How to Get Out of Jury Duty (Legally) 3 perfectly legal ways to avoid serving.

You want to know how to get out of jury duty. Well, there are 3 ways to LEGALLY get out of Jury Duty. Sure you may have already seen our explanation about how to avoid jury duty, but since you can’t avoid it, you need to know how to get out of it.

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
00:20 – Get Out of Jury Duty for Not Being Qualified
02:03 – Get Out of Jury Duty for an Exemption
03:28 – Get Out of Jury Duty by Claiming Exemption or Disqualification
04:10 – Sitting in the Hot Seat
04:34 – Get Out of Jury Duty for Bias

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Jury Duty Qualifications
The easiest way to get out of jury duty is by not being qualified in the first place.
The law says that all individuals are competent jurors unless specifically disqualified.
-See JURY SERVICE – Tex. Gov. Code § 62.101

To be qualified to serve on a jury, the person must:
• be at least 18 years of age;
• be a citizen of the United States;
• be a resident of this state and a resident of the county in which you are to serve as a juror;
• be qualified under the Constitution and laws to vote in the county in which you are to serve as a juror (Note: You do not have to be registered to vote to be qualified to vote.);
• be of sound mind and good moral character;
• be able to read and write;
• not have served as a juror for six days during the preceding three months in the county court or during the preceding six months in the district court; and
• not have been convicted of, or be under indictment or other legal accusation for, misdemeanor theft or a felony.
-See GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR JURY SERVICE – Tex. Gov. Code § 62.102

Something to take note of:
The law doesn’t say that you must be registered to vote, just that you are qualified to vote. If you aren’t registered to vote, then that doesn’t mean that you are disqualified. The law specifically says that “failure to register to vote does not disqualify a person from jury service.”
-See FAILURE TO REGISTER TO VOTE – Tex. Gov. Code § 62.1031
So, DON’T let your desire to get out of jury duty be the reason you aren’t voting. GET REGISTERED AND VOTE!

Jury Duty Exemption
If you are qualified to serve on a jury duty, you may be able to claim an exemption to get out of jury duty. Being exempt doesn’t mean that you can’t serve, but it means that you can choose not to serve.
You can claim an exemption and get out of jury duty if:
• You are over 70 years of age.
• You have legal custody of a child or children younger than 12 years of age and service on the jury would require leaving the child or children without adequate supervision.
• You are a student at a public or private high school.
• You are enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution of higher education.
• You are an officer or an employee of the senate, the house of representatives, or any department, commission, board, office, or other agency in the legislative branch of state government.
• You are the primary caretaker of a person who is unable to care for himself or herself. (This exemption does not apply to you if you are a primary caretaker only in your capacity as a health care worker.)
• You are a member of the United States military forces serving on active duty and deployed to a location away from your home station and out of your county of residence;
• You have served as a juror in this county during the 24-month period prior to the date you are required to appear by this summons.
• You have been summoned for jury service in this county and you have served as a petit juror in this county during the three-year period prior to the date you are required to appear by this summons.
-See EXEMPTION FROM JURY SERVICE – Tex. Gov. Code § 62.106

Get out of Jury Duty for Bias
This is the big one. When people ask about excuses to get out of jury duty, then they’re usually asking about what to say that will get them dismissed.
If you are trying to get out of jury duty, and you can’t claim disqualification or exemption, then your only option is to be labeled as biased. At the beginning of jury selection, the attorneys will ask you questions to try and determine whether anyone is biased.
The fastest way to get out of jury duty is to speak up and answer every question that applies to you. Being quiet during jury selection is the fastest way to get on a jury. So, don’t be shy if you want to get out of jury duty!

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[williamsquires]

Well, this is morally questionable, at best. Attorneys should not be telling ANYONE (at least in the U.S.) how to get out of jury duty; one of our fundamental rights is a right to a jury trial. Clearly, that won’t work if people weasel their way out of it. Yes, it sucks that you don’t get paid the same rate for those hours as you would if you were at work for the same amount of time, but that’s a separate problem (that needs to be addressed.)

[chrisholifield]

I can't afford to miss work. That's what I told the judge, in court. He said that wasn't a good enough excuse. The lawyer asked if it would sway my opinion. I said yes, i will be thinking of how i can pay my bills instead of paying attention to the trial.
Jury duty is a joke. Fight me.

[trvsconway]

Jury duties not a right if it was a right, then I could refuse to do it just like voting. 2:37

[rondohunter]

When in college I was called to jury duty. At the end of the stay of selection the judge had everyone with an excuse to stand before him; there was a long line that I was in. He was denying mothers with kids, people with no cars, no money, he didn't care. Until I stood before the judge and stated that I was a college student and had no belief or confidence in the American judicial system and it's bias toward people of color and those of no means. These are my longstanding solidly-held beliefs and they will would not be changed. He said "With an attitude like that you can't serve on my jury." I said "Thank you your Honor" as I left, never to return.

