discussions.

Ignoring a summons is treated as ignoring a court order. The sheriff will first send reminders, then file a non-compliance report. A judge can levy fines up to $1 000, order a compliance hearing or issue a bench warrant. In extreme or repeated cases, people have been briefly jailed. Failure to appear also creates a criminal record for contempt of court in some circumstances. If your circumstances legitimately prevent attendance, request an excusal or deferral instead of hoping the summons will be forgotten. See our page on penalties for non-compliance for real case statistics.

Yes. Ontario funds a confidential Juror Support Program that offers up to eight free counselling sessions (phone, video or in-person) within 12 months of trial completion. Sessions focus on trauma-informed coping strategies and cannot be subpoenaed. You can self-refer via the hotline 1-833-327-2669 or ask the trial judge for a referral. Many Employee Assistance Programs also cover additional therapy. For a wider list of hotlines, mental-health resources and travel reimbursement for sessions, consult our support services page.

No. Serving on a jury is a civic duty, not a criminal conviction or financial contract. It will not appear on criminal-records checks, background screenings or credit bureau files. Your employer may record the leave in HR files as an unpaid statutory leave, but that information stays internal. If you face disciplinary action for time away, you can file a complaint under the Employment Standards Act.

A voir dire is a mini-hearing in which lawyers and the judge question prospective jurors about potential bias or hardship. They might ask about prior knowledge of the case, personal experiences with crime or professional connections to law enforcement. Either side can challenge for cause if bias is likely, and the judge can excuse jurors who demonstrate legitimate impartiality concerns or undue hardship. Exclusion is not a mark against you—it simply ensures a fair trial. For a full breakdown of challenges and question types, see our forthcoming voir dire explained page.

In trials expected to run longer than usual, the judge may swear in one or two alternates after the main 12 jurors are chosen. Alternates attend every session, listen to evidence and follow the same rules but do not deliberate unless a primary juror is discharged due to illness, emergency or misconduct. If unused, alternates are dismissed with thanks before deliberations and still receive the same daily allowance and Certificate of Attendance.

Mobile phones and smartwatches must be silenced and stored during courtroom sessions. Some courthouses require devices to be left in lockers; others allow phones in pockets provided they remain off. Laptops and tablets are generally prohibited for jurors unless the judge authorises electronic note-taking, which is rare. During deliberations all devices are confiscated to preserve confidentiality. You may use phones in public areas during breaks, but avoid photographing court premises—security staff can seize devices for breaches.

Before you leave the courthouse each day, a finance clerk or jury officer stamps your attendance card. At the end of service, you exchange the card for a Certificate of Attendance, which lists all dates and times served. Request extra copies at that time; the court may charge a small fee for later duplicates. Employers and educational institutions accept the certificate as official proof, and it doubles as your reimbursement form attachment.