Broward Cracks Down on Jury Duty No-Shows: What to Do If You Get Summoned

The court system in Broward County is now taking action against those who disregard jury summonses, a practice that had long gone unpunished, according to a report from Local 10.

In early October, Judge Keathan B. Frink, the administrative judge for the civil division of Florida’s 17th Judicial Circuit, led the first hearing of its kind in nearly 15 years. This session was specifically organized to address individuals who had failed to fulfill their jury duty obligations.

The statistics from that hearing highlight the issue: out of 100 individuals who were notified, only 27 responded, and just four appeared in person before the judge.

Judge Frink assigned new court dates to three of those who attended, while the fourth received a fine. Those who ignored the notification can expect to be pursued by the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

“We need jurors to show up. This has been a constant problem: only between 30% and 47% of those summoned actually appear for jury duty,” Frink told reporter Janine Stanwood from Local 10.

The judge elaborated that the low turnout creates a ripple effect: civil cases are delayed because criminal cases are prioritized, and the few jurors who do attend are burdened with more responsibility and are less frequently excused when they claim hardship.

“It makes it extremely difficult for judges and parties to have their cases heard,” he pointed out.

Implications of New Jury Duty Policies

This policy shift has a formal background: the 17th Circuit issued a notice on May 29, 2026, stating that starting in June, those absent would receive an order to explain their absence or reschedule their service within 60 days. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to $100, being held in contempt of court, or both.

A juror interviewed by Local 10, who requested anonymity, described an almost empty courtroom and mentioned others openly discussing pretending not to have received the summons: “People talked about using the excuse that the postal service was the reason they claimed they never got the summons.”

Understanding Jury Duty Requirements in Broward

For residents of Broward, especially those of Cuban-American descent, it's important to understand several key points.

Only U.S. citizens residing in the county who are over the age of 18 are required to serve as jurors. Permanent residents are not eligible but must respond to the summons by indicating their status on the form, rather than ignoring it.

Language is not an automatic excuse. The Broward Clerk’s jury service website clearly states: “The ability to understand English is determined by the judge during service. You must appear.”

Official summonses are sent exclusively through postal mail. The court will never contact individuals by phone, email, or text message to demand payments. In July 2026, the 17th Circuit, the Clerk, and the Sheriff’s Office issued a joint warning about scams where impostors pose as judges or officers to collect money for alleged absences: these calls are fraudulent.

Anyone receiving a legitimate summons should register on the official portal and call 954-831-8471 after 5:00 p.m. on the business day before to confirm if they need to appear. The usual system in Broward is “one day/one trial”: if not selected by the end of the first day, they generally do not need to return.

“We would love to have jurors who show up, who want to be here,” Judge Frink concluded, emphasizing that he prefers people to attend out of civic duty rather than fear of repercussions.