Jury duty is a civic responsibility, and citizens of the United States are called to serve as members. The jury decides on the verdict of a lawsuit after deliberating the facts of the case. Jury duty is mandatory, and people can be penalized for not turning up.
The state does excuse people from appearing for jury duty under specific circumstances. If you need to get out of jury duty, read this article for a few common excuses people use.
Medical Reasons
One reason people can be excused from jury duty is due to health issues. If you have an illness that keeps you from going to court, you can submit the relevant documents, and you will be exempt. Medical conditions that are accepted include treatments like radiotherapy for cancer or kidney dialysis, mental health issues, and other illnesses that keep you from focusing for long periods of time. Those with permanent disabilities can also be excused from jury duty.
Financial Hardship
People can be excused from jury duty if they’re under severe financial strain. The pay from jury duty can be much less compared to a day’s wage or other salary, not to mention the commute to jury duty can be expensive and tiring. People who are self-employed can also be exempt from jury duty provided they submit the right proof, like a business registration. For employees, a wage slip will be accepted as proof by the court.
Full-time Student
Another common reason people are excused from jury duty is if they’re currently a student. Attending college is very demanding, with a number of assignments that must be completed, exams to be passed, and classes to be attended. Students simply may not have the time to attend jury duty. Their financial situation may also not allow them to be a jury member and may affect their scholarship. However, some states require students to attend jury duty and may only accept a deferral and not a refusal to attend, so you should look up the state laws for your jurisdiction.
Active Military Duty
Members of the armed forces have a duty to serve the country first, which means jury duty can interfere with their job. They may be required to deploy on short notice or may have duties that prevent them from participating in the jury. Military officials can submit a note from their commanding officer, which is accepted proof for refusal to participate.
Caregiver
Finally, if you’re responsible for looking after someone, whether that’s your children or an elderly family member, you can apply to be excused from jury duty. You will have to submit some form of official proof, like a note from a childcare official or a doctor’s note. Caregivers may have to spend the entire day with those in their care and may not be able to step away for the time that jury duty requires of them. This also applies to those who are paid to be caregivers.
Summary
While jury duty is an important responsibility for citizens, as it can decide the course of someone’s life and potentially let criminals walk free, it is not possible for everyone to participate. Many situations could prevent people from doing so, including a bad financial situation, the need to care for someone, like a sick family member or a child, being a full-time student, and so on.
The court grants exemptions for such cases, and citizens can apply to be excused from jury duty by providing the right proof. It’s important to remember that failure to serve can result in legal action, including fines and even jail time, depending on state law.