[JS-wpgs]

Show up for jury selection wearing a tshirt that says 'ask me about jury nullification' I suspect that would do the trick rather well

[boggerfl]

With high inflation and costs I have no desire to spend days in a jury losing money.

[DinoNardelli]

The biggest 'real world' reason I can give for dodging jury duty is that they only pay you $12 a day in this state, my employer has no obligation to pay me when I'm out, I have bills tobe met and being out of work means no income...

[edwin]

The last time, when I was summoned and asked questions (the trial I was going to participate in had a gangster on the defense), I told them about my past, where I was jumped at least two times for wearing the wrong color, even though I was never in any gang. I expressed that I viewed any gang member as guilty whenever they were to appear in court, and I was dismissed right there and asked to leave.

[SummonSkeletons]

Omg my anxiety is going to kill me if I am forced to do this, I have no idea about court/law stuff. And I have nothing nice to wear!

[KevinZ.]

3rd time I got called for jury selection, I finally got seated. It was a carjacking case that would have taken up work days off, causing me to lose more money. After lunch break, I spoke up about having a bias against cops. It wasn't that I didn't participate in jury duty. It was I didn't want to sit in a courtroom for another 2 1/2 days, which is what the judge was saying that would take to get through the trial.

[dangerousliberty]

I recently received a jury questionnaire. I'd didn't fill it out, just wrote on the back that I I could not serve for a judiciary and state that violates the same laws it purports to uphold as well as violating citizens god given rights.
Got a letter back stating I was disqualified!

[ddolde]

Tell the judge you know about Jury Nullification and you therefore create the law, Worked for me

[Dreasura]

I once was excused from jury duty because of health concerns. I told my doctor that I received a summons to report for jury duty selection and my doctor wrote a letter for me to present to the courthouse.
A few months later, I was moving out of state and received another notice to report for selection. I went to the courthouse and explained that I was moving out of state the day immediately after selection. They excused me for that one, too.

In my home state, Ive never received a summons to report for jury duty selection. But when I lived in a different state for 4 years, I had the experiences I listed above. I just find it very interesting.

My point is that if you have significant medical issues, you can be excused - as long as your doctor acknowledges that you have a compromised condition and is willing to write a letter for you.

[peterdean]

Just leave your cell phone alone and act bored! People who can't stay off their electronic devices are easily manipulated, and you're being watched while waiting in the Jury room. After that, the rest is determined by your social behavior with other members around you. The amount of information gathered during this time speaks volumes more than any questions that can be asked of you by either side from the attorneys.

[pepleatherlab]

Spent 11 years as a cop. Selected for jury duty six times. Excused for Bais six times. The cases were all mixed. It appears the best way to avoid the justice system, ..is to have been part of it. *shrugs*

[RamblinRick_]

There are three times I, unintentionally, was excused from Jury Duty (Dallas, Tx):
1.. The first time I was ever called for JD was when I was 50 years old. My jury date: Sept 11, 2001. Yeah, that day...
2. Prior to the selection process, we were to fill out a form. I stated in the comment section that I supported Jury Nullification. In the courtroom, the judge questioned me about that principle. I clearly described it, even quoting Chief Justice Oliver Wendall Holmes. Judges and attorneys hate jurors who do not blindly accept the information they are fed.
3. During selection, the Prosecutor asked "Do you need to hear the Defendant's side of the story?" Each potential juror was polled individually. When it was my turn, "I asked, "What do you mean? Yes, I expect to hear the Defendant's side as presented by the Defense. No, I do not need to hear from the Defendant on the Stand. Which do you mean?" The Prosecutor replied, to hear from the Defendant on the Stand. I said, "No". At that point, about a half dozen jurors, who had already been polled, raised their hands, and stated they wished to change their answer based upon my response. All potential jurors were then re-polled. Judges and attorneys hate jurors who do not blindly accept the information they are fed.
4. I'm now over 70 years old. So, I'm exempt in Dallas County.

[nedflanders]

what if I have severe social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety and panic disorder?

[maryloudelossantos]

Thank you for sharing your video. It is educational, informative, valuable & helpful. Make it a great day!

[robertpreston]

I just got one and talked them into delaying it. But in 11 weeks they will send another one! I should have just ignored it like SO many people told me to do! Now I have to get out of the next one when it comes

[carmenolivieri]

Why don't they require people who don't work to serve as a juror?