California has no exemptions by occupation or status1. You can be excused only for undue hardship, and inconvenience is not enough2. Requests must be in writing, explaining the hardship and why a deferral would not solve it3.
Recognized hardships
| Ground | Source |
|---|---|
| No reasonably available transportation | 4 |
| Excessive travel: over 1.5 hours from home to court, unless a statute or local rule sets a different limit | 4 |
| Extreme financial burden | 4 |
| Undue risk to property, when other arrangements are not feasible | 4 |
| A physical or mental disability that would expose you to undue risk of harm | 4 |
| Services immediately needed for public health and safety, when other arrangements are not feasible | 4 |
| Caring for a dependent with no comparable substitute care | 4 |
Courts may grant an excuse on these grounds; none is automatic4.
Common situations
IfYou are 70 or older
California does not excuse anyone based on age alone1. If you ask for an undue-hardship excuse because a disability or impairment would expose you to undue physical or mental harm, the court cannot require you to verify the condition5. A permanent medical excuse still needs a letter from your treating provider6.
IfYou are 80 or older (from January 1, 2028)
You can get a permanent medical excuse by submitting a written attestation that an impairment permanently prevents you from serving; the court must grant it without a provider letter or other medical documentation7. This is a separate route to a permanent medical excuse, not an age exemption.
IfYou are breastfeeding
You can defer for up to one year, and renew while you are still breastfeeding. A written request under penalty of perjury must be granted without going to court8.
IfYou served in the last 12 months
You must be excused on request9.
A permanent medical excuse
What to send
From January 1, 2028, people 80 or older can use a written attestation instead of a provider's letter7.
What to do next
Related
Postponing jury duty in CaliforniaDefer to a later date.Who can serve in CaliforniaDisqualifications.
Sources
9 official sources, with the exact sentence each rule comes from
- 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."
- Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1008. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 204(b); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1008(b)(4)."Inconvenience to a prospective juror or an employer is not an adequate reason to be excused from jury duty, although it may be considered a ground for deferral."
- Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1008. Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1008(c); Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 218."The prospective juror must support the request with facts specifying the hardship and a statement why the circumstances constituting the undue hardship cannot be avoided by deferring the prospective juror's service."
- Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1008. Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1008(d)."An excuse on the ground of undue hardship may be granted for any of the following reasons: ... (2) The prospective juror must travel an excessive distance. Unless otherwise established by statute or local rule, an excessive distance is reasonable travel time that exceeds one-and-one-half hours from the prospective juror's home to the court. (3) The prospective juror will bear an extreme financial burden. ... (7) The prospective juror has a personal obligation to provide actual and necessary care to another, including sick, aged, or infirm dependents, or a child who requires the prospective juror's personal care and attention, and no comparable substitute care is either available or practical ..."
- Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1008. Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1008(d)(5); Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 204(a)."In any individual case, unless the person is aged 70 years or older, the prospective juror may be required to furnish verification or a method of verification of the disability or impairment, its probable duration, and the particular reasons for the person's inability to serve as a juror."
- Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1009. Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1009(c)."An applicant must submit to the jury commissioner a written request for permanent medical excuse with a supporting letter, memo, or note from a treating health care provider."
- AB 1359 (2026) Jury service exemptions, chaptered text. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 204(c) (operative Jan. 1, 2028; Stats. 2026, ch. 195, AB 1359)."A person 80 years of age or older who seeks a permanent excuse from jury service pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be permanently excused from jury service upon providing the jury commissioner with a written attestation stating they have an impairment permanently rendering them incapable of performing jury service. Additional medical documentation shall not be required from the person."
- Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1006. Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1006; Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 210.5."A prospective juror who is breastfeeding a child may request that jury service be deferred for up to one year, and may renew that request as long as the prospective juror is breastfeeding. If the request is made in writing, under penalty of perjury, the jury commissioner must grant it without requiring the prospective juror to appear at court."
- 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."
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.