What happens if you miss jury duty?

Jury duty, in the United States, is considered to be a part of an individual's civic duty. The right to a trial by a jury of one's peers is guaranteed by the United States' Constitution. A jury is supposed to be representative of a particular region to ensure a fair trial for the person being accused of a crime.

As a result of the importance of the jury in a trial, there are consequences for not reporting to jury duty. The consequences of not reporting to jury duty depend on the region in which the individual resides. In general, individuals who do not report to jury duty can be found in contempt of court, can be heavily fined, and can be subject to questioning as to why the individual did not report to jury duty.