Powerwrap Ltd's Sean Slattery told the deputy juries commissioner by phone that he would not attend jury duty on October 12, 2016, citing work commitments, after he was refused a deferral.

Mr Slattery told the court last week that he had a number of meetings scheduled that day in preparation for an initial public offering for the company.

The maximum penalty for failing to comply with a summons for jury service is three months' imprisonment or a more than $4000 fine.

Supreme Court Justice Jack Forrest said on Monday: "It seems to me that Mr Slattery, having been appraised of the potential of that penalty, was prepared to 'take a punt' on the imposition of a fine."

Justice Forrest imposed a community corrections order on Slattery ordering him to do 80 hours' community work over the next six months.

He said it "makes clear to him and others that there are real consequences where there is a deliberate dereliction of attendance to jury service".

The judge said ordering Slattery to work in the community had a "certain symmetry" with his failure to attend jury duty.

"It is appropriate given Mr Slattery's determination to avoid performing his civic function that he now be required to assist others in the community," he said.

Justice Forrest said he was considering sentencing the accountant to jail. But he would not impose a prison term because Slattery was previously of good character, and the law no longer allowed him to suspend any part of it.

Slattery's crime would not be recorded as a conviction, the court heard.

Earlier, his lawyer, David Galbally, QC, argued a fine alone would be enough of a punishment, because widespread media coverage of his client's case had already warned the public of the risks of failing to attend jury duty.