California's list of disqualifications is exclusive1: you cannot serve if you are not a citizen, are under 18, do not live in the county, lack sufficient English, or fall into a few other groups2. Since 2020, a felony conviction alone does not disqualify you from a trial jury3.
Who is disqualified
| You cannot serve on a trial jury if you | Notes |
|---|---|
| Are not a U.S. citizen, or are under 18 | 2 |
| Are not domiciled in California, or do not live in the area the summoning court serves | 2 |
| Lack sufficient knowledge of English | 2 |
| Are serving on another grand or trial jury, are under conservatorship, or are incarcerated | 2 |
| Were convicted of malfeasance in office and have not had your civil rights restored | 2 |
| Have a felony conviction and are on parole, felony probation or similar supervision, or must register as a sex offender based on a felony | 3 |
Past felony convictions
Common beliefs, checked
If you served in the past year, you are disqualified.
It is a reason to be excused on request, not a disqualification5.
Police officers are exempt.
They are not exempt, though certain peace officers are never selected for questioning6.
Your job or income can exempt you.
No one is exempt because of occupation or economic status7.
What to do next
- If you are disqualified, say so on your summons or questionnaire the way it directs.
- Qualified but facing hardship? See excuses in California.
Related
Sources
7 official sources, with the exact sentence each rule comes from
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 203. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 203(b)."No person shall be excluded from eligibility for jury service in the State of California, for any reason other than those reasons provided by this section."
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 203. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 203(a)."All persons are eligible and qualified to be prospective trial jurors, except the following:"
- Judicial Branch of California - Jury Service (Juror Qualifications). Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 203(a)(9)-(11) (SB 310, 2019)."In accordance with Senate Bill 310, which changes the eligibility and disqualification criteria listed in Section 203 of the Code of Civil Procedure, having a felony conviction on your criminal record does not disqualify you from jury service. This change is effective January 1, 2020."
- Cal. Penal Code § 893. Cal. Penal Code § 893(a)(1), (b)(3)."The person has been convicted of malfeasance in office or any felony or other high crime."
- Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1008. Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1008(e)."A prospective juror who has served on a grand or trial jury or was summoned and appeared for jury service in any state or federal court during the previous 12 months must be excused from service on request. The jury commissioner has discretion to establish a longer period of repose."
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 219. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 219(b); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1004(b)."Notwithstanding subdivision (a), no peace officer, as defined in Section 830.1, subdivision (a) of Section 830.2, and subdivision (a) of Section 830.33, of the Penal Code, shall be selected for voir dire in civil or criminal matters."
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 204. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 204(a)."No eligible person shall be exempt from service as a trial juror by reason of occupation, economic status, or any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135 of the Government Code, or for any other reason."
Reviewed by Roger K. Neustadt, JD, attorney admitted in Georgia. Verified November 10, 2026.
Roger K. Neustadt is admitted in Georgia; pages about other states and federal courts are general information checked against official sources. How we check every rule: editorial policy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
This page explains the law in general terms and is not legal advice. Jury Duty Explained is not affiliated with any court. Your summons and your court's instructions control, so check them first.