Can’t Miss Work? 15 Legitimate Ways To Get Out of Jury Duty

Jury duty is the civic obligation of every US citizen who receives a summons in the mail from a court to appear on a particular date and time to serve on a jury potentially.

Here Are 15 Legitimate Ways To Get Out of Jury Duty

1. Financial Hardship This excuse is problematic because many people cite financial difficulties, suddenly preferring their jobs over jury duty. Judges hold the line on excusing potential jurors, fearing a mass exodus.

2. Primary Caregiver If you are the sole caregiver for your children aged five years or less, you may ask the court to excuse you from jury service, but it is not automatically granted, at least in certain jurisdictions.

3. High-Risk Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

If you are experiencing a high-risk pregnancy requiring bed rest and not working, you are likely to be excused from jury duty with a letter of instructions from the ob-gyn doctor. 

4. Full-Time Student When you are a full-time student, you mustn’t miss classes or exams, particularly when close to graduation. On the day you are to report to the court for jury duty, bring documentation, like your transcript, class schedule, and syllabi to prove your status as a full-time student.

5. Belong To A Group Exempt From Federal Jury Service If you belong to one of these groups, you cannot serve on a federal jury. Check on your state for similar exemptions, which may also exclude your spouse from jury duty.

6. Already Served Recently Once you have served as a jury, you are typically exempt from jury duty in any other court for a set time. In NYC, it may take as long as four years, while California says you may serve once every twelve months though it is unlikely to happen that often.

7. Small Business Owner When running your own business and you are the only source of income for your family, serving on a jury poses a financial hardship. The courts are often amenable to granting an excuse or a postponement so you can get some help.

8. Don’t Live In The Jurisdiction This excuse should be relatively straightforward. If you moved over the past year, you may still be on the roster and receive a summons from your previous location.  You can usually call the court and explain that you are no longer living in the same area.

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