If you want to get excused from jury duty, you have to respond to the summons and ask — the court decides, not you. Depending on your situation, you may be legally disqualified, granted an excuse for hardship, or given a postponement to a later date. What you cannot do is ignore the summons and hope the problem goes away.
Respond to the Summons First
A jury summons is a court order. Even if you are certain you qualify for an excuse, the court is the only body that can officially release you, and it can only do that if you communicate with it.
Under federal law, a person who fails to appear after being summoned and cannot show good cause faces a fine of up to $1,000, up to three days in jail, community service, or a combination of all three.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels State courts impose their own penalties. Jail is rare in practice, but fines and mandatory community service are not. Some courts issue a second summons with a warning for a first no-show, but that leniency is discretionary.
Respond, then ask.
Who Is Legally Disqualified
Disqualification is separate from being excused. A disqualified person is not legally eligible to serve, and the court removes them from the pool once it learns of the disqualification. You do not request it — you report it on your juror qualification questionnaire.
Under federal law, you are disqualified if you:2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1865 – Qualifications for Jury Service3United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses
- Are not a U.S. citizen. Green card holders, visa holders, and all other non-citizens are ineligible. Respond to the summons and mark your status on the questionnaire rather than ignoring it.
- Are under 18.
- Have not lived in the federal judicial district for at least one year.
- Cannot read, write, and understand English well enough to follow the proceedings.
- Have a mental or physical condition that makes you unable to serve satisfactorily.
- Have a felony conviction for a crime punishable by more than a year in prison, unless your civil rights have been restored.
Most states follow a similar pattern, though the residency period and rights-restoration rules vary.
Valid Reasons to Be Excused
Even if you meet every qualification, courts recognize that jury service can create real hardship. An excuse releases you from that particular summons. You will need to explain the situation and, in most cases, provide documentation. Approval is never automatic.
Financial Hardship
Self-employed people and hourly workers whose employers do not cover jury duty pay often qualify, especially when lost income would threaten essential bills. Expect to provide pay stubs, tax records, or a letter from your employer confirming that you will not be compensated during service.
Caregiving Responsibilities
If you are the only available caregiver for a young child, an elderly parent, or a disabled family member, and you cannot arrange a substitute, courts will usually grant an excuse. A doctor’s letter or documentation of your caregiving arrangement strengthens the request.
Medical Conditions
A temporary illness, scheduled surgery, or chronic condition that would prevent you from sitting through a trial can support an excuse. You will need a letter from your doctor describing the condition, its expected duration, and why it interferes with jury service.
Age
Many courts allow people over a certain age to opt out. The threshold varies, but 70 is a common cutoff. Reaching the age makes the excuse available on request; you still have to claim it.
Nursing an Infant
A growing number of courts will excuse or defer service for a parent who is breastfeeding an infant. Federal courts have no uniform rule, but many allow it under general caregiving provisions. Note it on your questionnaire and explain why alternative arrangements are not feasible.
Professional Exemptions
Some jurisdictions exempt people in professions whose absence would affect public safety or essential services, most commonly active-duty military members, firefighters, and police officers. Federal courts eliminated most professional exemptions years ago, so this applies primarily at the state level, and the specific list differs by court.
Postponement: The Easiest Route
A postponement does not get you out of jury duty. It moves the date. It is also the easiest request to have granted, and most courts approve at least one deferral without much justification. Common reasons include a non-refundable vacation, a work deadline that cannot move, or final exams. Courts typically reschedule you within six to twelve months.
Postponements are not unlimited. Federal courts track deferrals, and once you exhaust the allowed number, the next summons is marked mandatory with no further deferrals available. If you know you have a legitimate scheduling conflict, ask for a deferral early rather than waiting.
How to Submit Your Request
Your summons arrives with a juror qualification questionnaire. That form is your main channel for communicating with the court and where you indicate whether you are requesting an excuse, a postponement, or reporting a disqualification.
Most federal courts and many state courts offer an online portal called eJuror, which lets you complete the questionnaire, upload supporting documents, request a deferral, and check your reporting date electronically.4United States Courts. Summoned for Federal Jury Service If you prefer, mail the physical form back to the clerk’s office in the return envelope included with your summons.
Attach whatever documentation supports your request: a doctor’s letter, an employer statement, travel receipts, proof of caregiving. Vague claims without backup rarely succeed. After you submit, wait for the court’s response. Do not assume the request was granted just because you sent it. If you receive no confirmation and the reporting date arrives, you are expected to appear.
Job and Pay Concerns
Most people asking about excuses are really worried about work and money. Some of that worry has a legal answer.
Federal law makes it illegal for any employer to fire, threaten, intimidate, or punish a permanent employee for serving on a federal jury.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1875 – Protection of Jurors Employment An employer who violates this faces liability for the employee’s lost wages, an order to reinstate the employee with full seniority and benefits, and a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation. Most states have parallel protections for state jury service.
Pay is a different story. No federal law requires private employers to pay you during jury service.6U.S. Department of Labor. Jury Duty Whether you get your regular paycheck depends on your employer’s policy or your employment agreement. Some states require employers to keep paying salary for part or all of the service period; many do not.
If you are a salaried exempt employee under federal wage rules, your employer cannot dock your pay for partial-week absences caused by jury duty, though the employer can offset the jury fees you receive against your salary for that week.7eCFR. 29 CFR 541.602 – Salary Basis
Federal court juror pay itself is $50 per day, with a possible bump to $60 per day after ten days at the judge’s discretion, plus reimbursement for mileage, parking, and tolls.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1871 – Fees State pay is generally lower and varies dramatically, with a national average around $20 to $25 per day. The gap between that fee and your normal earnings is exactly the kind of financial hardship you can raise when requesting an excuse.
Watch for Jury Duty Scams
Anyone worried about missing jury duty is also a prime target for a common phone scam. A real court will never call demanding immediate payment. Courts do not accept fines through gift cards, wire transfers, or payment apps, and no court employee will ask for your Social Security number or banking details over the phone.
If someone calls claiming you missed jury duty and need to pay a fine to avoid arrest, hang up. Real consequences for failing to appear come through the mail and through the court system. If you are unsure whether you have an outstanding summons, call the clerk of court for your district using the number on the court’s official website.