You can be excused from jury duty, but the court has to approve your reason
You cannot straightforward ignore a jury summons or decide not to show up. If you do, you can be held in contempt of court, which carries fines up to several hundred dollars and sometimes jail time. However, courts recognize that jury service creates real hardship for some people, and judges have the power to excuse you if you have a legitimate reason.
The key is that you must request to be excused before your trial date, usually by responding to the summons itself or by appearing in court and asking the judge. Waiting until the day of trial and then claiming hardship rarely works. The court wants to know early so it can find other jurors.
Key Takeaways
- Ignoring a jury summons can result in fines and contempt charges, so you must respond even if you want to be excused.
- Courts excuse jurors for medical conditions, caregiving duties, financial hardship, and pre-planned travel, but you must prove the reason with documentation.
- You request an excuse by writing to the court, calling the jury office, or appearing at the courthouse on your summons date.
- Lying to the court about your reason for missing jury duty is perjury and can lead to criminal charges.
- If the judge denies your request, you must serve unless you receive a later postponement or excuse.
Medical conditions and disabilities that courts recognize
A documented medical condition is one of the strongest reasons to be excused. This includes serious illnesses, recent surgery, mobility problems that make sitting in court difficult, and mental health conditions that would be worsened by jury service. You will need a letter from your doctor stating the condition and why jury duty would be harmful or impossible.
Disability does not automatically excuse you — many people with disabilities serve on juries. But if your specific disability makes it impossible to participate (for example, you cannot sit for long periods, or you need medical equipment that the courthouse cannot accommodate), the court will consider an excuse. Bring documentation of your disability and an explanation of why the courthouse cannot meet your needs.
Pregnancy and recent childbirth are also grounds for excuse in most courts, though you will need a letter from your doctor confirming your due date or recent delivery.
Caregiving responsibilities and financial hardship
If you are the sole caregiver for a child, elderly parent, or disabled family member and have no one else to provide care during jury service, you can request an excuse. You will need to show that childcare or elder care is not available and that your absence would create genuine hardship for the person in your care. A letter from a doctor, school, or care facility can help prove this.
Financial hardship is harder to prove but possible. If jury duty would cause you to lose income you cannot afford to lose — for instance, you are self-employed and have no paid leave — you can explain this to the court. Bring documentation: tax returns, a letter from your employer, or bank statements showing your income. Courts are more sympathetic to people earning low wages than to those with savings or other income sources.
Caring for a pet is not a valid reason. Neither is a vacation you have already booked, though a pre-planned trip you cannot reschedule (like a non-refundable cruise or a family wedding out of state) may be considered if you request it early enough.
How to request an excuse before your trial date
When you receive a jury summons, read it carefully. Most summonses include a phone number, email address, or website where you can request an excuse. This is your fastest option — call or email the jury office as soon as you know you cannot serve, and explain your reason. Have your documentation ready (doctor's letter, proof of caregiving, etc.) and be prepared to mail or upload it.
If the summons does not list a contact method, call the courthouse directly and ask for the jury office or jury commissioner. Tell them you received a summons for a specific date and need to request an excuse. They will tell you whether to mail a letter, send an email, or come to the courthouse in person.
Write your request clearly and briefly. Include your summons number, the trial date, your reason for the request, and attach copies of your documentation. Do not exaggerate or lie — judges and jury staff have heard every excuse, and they can tell when someone is not being truthful. If you are denied, you will receive a notice telling you to appear on your assigned date.
What happens if you appear in court and ask to be excused
If you did not request an excuse beforehand, or if your request was denied, you must appear at the courthouse on the date listed on your summons. Bring your documentation with you. During jury selection (called voir dire), the judge and attorneys will ask you questions about your background, biases, and ability to serve.
This is your opportunity to tell the judge about hardship you did not mention before. If you have a medical condition, caregiving duty, or financial crisis that makes service impossible, raise your hand and tell the judge. Be honest and specific. The judge may excuse you on the spot, or may ask you to provide documentation later.
Do not lie during this process. If you are asked under oath whether you can serve fairly and you say yes when you cannot, or if you invent a medical condition or caregiving duty that does not exist, you are committing perjury. This is a crime that can result in criminal charges separate from the jury case itself.
Postponement: delaying service instead of being excused
If your reason for missing jury duty is temporary — you have a medical procedure scheduled, you are traveling for work, or you have a family event — you can ask for a postponement instead of an excuse. This means the court will move your service to a later date when your conflict is resolved.
Postponements are easier to get than excuses because the court still gets your service, just at a different time. When you respond to your summons, ask to be postponed to a specific month or date range when you will be available. The jury office will usually grant this without requiring documentation, though some courts ask for proof of your conflict.
Be aware that postponement only works once or twice. If you keep postponing, the court may eventually require you to serve or deny further requests.
What happens if you ignore the summons
If you receive a jury summons and do not respond, do not appear, and do not request an excuse, the court can hold you in contempt. This means you violated a court order. Contempt can result in a fine (typically $100 to $500, but varies by state and court) and sometimes jail time of a few days to a few weeks.
The court will usually send you a warning letter first, asking why you did not appear. If you ignore that, they may issue a bench warrant for your arrest. This is rare for a first offense, but it does happen. If you are arrested on a bench warrant for missing jury duty, you will have to appear before a judge and explain yourself.
If you received a summons and genuinely did not see it, or if it was sent to an old address, tell the court this when ready. Bring proof if you can — for example, if you moved and the post office has no forwarding address on file. The court is usually understanding about summonses that never reached you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be excused because I have a job?
Having a job is not, by itself, a reason to be excused. Most working people serve on juries, and employers are required by law not to fire or punish you for jury service. However, if jury duty would cause you to lose income you cannot afford to lose — you are self-employed, you work hourly with no paid leave, or you would lose a major contract — you can explain this to the court with documentation.
What if I have already been excused once? Can I be excused again?
It depends on the court and how long ago you were excused. Some courts have a rule that you cannot be summoned again for a set period (often one to three years). Others will summon you again but may be more willing to excuse you a second time if you have a new, documented reason. Call the jury office and ask about their policy.
Do I have to tell my employer I was summoned?
You do not have to tell your employer you were summoned, but you will need to tell them if you are selected to serve, because you will need time off. Your employer cannot fire or punish you for jury service under federal law and the laws of most states. If your employer threatens you for serving, that is illegal retaliation.
Can I be excused because I do not believe in the death penalty or I distrust police?
Having strong beliefs about the law, the death penalty, or police does not excuse you from jury duty. However, during jury selection, if your beliefs are so strong that you cannot judge a case fairly, the judge or an attorney can remove you for cause. This is different from being excused — you still have to show up and answer questions under oath.
What if I am not a U.S. citizen?
You cannot serve on a jury if you are not a U.S. citizen. If you receive a summons and are not a citizen, respond when ready and provide proof of your citizenship status (a copy of your green card, visa, or passport showing your country of citizenship). The court will remove you from the jury pool.