Can’t make it to jury duty? Here are valid excuses to get out of being a juror in NC
When summoned for jury duty service, North Carolina residents are generally to attend — but there are certain circumstances in which you would not be punished if you can’t attend.
State law says “jury service is the solemn obligation of all qualified citizens,” and you can only side-step it:
- For reasons of “compelling personal hardship” or
- If service would be “contrary to the public welfare, health or safety.”
Here’s what to know about jury duty selection (and, possibly, getting out of it).
How are jurors selected in NC?
The list of North Carolina jurors is compiled about every two years based on a random selection of licensed drivers and registered voters who fit the following criteria:
U.S. citizen
Resident of the county where the summons was issued
At least 18 years old
Physically and mentally competent
Able to understand English
Has not served as a juror in previous two years
Has not served a full term as a grand juror previous six years
Has not been convicted of a felony, unless citizenship rights have been restored
What happens if you can’t attend jury service?
A jury summons is an official court summons, so you could be held in contempt or charged with a $50 fine for each time you fail to appear — unless you have a “compelling reason” to be excused, deferred or exempted.
The process of requesting to be excused or deferred for jury service varies from county to county, along with what qualifies as an acceptable excuse to miss, the communications office for the North Carolina Judicial Branch told The News & Observer.
Who can get out of jury duty?
The following people can make a request to avoid jury duty, as long as it’s at least five days before jury service, the N.C. Judicial Branch website says:
- A full-time student at an out of state school
- Anyone age 72 years or older
- Anyone who has a disability that could interfere with their ability to serve as a juror
Those on assignment with the U.S. military can also be excused in all five Triangle counties.
How to apply to miss jury duty
“Generally, you must contact the clerk of superior court office or the chief district court judge’s office if you want to be excused or defer your jury service,” according to the N.C. Judicial Branch website.
“You must have a compelling reason why you cannot serve on the assigned date.”
You can find more information about jury service (and application materials needed to request out of it) online at nccourts.gov.
This story was originally published August 6, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Can’t make it to jury duty? Here are valid excuses to get out of being a juror in NC."
.jpg)