To serve as a Massachusetts juror, you must: Unless you meet the requirements of one of these 10 statutory reasons, the OJC has no authority to disqualify you from service. By using our site, you agree to our. Requesting an Excuse from Jury Duty | United States District Court for Some excuses allow you to be excused from jury duty, while others only allow you to have your service deferred for a specific time. Boston. If you work as a police officer or a firefighter on a full-time basis, you are disqualified for jury duty. Use this button to show and access all levels. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. Have you received a jury duty summons? If you attend college in one county in Massachusetts but live in another, you're eligible to serve in either county. X 560 Harrison Ave., Suite 600, Boston, MA 02118. Write the date at the top and address the letter to the name indicated on your jury summons. [2] Unless you meet the requirements of one of these 10 statutory reasons, the OJC has no authority to disqualify you from service. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Jury duty is a privilege and a responsibility shared by all eligible citizens in our participatory democracy. You should send a copy of your federal jury duty summons to the OJC prior to your scheduled date to be disqualified from your state jury duty obligation. On that questionnaire, you have the ability to indicate if you are not qualified to serve on a jury or if you want your service dates to be postponed. ". Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. You'll need to contact the OJC to be added to the list again if you later decide you'd like to serve. Include the limits this disability creates. A lock icon ( Disqualification letter guidelines. Then, provide your full legal name and any identifying information included on your jury notice, like a jury number or reference number. For example, if you prefer to be called rather than wait for a written response, you should mention this at the closing of your letter and provide the phone number at which you wish to be contacted. If you are not qualified to serve in MA for one of the following reasons, you can provide proof and automatically be disqualified/released, which means you do not need to request a deferral or exemption . and my physical condition may not meet the requirements as a jury member. Reasons for Being Excused from Jury Duty in North Carolina, American Bar.org: The History of Trial by Jury Part I, The Deoxyribonucleic Hyperdimension.org: Jurors' Handbook -- A Citizens Guide to Jury Duty. Please limit your input to 500 characters. What Disqualifies a Person for Jury Duty? | Legal Beagle An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Learn about doctors' guidelines for jury duty medical disqualification letters, is, Juror helpline (toll-free in Massachusetts), Call Office of Jury Commissioner, Juror helpline (toll-free in Massachusetts) at, Call Office of Jury Commissioner, Delinquent jurors at, Call Office of Jury Commissioner, From outside Massachusetts at. This article was written by Jennifer Mueller, JD. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. Thank you for your website feedback! duty: doctors, police officers, students, and even judges are eligible to serve Thank you for using the Massachusetts Juror Service Website." Make copies of everything you send to the court before you mail it, so you have copies for your records. This disqualification extends to all levels of government, from local to federal. If you're requesting to be excused from jury duty because you must care for a child, you should also consider including reasons you are unable to find appropriate child care under the circumstances. Thank you for your website feedback! The feedback will only be used for improving the website. If you need assistance, please contact the Office of Jury Commissioner. The Office of Jury Commissioner (OJC) doesn't have access to allthe information that could disqualify you from service, such as citizenship records, Social Security Numbers, and medical information, so it's possible to get a summons even if you're notqualified for service. Getting Excused from Jury Duty *Having an autism diagnosis does not necessarily mean you need to be excused from jury duty- this is a personal decision that should be made with your care providers* Requesting a Medical Disqualification from Jury Duty: 1) Once you have been summoned for jury duty, you will need to respond to your You need to send a copy of the federal summons to the OJC to be disqualified from state jury duty. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. If you can't get out of attending jury selection, there are many ways to raise the odds that you will be excused after jury selection without being selected to serve on a jury. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. as jurors. Make sure you're sending your letter to the correct court address or office so it is received and considered before the date you were summoned for jury duty. Your request may have a greater chance of being approved if you are willing to serve at a different time. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Request a medical disqualification from jury duty, is, Learn about juror eligibility and disqualification, for Request a medical disqualification from jury duty, Juror helpline (toll-free in Massachusetts), Call Office of Jury Commissioner, Juror helpline (toll-free in Massachusetts) at, Call Office of Jury Commissioner, Delinquent jurors at, Call Office of Jury Commissioner, From outside Massachusetts at, of Request a medical disqualification from jury duty, Request a medical disqualification from jury duty, to Request a medical disqualification from jury duty. A potential juror's situations can also change from year to year, so it's possible that you could bequalified for jury duty one year but not the next, or vice versa. We have helped over 300,000 people with their problems. Served jury duty within the last three years, or currently scheduled for state or federal jury duty . Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Every courthouse is prepared to accommodate breastfeeding mothers who need a private space to pump. For this reason, rather than piling on multiple reasons you should pick the one for which you have the strongest documentation. Depending on the reason for the disqualification, you may be summoned for juror service again as early as next year. What Are Valid Nevada Jury Duty Exemptions? A letter from a registered physician that identifies the person with a permanent disability by name, address and age; describes the nature of the care you provide; Juror helpline (toll-free in Massachusetts). You can reschedule your service to a new date within 1 year of your original service date, when you will be in Massachusetts. Use the sample medical disqualification letter (see additional resources below) and the sample permanent medical disqualification letter (see additional resources below) for reference. Research source. