While in many countries it is a citizen's duty to serve occasionally on a jury, there are some ways to avoid such duty if it would prove a true hardship. Failure to respond to a summons for jury duty is not a good idea: that could result in up to two years' incarceration or a substantial fine. However, if you have a legitimate reason for avoiding jury duty, you should go through the legal process of getting yourself excused. Courts issue summonses through random selection, so there's nothing you can do to avoid being called for duty. Merely being called does not mean you will actually sit on a jury. This wikiHow will give you some advice on how to avoid the experience while still fulfilling your civic duty.
1
Prove economic hardship. In many countries you can prove that serving on a jury would cause a serious financial burden on you. Use this excuse only if you honestly believe that you would not be able to get by if you had to miss work for one or more days. When you first report for jury duty bring with you proof of employment and/or wages, a full financial statement, and the previous year's tax return. If you can persuade the judge that you cannot afford to miss work, you'll have lost only one day of your time.
Exemptions based on financial need are extremely rare, even if you're facing serious challenges. Don't count on the court's taking financial need into consideration.
Don't lie about your financial situation. Lying to a court is called perjury. It's a felony. You could also be charged with obstruction of justice
2
Request a change of date. Almost all federal, state, and local jury-selection processes are computerized. If your name appears on the list, they send an automated notice of jury duty to your registered address. When you receive it, mark on the jury form that you need special accommodations and cannot make the requested attendance date. Include an explanation.
For example, you might say that you are quite sick, going out of town, studying for the bar, or planning on joining the military. Any acceptable excuse will likely set your next jury summons back at least a year.
If you have young children, consider using them as an excuse. You would have to convince the court that you cannot arrange for day-care or a babysitter.
3
Request a date in December. If you can get a change of date, ask for December, when there's a far greater chance that trials will be delayed or moved. You may never actually get called in, but you're still fulfilling your civic duty.
4
Try asking them to move the date up, not back. This means you would serve your jury duty sooner than originally scheduled. The lawyers have likely already made the jury lists for closer dates, and there's a chance they won't be able to seat you. So when your date is moved they have to put you at the end of the list. You may not get called to serve on a jury at all.
How to Get Out of Jury Duty
While in many countries it is a citizen's duty to serve occasionally on a jury, there are some ways to avoid such duty if it would prove a true hardship. Failure to respond to a summons for jury duty is not a good idea: that could result in up to two years' incarceration or a substantial fine. However, if you have a legitimate reason for avoiding jury duty, you should go through the legal process of getting yourself excused. Courts issue summonses through random selection, so there's nothing you can do to avoid being called for duty. Merely being called does not mean you will actually sit on a jury. This wikiHow will give you some advice on how to avoid the experience while still fulfilling your civic duty.[1]
Part One of Two:
Getting Out of Jury Duty
1
Prove economic hardship. [2] In many U.S. states you can prove that serving on a jury would cause a serious financial burden on you. Use this excuse only if you honestly believe that you would not be able to get by if you had to miss work for one or more days. When you first report for jury duty bring with you proof of employment and/or wages, a full financial statement, and the previous year's tax return. If you can persuade the judge that you cannot afford to miss work, you'll have lost only one day of your time.
Exemptions based on financial need are extremely rare, even if you're facing serious challenges. Don't count on the court's taking financial need into consideration.
Don't lie about your financial situation. Lying to a court is called perjury. It's a felony. You could also be charged with obstruction of justice.
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2
Request a change of date. Almost all federal, state, and local jury-selection processes are computerized. If your name appears on the list, they send an automated notice of jury duty to your registered address. When you receive it, mark on the jury form that you need special accommodations and cannot make the requested attendance date. Include an explanation.
For example, you might say that you are quite sick, going out of town, studying for the bar, or planning on joining the military. Any acceptable excuse will likely set your next jury summons back at least a year.
If you have young children, consider using them as an excuse. You would have to convince the court that you cannot arrange for day-care or a babysitter.
3
Request a date in December. If you can get a change of date, ask for December, when there's a far greater chance that trials will be delayed or moved. You may never actually get called in, but you're still fulfilling your civic duty.
4
Try asking them to move the date up, not back. This means you would serve your jury duty sooner than originally scheduled. The lawyers have likely already made the jury lists for closer dates, and there's a chance they won't be able to seat you. So when your date is moved they have to put you at the end of the list. You may not get called to serve on a jury at all.
5
Use your student status as an excuse. [3] Many states excuse full-time students from jury duty. Even if you live in a state that doesn't excuse students (e.g., California), you still have options.
Request that your jury duty be rescheduled for your next break (winter, spring, summer).
The call center can authorize this even if you have gone beyond the one-year postponement limit. They will say that it will be your final postponement.
In most cases, missed student work can be made up, but not missed lessons and lectures. Some states will even exempt students enrolled in online classes.
