ByHow to File For a Permanent Excuse from Jury Duty California
Although jury duty is a civic requirement for all eligible citizens in California, the law provides various excuses to get out of a jury selection or jury service permanently legally. If you qualify for any of the statutory excuses, you can file a permanent excuse from jury duty in California.
DoNotPay provides a more straightforward method to request a permanent excuse from jury duty.
What Is Jury Duty?
Jury duty is an obligation required of every US citizen to act as a jury member during court proceedings. When you are serving on a jury, you have a responsibility to contribute to a verdict in a legal case. In California, you qualify to be a juror if you are a US citizen at least 18 years of age and can understand English enough to follow and discuss the proceedings of the case.
If you have been given a summons, make sure to prepare for your jury duty and expect that it may take time and not offer much in terms of compensation. However, if you cannot fulfill your obligation, there are some specific excuses that can be used to exempt one from reporting for jury duty.
Ideally, although serving as a juror is a privilege, it may come when you are not ready for it. DoNotPay can help you file for excusal from California jury duty today.
Common Grounds for Requesting an Excusal from Jury Duty in California
Under California Law, a special category of prospective jurors may be excused should the court determine such persons would suffer undue hardship or extreme inconvenience if required to perform jury service.
| Student | Not excused |
| Breastfeeding mother | Not excused |
| Firefighter | Excused |
| Police | Excused |
| Military | Excused |
| Disability | Excused |
| Elected official | Excused |
| Medical worker | Excused |
| Persons 70 years of age or older | Excused |
If any of the above categories apply to you or you have valid reasons such as a medical issue, and you want to be excused, file a written letter of request to the jury administrator in the division where your jury service is to occur.
Other Ways That Can Free You from Jury Duty/Other Jury Duty Exemptions
If you don't qualify for permanent excusal, you can still free yourself from jury duty by filing a deferment/postponement. The ability to postpone your service in California is available once for a maximum of 90 days from the original summons. Deferring duty is recommended for temporary or marginal hardship.
You can postpone a jury duty by either using the Juror Questionnaire Portal or an automated phone system at 1-909-884-1858. You need your Juror ID number to request a postponement of your jury duty. Some of the common grounds for requesting a service deferment include:
- Full-time student
- Planned vacation
- Medical appointment
What Happens If I Don't Show Up for Jury Duty in California?
California Code of Civil Procedure Section 209 holds that any person who ignores jury duty when duly summoned may face fines of up to $1500, contempt proceedings, and possible jail time or both. It is never wise to ignore jury duty—instead, file for a deferment or permanent excusal with the help of DoNotPay.
Are College Students Exempt from Jury Duty In California?
Under California State Law, being a college student is not enough reason to be excused from jury duty. Fortunately, you can opt to defer your duty to a later date if honoring the duty will result in inconveniences and other hardships. DoNotPay can help you postpone your jury duty to a more convenient date.
How to File for a Jury Duty Excusal in California on Your Own
If you don't qualify for any of the California statutory excuses but feel attending the summons will cause undue hardship. Take the following steps to request for jury service excusal.
- Write a letter of request to be exempted from jury duty addressed to the court clerk. Include the reasons for your request
- Include all relevant information, including your name and juror id number
- Attach relevant evidence to show proof of hardship or inconvenience
- Wait for the court to respond
The DIY method to file for an exemption from jury duty is tedious and time-consuming. DoNotPay offers a better alternative. Through our new Jury Duty Excuse product, we will file a request for excusal on your behalf in just three simple steps.
How to File a Jury Duty Excuse Request Using DoNotPay
If you want to file a jury duty excuse request but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in easy steps:
- Search Jury Duty Excuse on DoNotPay, and enter your jury duty summons information, including the assigned date, court name, juror number, and more.
- Select your reason for excusal, and provide a few more details regarding your situation and upload evidence to prove your point.
- Enter the fax number or mailing address for the courtroom as displayed on your jury summons letter.
We'll generate the excuse letter for you and either fax it or mail it with supporting evidence to the courtroom you were assigned to. You should receive a response from the court soon, either through email, phone, or mail, once your request is processed.
Let DoNotPay Help You File a Jury Duty Excusal Letter
Jury duty summons is not always fun to fulfill. Although it is a civic duty, it can bring a lot of inconveniences to your personal and professional life. If you are not ready for jury service in California, DoNotPay can help you avoid it permanently.
DoNotPay can help you with many other concerns. Here are some examples:
- Reduce Property Taxes
- Clean Credit Report
- Find Unclaimed Money
- Find Lost Airport Items
to learn more.