Three groups are exempt from federal jury service1. Everyone else may be excused on request if they belong to a group in their district's jury plan2, or deferred for undue hardship or extreme inconvenience3.
Four words that mean different things
- Disqualified
- You do not meet the legal requirements, such as citizenship, age 18 and a year living in the district4.
- Exempt
- You are barred from serving even if you want to: active-duty military and National Guard, professional non-federal police and fire, and full-time public officers1.
- Excused on request
- You belong to a group your district's plan excuses if you ask2. Every plan must excuse, on request, people who serve a public agency in an official capacity without pay as firefighters or members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew5.
- Deferred
- Your service is put off for a period the court sets, because of undue hardship or extreme inconvenience3.
Groups some districts excuse on request
Plans differ by district. Groups may include people over 70, people who served on a federal jury in the past two years, and volunteer firefighters and rescue or ambulance crews6. For the two New York City districts, see the comparison on federal jury duty.
Questions
Can I appeal if my excuse is refused?
Excuses are at the court's discretion and cannot be appealed7.
How often can I be made to serve?
In any two years, no more than 30 days on trial juries (unless needed to finish a case), no more than one grand jury, and not both8.
What if I ignore the questionnaire?
You may be summoned to fill it out in person; failing to appear without good cause can mean a fine up to $1,000, up to three days in jail, community service, or a combination9.
What to do next
- Read your district's jury plan or juror pages to see which groups it excuses: uscourts.gov jury service
- Send your request the way the summons tells you, with any documents it asks for.
Related
Federal jury dutyHow federal service works.How to postpone jury dutyState and federal postponements.
Sources
10 official sources, with the exact sentence each rule comes from
- Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses | United States Courts. uscourts.gov."Three groups are exempt from federal jury service: members of the armed forces and national guard when on active duty; members of non-federal professional (as opposed to volunteer) fire and police departments; and “public officers” of federal, state, or local governments – persons either elected to public office or appointed by someone elected to public office – who are actively engaged full-time in the performance of public duties. Persons employed on a full-time basis in any of these categories are barred from serving on federal juries, even if they are otherwise qualified and would like to serve."
- 28 U.S. Code § 1863 - Plan for random jury selection (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1863(b)(5)(A)."(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), specify those groups of persons or occupational classes whose members shall, on individual request therefor, be excused from jury service. Such groups or classes shall be excused only if the district court finds, and the plan states, that jury service by such class or group would entail undue hardship or extreme inconvenience to the members thereof, and excuse of members thereof would not be inconsistent with sections 1861 and 1862 of this title."
- 28 U.S. Code § 1866 - Selection and summoning of jury panels (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1866(c)(1)."Provided, That any person summoned for jury service may be (1) excused by the court, or by the clerk under supervision of the court if the court’s jury selection plan so authorizes, upon a showing of undue hardship or extreme inconvenience, for such period as the court deems necessary, at the conclusion of which such person either shall be summoned again for jury service under subsections (b) and (c) of this section or, if the court’s jury selection plan so provides, the name of such person shall be reinserted into the qualified jury wheel for selection pursuant to subsection (a) of this section,"
- 28 U.S. Code § 1865 - Qualifications for jury service (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1865(b)(1)."(b) In making such determination the chief judge of the district court, or such other district court judge as the plan may provide, or the clerk if the court’s jury selection plan so provides, shall deem any person qualified to serve on grand and petit juries in the district court unless he— (1) is not a citizen of the United States eighteen years old who has resided for a period of one year within the judicial district;"
- 28 U.S. Code § 1863 - Plan for random jury selection (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1863(b)(5)(B)."(B) specify that volunteer safety personnel, upon individual request, shall be excused from jury service. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “volunteer safety personnel” means individuals serving a public agency (as defined in section 1203(6) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 [1]) in an official capacity, without compensation, as firefighters or members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew."
- Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses | United States Courts. uscourts.gov."Most district courts offer permanent excuses from service, on individual request, to designated groups of persons or occupational class on grounds that service by such class or group would entail undue hardship or extreme inconvenience to the members thereof. Such groups may include persons over age 70; persons who have, within the past two years, served on a federal jury; and persons who serve as volunteer firefighters or members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew."
- Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses | United States Courts. uscourts.gov."Excuses for jurors are granted at the discretion of the court and cannot be reviewed or appealed to Congress or any other entity. Each of the 94 federal district courts maintains its own jury procedures and policies regarding excuses from jury service. Contact the federal court where you were selected to ask about a temporary deferral or excusal from service."
- 28 U.S. Code § 1866 - Selection and summoning of jury panels (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1866(e)."(e) In any two-year period, no person shall be required to (1) serve or attend court for prospective service as a petit juror for a total of more than thirty days, except when necessary to complete service in a particular case, or (2) serve on more than one grand jury, or (3) serve as both a grand and petit juror."
- 28 U.S. Code § 1864 - Drawing of names from the master jury wheel (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1864(a)-(b)."Any person who fails to return a completed juror qualification form as instructed may be summoned by the clerk or jury commission forthwith to appear before the clerk or jury commission to fill out a juror qualification form. ... (b) Any person summoned pursuant to subsection (a) of this section who fails to appear as directed shall be ordered by the district court forthwith to appear and show cause for his failure to comply with the summons. Any person who fails to appear pursuant to such order or who fails to show good cause for noncompliance with the summons may be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned not more than three days, ordered to perform community service, or any combination thereof."
- 28 U.S. Code § 1864 - Drawing of names from the master jury wheel (LII). 28 U.S.C. § 1864(a)."The clerk or jury commission shall mail to every person whose name is drawn from the master wheel a juror qualification form accompanied by instructions to fill out and return the form, duly signed and sworn, to the clerk or jury commission by mail within ten days."
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.