Jury Duty in Tasmania: What Your Summons Means and What to Do Next

How do I get out of jury duty in Tasmania?

You cannot simply opt out, but you can ask to be excused or to have your service deferred if you have a genuine reason such as illness, caring responsibilities, a disability, or a fixed commitment you cannot change. You apply by completing the statutory declaration on the back of your summons and returning it to the Sheriff's Office as soon as possible, with any supporting evidence like a doctor's certificate. If you are disqualified or ineligible, you tell the Sheriff and provide proof, and you are taken out of the pool.

How much are you paid for jury duty in Tasmania?

From 1 July 2025, employed jurors are paid up to $306.37 a day, provided their employer confirms the salary they lost while at court. Unemployed jurors are paid $25.00 for each half day, $40.00 for each of the first three full days, and $50.00 for each full day after that. Travel is also reimbursed at $0.6512 per kilometre for vehicles with an engine of 2 litres or more, or $0.5600 per kilometre for smaller engines, and reasonable parking, bus fares and childcare costs are refunded on receipts.

Can my employer sack me for doing jury duty?

No. Under the Juries Act 2003 (Tas) it is an offence for an employer to dismiss you or otherwise disadvantage you because you served on a jury. An employer who breaks this rule faces serious penalties, up to 600 penalty units for a company, or up to 120 penalty units or 12 months' imprisonment for an individual, and can be ordered to pay your lost wages and compensation. Your employer does not have to keep paying your normal wage, but you can claim a juror payment for the income you lose.

How long does jury duty last in Tasmania?

Jury service in Tasmania usually lasts between two and three weeks. It will not run longer than three weeks unless you are sitting on a particular trial that needs more time. You may not have to attend every single day; you attend when the court directs you. If you are on a panel but not chosen for a jury, you may be released much sooner.

What happens if I don't show up for jury duty?

Failing to attend in line with your summons, without a reasonable excuse, is an offence. The court can summon you to appear before a judge of the Supreme Court, and you can face a substantial fine of up to 30 penalty units (about $6,150 at the 2025-26 rate) or imprisonment for up to 3 months. It is always better to respond to your summons and apply to be excused if you genuinely cannot serve, rather than simply not turning up.

Who is exempt or excused from jury duty in Tasmania?

Several groups are disqualified, including police officers and former police (within the last 10 years), practising lawyers, others connected with investigating crime or administering justice, and people with certain criminal records or who are in prison, on parole, on a suspended sentence or doing community service. People are ineligible if a physical, intellectual or mental disability prevents them serving, or if they cannot adequately understand or communicate in English. Beyond that, anyone can ask to be excused or deferred for a genuine reason such as illness, family responsibilities or a commitment that cannot be moved.

Is there an age limit for jury duty in Tasmania?

Yes. You must be at least 18 to serve, and the upper age for being liable is 70. People aged 70 or over can ask to be excused, but they should apply rather than simply ignore a summons. Being enrolled to vote in Tasmania within that age range, and living in a jury district, is what makes you liable to be called.

How are jurors chosen in Tasmania?

Names are selected at random from the Tasmanian State electoral roll, which is why being enrolled to vote puts you in the pool. If your name is drawn, you receive a summons about 14 days before your attendance date. At court you join a panel, and the final jury of twelve is selected by ballot. Both the prosecution and the defence can challenge a limited number of potential jurors before the jury is sworn in.

Can I talk about what happened in the jury room afterwards?

No. The Juries Act 2003 (Tas) makes it a serious offence to disclose what was said or done during the jury's deliberations, and it is also an offence to seek that information from a juror or to publish it. The penalties are heavy, up to 600 penalty units or 2 years' imprisonment for an individual. What happens in the jury room is meant to stay confidential, even after the trial has finished.

Do I get my travel and other costs back?

Yes. The court reimburses travel by car at $0.6512 per kilometre for engines of 2 litres or more, or $0.5600 per kilometre for smaller engines, measured by the shortest route from your home to the courthouse. Bus tickets and parking are refunded if you keep the receipts, taxi fares generally are not, and the reasonable cost of childcare you needed because of jury service is refunded on production of receipts. If the jury retires to consider its verdict, the court provides your meals.