Federal jury service · 1st Circuit · Wave 2 · Preview v1.22
Federal jury service in Massachusetts
Federal packet or state packet?
A federal summons comes from a United States District Court and usually points you to eJuror on a .gov site. A state or county summons is a different system. This page covers federal service only.
Official courts
These buttons open the court’s own website. Look for Jury or eJuror. You will need the participant number on your packet. Harborline cannot log in for you.
Federal pay
Federal jurors are paid $50 for each day of attendance. A judge may raise that by up to $10 after 10 days on one petit case, or after 45 days of grand-jury service. Mileage and, when an overnight stay is required, subsistence may also be paid. Federal employees receive salary instead of the attendance fee. Source: 28 U.S.C. § 1871.
Job protection
No employer may discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate, or coerce a permanent employee because of federal jury service. 28 U.S.C. § 1875(d) describes an application to the district court, which can appoint counsel when the claim has probable merit. Harborline does not file that application.
State law plus § 1875 protect the job.
Employer wages
General information. Not legal advice. Verify the current statute. Your handbook may be more generous.
Massachusetts commonly requires regular wages for the first three days of jury service. Confirm Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 234A and whether it reaches this federal summons.
Statute to read: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 234A.
What Harborline sells
The Summons Readiness Kit is $49 when payments go live. Blank employer letter, hardship worksheet you fill in, checklist, pay estimator. We do not choose an excuse, review your summons, or call the clerk.
Citations: 28 U.S.C. §§ 1861–1878, 1871, 1875. Official court URLs on this page. Last reviewed: 4 September 2026.