While in many countries it is a citizen's duty to serve occasionally on a jury, there are some ways to avoid such duty if it would prove a true hardship. Failure to respond to a summons for jury duty is not a good idea: that could result in up to two years' incarceration or a substantial fine. However, if you have a legitimate reason for avoiding jury duty, you should go through the legal process of getting yourself excused. Courts issue summonses through random selection, so there's nothing you can do to avoid being called for duty. Merely being called does not mean you will actually sit on a jury. This wikiHow will give you some advice on how to avoid the experience while still fulfilling your civic duty.
1
Prove economic hardship. In many countries you can prove that serving on a jury would cause a serious financial burden on you. Use this excuse only if you honestly believe that you would not be able to get by if you had to miss work for one or more days. When you first report for jury duty bring with you proof of employment and/or wages, a full financial statement, and the previous year's tax return. If you can persuade the judge that you cannot afford to miss work, you'll have lost only one day of your time.
Exemptions based on financial need are extremely rare, even if you're facing serious challenges. Don't count on the court's taking financial need into consideration.
Don't lie about your financial situation. Lying to a court is called perjury. It's a felony. You could also be charged with obstruction of justice
2
Request a change of date. Almost all federal, state, and local jury-selection processes are computerized. If your name appears on the list, they send an automated notice of jury duty to your registered address. When you receive it, mark on the jury form that you need special accommodations and cannot make the requested attendance date. Include an explanation.
For example, you might say that you are quite sick, going out of town, studying for the bar, or planning on joining the military. Any acceptable excuse will likely set your next jury summons back at least a year.
If you have young children, consider using them as an excuse. You would have to convince the court that you cannot arrange for day-care or a babysitter.
3
Request a date in December. If you can get a change of date, ask for December, when there's a far greater chance that trials will be delayed or moved. You may never actually get called in, but you're still fulfilling your civic duty.
4
Try asking them to move the date up, not back. This means you would serve your jury duty sooner than originally scheduled. The lawyers have likely already made the jury lists for closer dates, and there's a chance they won't be able to seat you. So when your date is moved they have to put you at the end of the list. You may not get called to serve on a jury at all.
How to Get Out of Jury Duty
While in many countries it is a citizen's duty to serve occasionally on a jury, there are some ways to avoid such duty if it would prove a true hardship. Failure to respond to a summons for jury duty is not a good idea: that could result in up to two years' incarceration or a substantial fine. However, if you have a legitimate reason for avoiding jury duty, you should go through the legal process of getting yourself excused. Courts issue summonses through random selection, so there's nothing you can do to avoid being called for duty. Merely being called does not mean you will actually sit on a jury. This wikiHow will give you some advice on how to avoid the experience while still fulfilling your civic duty.[1]
Part One of Two:
Getting Out of Jury Duty
1
Prove economic hardship. [2] In many U.S. states you can prove that serving on a jury would cause a serious financial burden on you. Use this excuse only if you honestly believe that you would not be able to get by if you had to miss work for one or more days. When you first report for jury duty bring with you proof of employment and/or wages, a full financial statement, and the previous year's tax return. If you can persuade the judge that you cannot afford to miss work, you'll have lost only one day of your time.
Exemptions based on financial need are extremely rare, even if you're facing serious challenges. Don't count on the court's taking financial need into consideration.
Don't lie about your financial situation. Lying to a court is called perjury. It's a felony. You could also be charged with obstruction of justice.
Advertisement
2
Request a change of date. Almost all federal, state, and local jury-selection processes are computerized. If your name appears on the list, they send an automated notice of jury duty to your registered address. When you receive it, mark on the jury form that you need special accommodations and cannot make the requested attendance date. Include an explanation.
For example, you might say that you are quite sick, going out of town, studying for the bar, or planning on joining the military. Any acceptable excuse will likely set your next jury summons back at least a year.
If you have young children, consider using them as an excuse. You would have to convince the court that you cannot arrange for day-care or a babysitter.
3
Request a date in December. If you can get a change of date, ask for December, when there's a far greater chance that trials will be delayed or moved. You may never actually get called in, but you're still fulfilling your civic duty.
4
Try asking them to move the date up, not back. This means you would serve your jury duty sooner than originally scheduled. The lawyers have likely already made the jury lists for closer dates, and there's a chance they won't be able to seat you. So when your date is moved they have to put you at the end of the list. You may not get called to serve on a jury at all.
5
Use your student status as an excuse. [3] Many states excuse full-time students from jury duty. Even if you live in a state that doesn't excuse students (e.g., California), you still have options.
Request that your jury duty be rescheduled for your next break (winter, spring, summer).
The call center can authorize this even if you have gone beyond the one-year postponement limit. They will say that it will be your final postponement.
In most cases, missed student work can be made up, but not missed lessons and lectures. Some states will even exempt students enrolled in online classes.