How To Get Out Of Jury Duty

Are you dreading the thought of receiving a summons for jury duty? Take heart, there are several proven strategies for getting out of the dreaded task that almost everyone dreads.

1. Postpone it. You can likely postpone your jury duty for a few months or even a few weeks. In some courts, you can apply for a continuance for as long as two years. Depending on the court system, you can do this online, or you can contact the court clerk and ask to be removed or rescheduled.

2. Ask for an excuse. Depending on your location, you can ask to be excused due to certain conditions such as physical illness, work or college scheduling conflicts, advanced age, or any other legitimate reasons the court might honor. Make sure you can back up your reasoning if the court asks for verification.

3. Skip it. If all else fails you might want to consider skipping it altogether. Just note that this is not a wise decision since you could be held in contempt of court and be forced to pay hefty fines.

4. Bring documentation. If you appear for the installation process, be sure to bring valid documents with you, such as doctor’s notes if you are asking to be excused due to health reasons, current work schedules, college class agendas, and other papers that will prove your commitment elsewhere.

5. Get legal help. In more serious cases when you feel that jury duty might interfere with personal matters, it could be best to seek legal help. A qualified attorney will know the ins and outs of the court system and be able to help you make the case against jury duty if you have a legit reason.

Although jury duty can be a huge burden, in most cases, the court will understand your situation and allow you to be excused. Consider the steps above carefully and take the one that suits your needs best.