Getting a jury summons in the post can feel daunting, but jury service is a normal part of the justice system and most people manage it without trouble. This page explains, in plain English, who has to serve in the Northern Territory, who can be excused, how much you are paid, what your employer must do, and what happens if you do not turn up. If you are confused about a summons or worried about how serving will affect your job or income, call our free legal information line on 1800 951 176 and we will point you in the right direction.
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If you receive a jury summons in the NT you must attend on the date stated unless the Sheriff tells you that you are not qualified, are exempt, or have been excused. Jury service in the NT is run by the Sheriff under the Supreme Court, and jurors are picked at random from the electoral roll for the Darwin and Alice Springs jury districts. People who lose income while serving are paid a daily amount, your employer cannot sack you or disadvantage you for serving, and ignoring a summons without a reasonable excuse is an offence that can be prosecuted and fined.
Most people can deal with a jury summons themselves by contacting the Sheriff's office. But get advice if your situation is more complicated: you have a criminal record and are unsure whether you are disqualified, you care for a child or unwell relative and need to be excused, serving would cause you serious financial hardship, your employer is pressuring you or threatening your job, or you are a self-employed person facing weeks away from your business. A short conversation can help you put together the right statutory declaration and supporting evidence so the court takes your circumstances seriously. Call 1800 951 176 for free information about your options.
What actually happens after you receive a summons depends on your circumstances. Here are the common outcomes for people called for jury service in the NT.
If you need official information or free help with a jury summons in the Northern Territory, these services can assist. Contact the jury office for anything about your specific summons.
The official source for everything about your summons, excusal, attendance and payment. Darwin Sheriff's Office and Alice Springs Supreme Court Registry handle jury matters.
Free legal information and advice for Territorians, including help understanding your obligations and rights around a court summons.
Explains your workplace rights while on jury service, including protection from dismissal and when an employer must make up your pay.
A plain-English community guide to how jury service works in the Northern Territory under the Juries Act 1962.
How do I get out of jury duty in the NT?
You cannot simply opt out, but you can ask to be excused if you have a good reason, such as illness, caring for a child or unwell relative, serious financial hardship, or being unable to read, write and speak English. Contact the Darwin Sheriff's Office or Alice Springs Supreme Court Registry as soon as you can and lodge a statutory declaration explaining your situation, usually several business days before your attendance date. A Judge decides whether to excuse you.
How much are you paid for jury duty in the NT?
If you lose income by serving, you are paid a daily amount set in monetary units. As at the 2025-26 year that works out to roughly $73.80 a day for the first nine days of a trial, and about $147.60 a day from day ten onward. Simply attending without being selected is paid at a lower rate of about $24.60 a day. You may also claim a top-up of up to about $36.90 a day if you prove extra financial loss. People who keep their ordinary pay, or who do not lose leave, are generally not paid the fee. Always check the current figure with the court, as the rate changes each year.
Can my employer sack me for doing jury duty?
No. Your employer cannot dismiss you, demote you, or disadvantage you because you were summoned for or served on a jury. Jury service is a protected community-service activity under the Fair Work Act 2009. If your employer threatens your job or pressures you not to serve, that is unlawful, and you can get advice from the Fair Work Ombudsman or a lawyer.
How long does jury duty last in the NT?
Most NT trials run between one and six weeks, sitting on roughly 10am to 4:30pm court days with a lunch break. Some trials are shorter and a few are longer. If you attend for induction and are not selected, you may be released the same day. If a trial runs ten days or more, your daily pay rate increases to reflect the longer commitment.
What happens if I do not show up for jury duty?
Failing to attend in answer to a summons without a reasonable excuse, or leaving jury service without permission, is an offence under the Juries Act 1962 (NT). You can be summoned to court to explain yourself and fined. The simplest way to avoid trouble is to respond to your summons promptly, and if you genuinely cannot serve, apply to be excused rather than just ignoring it.
Who is exempt from jury duty in the NT?
People who can claim exemption include those aged over 70, judges and their spouses, legal practitioners and articled clerks, doctors and dentists, police, correctional services and DPP staff, members of the Legislative Assembly, and members of the clergy or vowed religious. People who have served on a jury within the previous three years can also usually be exempt. You still need to respond to the summons to claim your exemption.
Is there an age exemption for jury duty in the NT?
Yes. If you are over 70, you can ask to be exempt from jury service. It is not automatic; you generally need to tell the Sheriff's office that you wish to claim the exemption when you respond to your summons. Younger people are eligible to serve once they are enrolled to vote and meet the other qualification rules.
Who is disqualified from serving on a jury in the NT?
You are disqualified if you are in prison, on parole, serving a suspended sentence, have completed a term of imprisonment within the last seven years, have been sentenced for a capital offence, or are of unsound mind or undergoing mental health treatment. If a disqualification applies to you, you must let the Sheriff's office know rather than attend.
Can I tell people what happened in the jury room?
No. What is said in jury deliberations is confidential. It is a serious offence, treated as contempt of court, for a juror to disclose the statements, opinions, arguments or votes made by members of the jury. This includes posting about the case on social media. The duty of secrecy continues even after the trial has ended.
What if serving on a jury will cause me financial hardship?
If serving would put you in genuine financial difficulty, for example because you are self-employed or your employer will not top up your pay, you can apply to be excused on the ground of hardship. Lodge a statutory declaration with the Sheriff's office explaining your circumstances, with supporting evidence such as proof of income. If you do serve, make sure you claim the daily attendance fee and any financial-loss top-up you are entitled to.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-19. Laws change — confirm current details with the linked official sources or call 1800 951 176.
Jury service is usually straightforward, and the Sheriff's office can answer most practical questions about your summons. But it is worth speaking to a lawyer if you are unsure whether a criminal record disqualifies you, if you need to be excused on serious medical, caring or hardship grounds and want help preparing a convincing statutory declaration, or if your employer is threatening your job or refusing to release you. A lawyer can also help if you have been charged with an offence for failing to attend, or if something has gone wrong during a trial. Our free information line can explain your position and, if you need one, help you find the right lawyer.
Join our lawyer network →Being summoned for jury service raises a lot of practical questions about your job, your income and what you must do. You do not have to work it out alone. Our service connects Territorians with lawyers and points you to the right official resources, and the call is free and confidential. Whether you want to be excused, are worried about your pay, or are facing trouble for missing a summons, call 1800 951 176 to talk it through. Free legal information, not legal advice.
Call Free 1800 951 176Free legal information. Not legal advice.