Medical conditions, deafness, difficult sitting for long periods, people who know the defendant or officers, people who've been victims of crimes, financial hardship, and more will be excused. Depending on the county, they might call 100 people to select just 12.
Prospective jurors who lie during voir dire—the process of jury selection—can find themselves in serious legal trouble. We do not recommend doing this.
The jury selection process is known as voir dire. During this process, the judge, prosecutor, and defense attorney will ask you questions. Generally, the best way to avoid being picked is to express strong opinions during questioning. Additionally, sometimes, your career may be enough to get you excused.
If you have been convicted of a felony when the conviction has not been set aside or a pardon issued. If you are a judge, clerk of a district court, a sheriff, or a jailer. If your spouse has been summoned for the same jury panel. If you or your spouse have a pending jury trial in any court.
I am requesting a jury duty excusal because of my personal obligation to provide necessary and actual care to my two children. My elder child, Amy, is 3 years old and my younger child, Andrew, is 1 year old. They require constant care and attention and I do not have anyone with whom I can leave them full time.
Certain people are eligible to be exempted or excused from jury duty, such as people age 70 or older or full-time students. If you qualify, you must contact the court to receive an exemption before your appearance date. Follow the instructions on the summons or contact the court directly for more information.
Adorn yourself in attire more suited for a day of sightseeing than a courtroom setting. Think Hawaiian shirts, oversized sunglasses, and perhaps a camera slung around your neck for good measure. This look whispers, “I'm just passing through,” potentially making you less appealing to those seeking focused jurors.
Medical conditions, deafness, difficult sitting for long periods, people who know the defendant or officers, people who've been victims of crimes, financial hardship, and more will be excused. Depending on the county, they might call 100 people to select just 12.
If you are convicted of a misdemeanor crime of PC 148.5 filing a false report of a crime, you could face up to six months in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000. It's possible to be charged with a felony offense if you committed the crime in addition to fraud or perjury.