Almost everyone receives the dreaded summons in the mail at some point in their life. You know, the official letter congratulating you on your jury summons. Even some true crime buffs dread sitting on a jury but it’s also part of being a responsible citizen.
Sure, it’s your civic duty to answer a jury summons regardless of how much you may be dreading meeting the legal requirement. Ignoring a jury summons can have legal ramifications that include potential fines.
However, you may meet the criteria for being excused from jury duty. While you shouldn’t actively try to avoid this civic duty, sometimes it’s impossible to sit on a jury. So, do you meet the criteria for being excused? To answer this question it helps to know what qualifies as a legitimate reason.
Do You Meet the Criteria to be Excused from Jury Duty?
Like most states, Arizona has specific criteria potential you need to meet to be excused from jury duty. To be clear, you don’t need to meet all the criteria. As long as one of the possible exclusions applies, you can skip your court appointment.
What are the reasons you may be excluded from the jury pool? The list is extensive but here’s a look at some of the common reasons Arizona residents may be exempt from jury duty.
Age
Not everyone is comfortable admitting their age. Some individuals may even try to take a few years or add a couple on. Teens often want to pretend to be adults while the older generation wants to turn the clock back.
However, there’s a time when being a certain age has its advantages, like when you’re trying to be excused from jury duty. Did you know, anyone 75 and older can either be temporarily or permanently excused from jury duty in Arizona?
Sometimes, being part of the older generation can have more advantages than discounts on certain goods and services.
Medical Conditions
You shouldn’t have to worry about jury duty when you’re dealing with an illness, injury, or another health complication. Your focus should be on your health and the state of Arizona agrees.
If you’re diagnosed with a physical or mental health condition that makes it difficult or impossible for you to serve on a jury, you can file a Medical Excuse Form. Yes, this is similar to the form some parents fill out to excuse their children from participating in gym class or other school-mandated physical activities.
Your medical release form must be completed by a physician, a physician’s assistant, a registered practicing nurse, or another type of licensed healthcare provider.
Claiming Financial Hardships
Jury duty does provide some financial compensation, but how much depends on the state you’re in. Arizona pays its jurors $12 per day for their services plus around 44.5 cents per mile to help cover transportation costs. The mileage counted runs from your listed residence to the courthouse and you’re reimbursed for both ways. Some jurors receive more in transportation reimbursement than their $12 daily jury pay.
Even though it’s nice to receive some compensation for your time, $12 per day isn’t enough to cover most household’s daily expenses. We should note that you can’t be terminated from your job for serving on a jury. This is a federal rule but your employer isn’t required to pay your normal wages while you’re on the jury.
If you can show that serving on a jury will be a financial hardship, you may be exempt. You will need to provide documentation like bills and bank account information but it’s a valid reason for being relieved of your jury duty obligations.
Primary Caregiver
Whether you’re the primary caregiver for minors, elderly adults, or someone who requires around-the-clock assistance, this can meet the criteria for being excused from jury duty.
The court tends to consider any potential interruptions to its proceedings. If you’re the primary caregiver to toddlers, the court understands bringing the children will probably cause disruptions, and this applies regardless of the age of the individual requiring constant care.
Like the other exemptions, you will need to provide evidence supporting the criteria. Usually, a notarized statement is enough to satisfy the court. You may also need to provide birth certificates for minors and medical statements if it’s an adult requiring constant care.
Additional Reasons to Be Excused from Jury Duty
You may also be excused from jury duty if you’re a law enforcement officer. The reasoning behind this exclusion is you may not be able to stay objective during the proceedings.
As a law enforcement official, you may have an opinion regarding individuals finding themselves facing misdemeanor or criminal charges. Your bias, whether conscious or unconscious, can lead to problems during and after the court case.
As a law enforcement officer, your presence on a jury can be enough to grant the defense a motion for a mistrial.
Did you know if you’re temporarily out of the country, state, or county, this can also meet the criteria for being excused from jury duty? This exemption typically applies if you’re away from home when the jury summons arrives or if your trip is already planned. It doesn’t get you out of serving on a jury permanently but it can be a legitimate reason to postpone your summons.
Other reasons for jury exemption include a lack of transportation and if you have difficulty speaking and understanding the English language. Okay, the English language is complex and even native speakers don’t always get it right. However, if you can’t understand simple phrases in English, it may prevent you from serving on a jury.
Whatever the reason you’re asking to be exempt from jury duty, all requests must be in writing and include supporting documentation.
Jury Duty is a Privilege and a Legal Right
Even though serving on a jury isn’t going to make anyone’s top ten list of things to do, it’s a vital part of the country’s judicial system. A jury of one’s peers helps to ensure a fair trial and that the defendant isn’t convicted simply because a prosecutor doesn’t like their haircut.
Before you decide to be excused from jury duty, ask yourself if it is worth giving you your right to ensure everyone receives a fair and impartial trial.