You know the feeling. You walk to the mailbox, shuffle through a stack of junk mail and utility bills, and there it is. The crisp, official-looking envelope from the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Your heart sinks just a little bit. It’s the "Summons for Jury Service." For most Angelenos, this feels like an inconvenient tax on your time, a logistical nightmare involving the 101 freeway, and a guaranteed day of staring at a beige wall in a room that smells faintly of industrial carpet cleaner.
But honestly? Serving on a Los Angeles County jury is one of the weirdest, most frustrating, and strangely profound things you’ll ever do. It’s the only time you’re forced to sit in a room with people you’d otherwise never meet—a Hollywood producer, a construction worker from Palmdale, a barista from Silver Lake, and a retired teacher from Long Beach—to decide the fate of a complete stranger.
The Reality of the "One Day or One Trial" System
LA County operates on a "One Day or One Trial" program. It sounds simple. In theory, you show up, and if you aren't put on a jury by the end of the day, you're done for at least a year.
Usually, that’s how it goes.
But there is a catch. You have to be "available" for that day. This means if you get called into a courtroom for voir dire—that’s the fancy legal term for jury selection—at 3:30 PM, you aren't going home at 4:00 PM. You're coming back the next day. And maybe the day after that. If you actually get sworn in as a juror, you're there for the duration. Most trials in the Los Angeles Superior Court system wrap up in about five to seven days, but if you’re unlucky enough to get tagged for a complex civil litigation or a high-profile felony case, you could be looking at weeks. Or months.
Don't panic yet. Most people don't even make it past the jury assembly room. You spend hours on your laptop, draining the courthouse Wi-Fi, waiting for a clerk to call a group number that isn't yours.
Where You’ll Actually Go (The Map is Massive)
Los Angeles County has the largest unified trial court system in the world. We’re talking 38 courthouses spread across 4,000 square miles. Just because you live in Santa Monica doesn't mean you're going to the beach. You might end up at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center downtown, or perhaps the Torrance Courthouse, or even out in Lancaster.
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The court tries to keep you within 20 miles of your residence, but "20 miles" in LA is a relative concept. 20 miles at 8:00 AM on the 405 is basically a journey to another dimension.
The Foltz Center is the big one. It’s where the heavy hitters happen. If you’re summoned there, you’re walking into a building that has seen the O.J. Simpson trial, the Night Stalker, and countless celebrity scandals. It feels heavy. There’s a specific kind of gravity to the downtown courts that you don't get at the smaller branch courts like Van Nuys or Pasadena.
How Much Do They Pay? (Spoilers: Not Much)
Let’s talk money. Because it’s kind of a joke.
As of 2026, the California State Legislature finally made some moves to increase jury pay, but for a long time, it was stuck at a measly $15 a day starting on the second day. Yes, you read that right. You weren't even paid for the first day.
Thankfully, programs like Be The Juror have been piloted in LA County to provide higher daily stipends—sometimes up to $100 a day—for low-to-moderate-income jurors in certain types of cases. This was designed to make juries more diverse. If only wealthy people or people with "jury duty pay" from corporate jobs can afford to serve, the "jury of your peers" concept starts to fall apart. Check your summons carefully; depending on the courthouse and the pilot programs currently active, your compensation might vary.
Regardless, you get mileage reimbursement for one-way travel (from home to court) starting on the second day. It won't cover your Starbucks habit, let alone a tank of gas.
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Getting Out of It: The Myths vs. The Facts
Everyone has a "trick" to get out of a Los Angeles County jury.
"Tell them you're a racist!"
"Tell them you don't believe in the law!"
"Just don't show up!"
Let's be real for a second. If you just don't show up, the court sends you a "Failure to Appear" notice. If you ignore that, they can eventually fine you up to $1,500 and hold you in contempt. It's rare that they send the sheriff to your door, but do you really want that hanging over your head?
As for the "acting crazy" bit in voir dire? Judges have seen it all. They've been doing this for decades. If you try to act biased, the judge might just keep you there longer just to spite you, or worse, scold you in front of 50 other people.
The only legitimate ways to be excused are:
- Undue Hardship: This isn't just "I have a busy job." This is "If I don't work, my kids don't eat" or "I am the sole caregiver for a bedridden relative." You need proof.
- Medical Issues: You’ll need a note from a doctor.
- Non-Citizenship: If you aren't a U.S. citizen, you're ineligible.
- Felony Convictions: Certain legal histories disqualify you, though California law has recently become more inclusive for those who have completed their sentences.
- Breastfeeding: You can get a one-year postponement.
Honestly, the best way to get excused is simply to be honest. If you truly have a bias—maybe you have a family member in law enforcement and it’s a police misconduct case—the lawyers will likely dismiss you anyway. They want people who are "blank slates," which is getting harder and harder to find in the age of social media.
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The Secret Life of the Jury Room
If you do get picked, the vibe changes. You aren't a "potential juror" anymore. You’re Juror Number 7. You have a badge. You have a seat.
The hallway conversations are the weirdest part. You’re strictly forbidden from talking about the case. Not even "Can you believe that witness?" Nothing. So you talk about the weather. You talk about where to get the best tacos near the courthouse. You talk about the traffic.
Inside the courtroom, you see the reality of the legal system, which is much slower and more boring than Law & Order makes it look. There is a lot of "sidebar" where the attorneys whisper with the judge while you sit there in silence. There are long delays because a witness is late or a motion needs to be argued outside your presence.
But then, something happens. The evidence starts to pile up. You see the photos. You hear the testimony. You realize that you're holding a piece of someone's life in your hands. Whether it's a dispute over a contract or a violent crime, the weight of the Los Angeles County jury experience eventually hits everyone.
What to Bring (Survival Guide)
If you're heading to the downtown Clara Shortridge Foltz building or the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, prepare for a long day.
- A Portable Charger: The outlets are rare and usually claimed by 8:05 AM.
- Layers: Courthouses are either 40 degrees or 90 degrees. There is no in-between.
- A Real Book: Sometimes the Wi-Fi dies. A physical book is your best friend.
- Patience: You will wait. Then you will wait more.
Actionable Steps for Your Summons
Don't just toss the summons on the counter and forget about it. Dealing with it early makes the process significantly less painful.
- Register Online Immediately: Use the LASC Juror Portal. You can request a one-time postponement for up to 90 days. If you have a vacation planned or a big project at work, move your date to a "slow" week.
- Check the Status the Night Before: Most LA jurors have to check the website or call the automated line after 7:00 PM the night before their service date. Many times, your group won't be needed, and you're off the hook without even leaving your house.
- Plan Your Parking: Some courthouses provide free parking; others (like downtown) give you a pass for a specific lot that might be blocks away. Look at the map provided on your summons. Do not park in a private lot and expect the court to reimburse you. They won't.
- Request an Employer Letter: If your employer pays for jury duty, you'll need "Proof of Service." You can download this from the portal after your service is complete.
- Be Prepared for Metal Detectors: It’s like the airport, but with more lawyers. Don't bring pocketknives, pepper spray, or anything remotely sharp.
Serving on a Los Angeles County jury is a grind, no doubt about it. It's a logistical headache in a city that already has too many. But it's also a front-row seat to the machinery of justice. Most people leave the experience exhausted, but with a weirdly deep respect for the process that they didn't have when they opened that envelope.
Check your group number, pack a sandwich, and just get it over with. You'll be glad you did when that "Service Completed" certificate hits your inbox.