how do you get out of jury duty?

Answer 1

You can't and don't even try. Just serve your term and be happy. There are no more acceptable excuses for getting out of jury duty. (I just served.)

Edit: I've got to laugh at some of the answers below.

Answer 2

Go, sit in a jury room all day reading old magazines and watching soaps on the poor-quality TV, playing PSP and eating overpriced snacks from the vending machines and having a wretched lunch from the worse-than-highschool cafeteria. It's better than risking a contempt of court citation for not showing up. If you get into a case and are questioned to be a potential juror, tell them you couldn't keep a fair opinion if the defendant doesn't testify, you've been the victim of a crime in the past or that you have strong opinions about some aspect of the particulars of the trial. They'll dismiss you, thank you for your time, pay you and you'll be done. By the way, a lot of answers you're getting here could get you a perjury charge. Keep your answers to juror questioning general and unspecific. If you say something specific that is proveably not true you're in serious trouble.

Answer 3

1. Take a doctor's excuse in with you

2. Tell them you know the person or you have had dealing with the person.

3. If the death pentaly is involved tell them you love to see people put to death, kill them now and prove there innocence later, just kidding, but it works.

4. Tell them you read about that in the paper, or your cousin knows them and was telling you about it.

What ever you show up for the selection, because they will come and get you if you don't go and then charge you with a fine. My dad took a letter from the doctor saying that he was on heart meds and could not stand the stress of the trial. My aunt took a letter from the doctor saying that her nerves were to bad and would not be able to deal with the stress. I also know people who told them that they knew the person through a relative. Don't say you worked with them if you havent, that is tracable and you can be held in contempt/purgary.
They will not let you off because of work, or school. My law teacher tried to get off because she would have to cancel her classes at the college if she served on jury duty. Guess what, she had to serve anyways, even with her knowing the law, they did not feel that it was a good enough reason to discharge her from duty. She has been on jury duty now 4 times. And don't think that moving to another county will help, they will come and pick you up. They being the sheriff's office, you will get a nice ride and fine, you might even find yourself setting beside the one on trial if you live in a small town where everyone is housed together.

Answer 4

Telling them that you believe in 'jury nullification' is good. (That is the RIGHT that citizens have to find a person not guilty, if they find the law he is accused of breaking to be unfair. This is an important right that goes back to before the American revolution.)

Lawyers will try to pack the jury with the dumbest people they can find. (This is according to studies by sociologists.) Anything that indicates you read, are educated, or hold well thought out opinions will have both sides trying to disqualify you from service. In the answers to their questions, indicate that you read newspapers/news magazines. If you went to college they'll try to make sure you're dismissed, especially if you have a master's degree or better.

Q: Have you read anything about the case?
A: No, I tend to read mostly national news magazines.

Q: Do you have any special knowledge of ... ?
A: Well, my degree is in , and that doesn't cover much of what you're talking about.

Q: Do you have any problems applying the law as I explain it to you?
A: Are you asking about jury nullification? OF COURSE I'll apply the law fairly. (Just knowing about the concept makes you a judges worst nightmare.)

Answer 5

Have your employer write the court a letter saying that you're a valuable member of the company and that your absence would greatly impact company operations.

If that doesn't work then tell the jury lawyers:
1) You listen to Rush Limbaugh
2) You believe that every crime deserves the maximum penalty
3) You have been a victim of a crime
4) You know someone who is either works for the police or the courts

Of course if you state one of these and it turns out it isn't true then you could be guilty of contempt and/or perjury.

Answer 6

I understand you not wanting to go because lets face it, its boring and most of the time its not even interesting but if we all stop serving then the system will change and one person will decide our guilt. I like the system we have now so I'll serve whether I like it or not. To answer your question about how to get out of jury duty, I'm sure you will find a loop hole if you are determined to.

Answer 7

say you have celiac sprue and have to go to the bathroom every 15 mins (you can research similiar diseases on line), or you can say your believe the justice system is f'edup, or you can say you believe in Roman law--that a person is assumed guilty and must be proven innocent, or you can do your civic duty and serve on the jury

Answer 8

WHY do you wanna get out of it!? IT'S YOUR PATRIOTIC DUTY...besides they pay you ...smiles and also if you get on one of these high profile cases ...just maybe you can write a book. EVERY MAIN CHARACTER IN THE OJ SIMPSON'S TRIAL GOT RICH! Especially MARCIA CLARK and her dumb partner...forgot his name. The dude who cried when O.J was acquitted. hehehe and look at GOLDMAN he is selling his soul to get to try to sell O.J.'S BOOK.

ANYWAY, I think you can get out of it with a doctor's note, or if someone in your family passed recently, so that the info on their demise is recently in the paper, or if you have the death certificate. Also your age can be a factor. I think 70 year olds can serve if they want to or can decline without further excuse outside of their age. If you are familiar with the case, or you really really love policemen or you really really hate them, if you have some prejudices in your beliefs etc......don't lie about ANYTHING that can be checked; best not to lie at all! If you are caught lying you could get fined or jailed for contempt of court.


I served three times. The fourth time I was called, I reluctantly got out of it because i was temporarily living outta town.

ANYWAY, hope this helps.

Answer 9

I've done it twice, once because I was in college (apparently that is a valid reason, go fig) and once because they asked me questions and I answered truthfully.

I told them I think that drug use and prostitution should be legalized, and that the death penalty is abhorrent and I'd never under any circumstance condone it. I told them that I'm a devoted liberal and that I take medication for bipolar disorder. They didn't pick me.

Answer 10

As George Carlin once said, look them straight in the eye and tell them you would make a great juror because you can spot a guilty person just like that!!