Register at the JPORTAL website and complete your juror questionnaire. You can sign up for text or email notifications or request an excusal or deferral.Common Pitfalls to Avoid. Ignoring your summons: Failure to appear for jury duty without a valid excuse can result in fines or other penalties. I submitted a request to be excused due to undue hardship based on this rule: "The prospective juror must travel an excessive distance. Does my employer have to pay me while I serve on jury duty? By law employers are not required to compensate employees while they are on jury service. Prospective jurors should fill out the application online. Note: The obligation of the employer to pay only applies if the juror is serving on jury duty on a regular scheduled work day. So even if you have received a summons for jury duty, you may not ultimately end up sitting in on a case.