Under federal law, jury duty disqualification applies to anyone who isn’t a U.S. citizen, is under 18, hasn’t lived in the judicial district for at least a year, can’t read, write, speak, and understand English well enough to follow a trial, has a felony conviction with civil rights not yet restored, is currently facing felony charges, or has a mental or physical condition that prevents satisfactory service. Those seven grounds are different from a professional exemption (you’re eligible but have a legal right to decline) and different again from an excuse (you’re eligible, but a temporary hardship makes serving right now unreasonable). Which category you fall into determines how you answer your summons.
Who Is Disqualified From Jury Duty
The federal jury selection statute lists the conditions that make a person ineligible to serve.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1865 – Qualifications for Jury Service Most state courts mirror these closely.
- Not a U.S. citizen. Green card holders, visa holders, and undocumented residents do not qualify.
- Under 18 years old.
- Hasn’t lived in the judicial district for at least one year.
- Can’t handle English well enough to follow a trial and complete the qualification form, meaning read, write, speak, and understand it.
- Felony conviction with unrestored civil rights. If you were convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year of imprisonment and your rights have not been legally restored, you can’t serve. Some jurisdictions restore jury eligibility after you complete your sentence, but the rules vary.
- Pending felony charges. If you currently face charges for an offense punishable by more than a year, you’re disqualified until the case resolves.
- A mental or physical condition that prevents satisfactory service. Courts have to offer reasonable accommodations first, including assistive listening devices, sign language interpreters, real-time transcription, or large-print and Braille documents. Only when accommodation can’t bridge the gap does the condition become disqualifying.
Missing a single basic qualification is enough. You don’t need multiple disqualifiers.2United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses
Why Disqualified People Still Get Summoned
Courts pull potential juror names from voter registration rolls, driver’s license databases, and tax records. None of those sources flag felony history or citizenship status, so people who are legally disqualified receive summonses all the time. A summons in your mailbox doesn’t mean the court has determined you’re eligible. It means your name came up.
The responsibility shifts to you at the questionnaire stage. If you’re not a citizen, answer “No” on the citizenship question and send the form back. That’s usually the end of it. In rare cases the court may ask for proof, such as a copy of your passport. Jury offices are not immigration enforcement agencies and do not report respondents to the Department of Homeland Security. Ignoring the summons is a different problem: it can trigger fines or a court order to appear.
Disqualified, Exempt, or Excused
These three words get used as if they were interchangeable. They’re not.
Disqualified means you legally cannot serve. The seven grounds above are the federal list.
Exempt means you are legally eligible to serve but have a statutory right to decline because of your profession. Exemptions are automatic when claimed.
Excused means you are eligible and not exempt, but a temporary hardship makes serving at the scheduled time unreasonable. An excuse typically gets you a postponement rather than permanent removal from the pool.
Jobs That Make You Exempt
Federal law exempts three groups from jury service on the theory that their duties can’t be interrupted:3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1863 – Plan for Random Jury Selection
- Active-duty members of the armed forces
- Members of fire or police departments
- Public officers in the executive, legislative, or judicial branches who are actively performing official duties
State courts often add categories of their own, such as licensed attorneys, physicians, or clergy. Check your state’s rules if your profession isn’t on the federal list.
Reasons You Can Be Excused
An excuse rests on circumstances, not on who you are. Common grounds include serious medical issues, pre-planned travel that cannot be rescheduled, and financial hardship severe enough that serving would cause real harm to you or your family.
Most federal district courts also grant permanent excuses to:2United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses
- People over age 70
- Anyone who has served on a federal jury within the past two years
- Volunteer firefighters and rescue squad members
State courts set their own thresholds. Age-based excuses commonly kick in between 70 and 75, and prior-service windows range from one to six years.
Caregiver status is another common ground. Some districts excuse anyone caring for a child under 10; others set the cutoff at 12 or 14. Caring for a person who can’t care for themselves generally counts too, though the specifics differ. Full-time students can usually postpone service until after the semester or graduation, but enrollment alone isn’t an automatic exemption.
How to Claim a Disqualification or Excuse
The process starts with a juror qualification questionnaire, which may arrive before or alongside your summons. Federal courts have largely moved this online through a system called eJuror, though you can usually return a paper form by mail.4United States Courts. Summoned for Federal Jury Service?
If you believe you’re disqualified, exempt, or entitled to an excuse, say so on the questionnaire. Supporting documentation helps your case. A doctor’s note or the court’s own medical certification form covers health-related claims. Proof of employment or a military ID covers the professional exemptions. The instructions on your summons tell you what the court needs and how to submit it.
After the court reviews your response, you should receive a confirmation by mail or email. If you don’t hear anything, don’t assume you’re off the hook. Call the jury services office listed on your summons and confirm your status before the scheduled date. Showing up when nobody told you otherwise is always the safer move.
Penalties for Ignoring the Summons or Lying on the Form
Throwing a summons away is not a legal strategy. If you fail to return the qualification questionnaire, the court can summon you to appear in person to complete it. Fail to appear after that, or fail to show good cause for ignoring the original summons, and a federal court can fine you up to $1,000, sentence you to up to three days in jail, order community service, or impose any combination.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels State penalties follow similar patterns, and some courts will issue a bench warrant.
Lying on the questionnaire carries the same range of penalties. Intentionally misrepresenting a material fact to escape service, or to get onto a jury you aren’t qualified for, exposes you to a fine of up to $1,000, up to three days of imprisonment, community service, or a combination.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1864 – Drawing of Names From the Master Jury Wheel The system runs on honest self-reporting. If you have a real reason not to serve, state it truthfully. The form exists for exactly that purpose.