The reliable ways to not get selected as a juror are all built into the system: you can be disqualified for not meeting the basic requirements, request a postponement, ask to be excused for a qualifying reason, or answer honestly during voir dire in ways that lead an attorney to strike you. What you cannot do is throw the summons away. Federal law lets a court fine you up to $1,000, jail you for up to three days, or order community service if you fail to appear without good cause.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 US Code 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels
Check Whether You Qualify at All
Before looking for a way out, check whether you meet the basic requirements. Federal jurors must be U.S. citizens, at least 18, and residents of the judicial district for at least one year.2United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses You also need enough English to follow proceedings and complete the qualification form.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 US Code 1865 – Qualifications for Jury Service
Two categories are automatically disqualified. Anyone with a pending felony charge or a prior felony conviction whose civil rights have not been restored cannot serve. Neither can anyone who is not physically and mentally capable of serving.2United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses If any of this applies to you, mark it on the qualification questionnaire and return it to the court.
Postpone if the Problem Is Timing
If jury duty itself isn’t the issue and you just need a different date, ask for a postponement. Federal courts allow deferrals through the eJuror online system or by contacting the court directly, and a single postponement is usually granted without a detailed justification.4United States Courts. Summoned for Federal Jury Service Respond within 10 days of receiving the summons.
A deferral doesn’t cancel your obligation. You’ll get rescheduled. But it buys time to plan around the service instead of scrambling.
Ask to Be Excused if You Qualify
Certain people can be excused from service entirely, either for the current term or permanently. Submit a written request to the court with any documentation the excuse requires.
- People 70 or older. Many federal court plans let you opt out by requesting the excuse on your questionnaire or summons response.2United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses
- People with a physical or mental condition that would prevent them from serving effectively. Expect to provide documentation from a doctor.
- Primary caregivers for a young child or an elderly or infirm person, where no reasonable alternative care exists.
- Active duty members of the armed forces, who are exempt from civilian jury service.2United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses
- Anyone who served on a federal jury within the past two years.
Specifics vary by district. State courts have their own rules; some set the age threshold at 75 rather than 70, and the list of qualifying circumstances differs. Whatever the jurisdiction, respond on time and make the request in writing.
Get Struck During Voir Dire
If you aren’t excused in advance, you still have to make it through voir dire before you actually sit on a jury. During voir dire, the judge and attorneys question prospective jurors to decide who can be fair and impartial.5United States Courts. Juror Selection Process Attorneys can strike jurors for cause when they can point to a specific reason, and they have a limited number of peremptory strikes they can use without giving any reason at all.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 US Code 1870 – Challenges
You don’t need to lie or act out to get sent home. Honest answers are what actually get people struck, and experienced trial lawyers spot fakers quickly. Four kinds of honest answers reliably lead to non-selection.
Real Bias About the Type of Case
If you have a preexisting view about the kind of case being tried, say so. Someone who has been hit by a drunk driver and is being considered for a DUI trial can honestly say they would struggle to be impartial. One side or the other will move to strike. The bias has to be real; judges and attorneys have seen every version of manufactured bias, and it rarely works.
Beliefs That Conflict With the Law
If the case will require you to apply a legal standard you fundamentally disagree with, that is a legitimate basis for removal. Someone who believes all drug offenses should be legal would have trouble following jury instructions in a narcotics case. When the judge asks whether you can follow the law as instructed, an honest “I’m not sure I could” carries weight.
Personal Connections to the Case
Knowing any of the parties, attorneys, witnesses, or the judge almost always disqualifies you. The same is true for any direct financial or personal stake in the outcome.
Concrete Hardship
Vague complaints about inconvenience won’t get you excused, but specific consequences can. If your employer doesn’t pay for time away and a long trial would cause real financial harm, explain the specifics. The same goes for medical appointments that can’t be rescheduled or caregiving arrangements with no backup. Federal jurors do receive a $50 daily attendance fee plus travel reimbursement,7United States Courts. Fees of Jurors FY2026 so a hardship argument has to reflect an actual gap between that and what you would otherwise earn or spend.
The common thread is honesty. Courts want jurors who can focus on the evidence without prejudice. If you genuinely can’t do that on a specific case, saying so clearly and specifically is the most effective and ethical route off the panel.
What Happens if You Ignore the Summons
Federal law allows a court to fine anyone who fails to appear up to $1,000, jail them for up to three days, order community service, or impose any combination of those.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 US Code 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels Before penalties are imposed, the court will typically order you to appear and explain. If your explanation doesn’t hold up, the penalties follow. Repeated failures can escalate to contempt of court, with additional sanctions at the judge’s discretion. State courts have their own penalty structures, and some are steeper. Even if your goal is to avoid serving, always respond. Silence is the one option that isn’t legal.
Your Job Is Protected While You Serve
If the reason you want out is fear of losing your job, federal law removes that pressure. Under 28 U.S.C. ยง 1875, no employer can fire, threaten to fire, intimidate, or punish a permanent employee for serving on a federal jury or being scheduled to serve. Employers who violate this face liability for lost wages and benefits, a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation per employee, and possible court-ordered reinstatement and community service.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 US Code 1875 – Protection of Jurors Employment
Most states have parallel protections for state jury service, though penalties and coverage vary. If an employer pressures you to skip jury duty or threatens consequences for showing up, document the communication and report it to the court.