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. Divisional Office. Thank you for your website feedback! You can do this on the, Please note: If you have received a Delinquency Notice from the OJC, you can find. Same form also used to ask for excusal due to hardship. If it is an extreme hardship to go to the courthouse (rare medical condition, religious orders restrict travel), you can submit a written request to be excused. Is Mental Illness a Valid Excuse for Jury Duty? If you receive a summons for jury duty, you typically must appear in court. Can I Get Excused From Jury Duty Because I Work? or Massachusetts has a list of specific excuses that can be used to be exempt from reporting for jury duty, including excuses for military, elected official, student, breastfeeding, age, police, medical worker and firefighter. Use this button to show and access all levels. Prospective jurors in Massachusetts may be exempt if they have a disability that, as documented by a health care providers certification, prevents the individual from providing satisfactory jury service. You live outside the judicial district where you were summoned and will not return within one year. Find out if you're eligible to serve as a juror. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. Learn about doctors' guidelines for jury duty medical disqualification letters, What you need to know before your jury service, The practitioners letterhead,name, address, and title or degree, An explanation of the nature of your condition, The practitioners opinion that the condition prevents you from serving jury duty. Check with your court clerk for specific guidelines and procedures for voluntary disqualification. basic eligibility requirements for jury duty in MA, your employer is not allowed to penalize you for missing work for jury duty. You or the physician may email the document (s) , fax the documents, or send by mail to the address located on the front of the summons. Many states have additional exemptions for people over the age of 70 or 80, or people with medical or work-related issues. Thank you for visiting the Massachusetts Juror Service Some people automatically want to be excused from jury duty. How to Write a Jury Duty Student Excuse Letter, How to Pay Your Houston Water Bills Online Hassle-Free, How to Remove My Case From The Internet Instantly, How to Recover Your Forgotten Workday Password Hassle-Free, Sending Money to an Inmate Has Never Been Easier, Credit Card Dispute Letter Template That'll Get Your Money Back, how they will get paid while on jury duty, what you need to know before jury service. Generally, if you qualify for one of the statutory excuses, you can respond to your jury duty summons letter with an excuse note containing proof of your excuse, and you will not have to report for jury selection. You simply give us the information, and we will file the request on your behalf. If you are physically unable to appear in court due to disability / disabilities, make sure to include that information in your letter requesting to be excused. If you do not qualify for any of the Massachusetts statutory exemptions listed above but seriously think that attending jury selection would cause you undue hardship, you can always submit a jury duty excuse letter with your response to the summons, and ask to be excused. We will use this information to improve this page. Any advice on what to do? You must be over 18 to serve on a jury. You must plan in advance to get the documentation you'll need. Address the letter to the name indicated on your jury summons, whether the clerk of court or a specific judge. Please do not include personal or contact information. View Sitemap. Keep in mind that if you don't meet this deadline, you typically won't be excused from jury duty unless you have an emergency situation that requires your presence elsewhere. General Law, Chapter 234A, section 4, a person may be disqualified from performing juror service if that person is "incapable, by reason of a physical or mental disability, of rendering satisfactory juror service.". Cookie Notice The letter should include: If you have a permanent medical disability, your letter should also state that your condition is permanent, and that you'll never be able to serve jury duty. If you want, you may include other contact information such as your phone number or email address. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. You can do this on the Juror Service Interactive Website. Are COVID concerns a valid excuse to get out of jury duty? If you livein Massachusetts for at least 50% of the year, you'reeligible for jury duty, so most college students are eligible. X Penalties for Not Serving Jury Duty in North Carolina. If you're summoned in both your home and school counties, you should contact the OJC at (800) 843-5879for help. 560 Harrison Avenue - Suite 600 Applying for an exemption from jury duty | Gouvernement du Qubec For example, many courts will excuse breastfeeding mothers from jury duty. and our Massachusetts courthouses are prepared to accommodate breastfeeding mothers. Monika Weise has been a writer of both fiction and nonfiction since 1988. General Law, Chapter 234A, section 4, Learn about doctors' guidelines for jury duty caregiver disqualification letters, Learn about jury duty guidelines for doctors at residences for people with disabilities, Request a medical disqualification from jury duty, Request a caregiver disqualification from jury duty, Learn about doctors' guidelines for jury duty medical disqualification letters, Have a condition that will eventually improve to the point where the patient would be able to perform juror service. If your business will cease to function as a result of your jury duty, you may be able to claim exemption from jury duty. Fax. Write down the rule number or statute number of any exemptions that fit your situation so you can reference them in your letter. Privacy Policy. To use this website, enter your Badge Number, PIN, and the first five digits of your home If you need assistance, please contact the Office of Jury Commissioner. Our process is fast, easy and successful. Remember - A Jury Selection Summons Doesn't Mean You'll Be On A Jury. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. How to Get Permanently Excused from Jury Duty? Primary caretaker of a permanently disabled household member. You can reschedule your service. Some people may disqualify themselves from serving on jury duty by taking advantage of an exemption; these exemptions must be specifically requested. A free community for all things Massachusetts. To learn more about federal jury duty, visit theFederal Jury Duty Information page. If you attend a Massachusetts college, you are required to serve, but you can reschedule to a date within 1 year of your service date if there is a conflict with your class schedule. Only active duty personnel are disqualified. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. Current out-of-state address and brief explanation, e.g., activemilitary service, medical internship. You can also mail the required information to the OJC at the following address: You can also fax the information to the OJC at (617) 422-5869 or email it to . YOU SHOULD NOT REPORT FOR SERVICE. What you need to know before your jury service, What to expect on the day of your jury service, Be a resident of or live in Massachusetts for more than 50% of the year, Speak and understand English well enough to be able to participate in a trial. 617-748-9096. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Written statement that juror cannot speak and understand English, Current out-of-state address and brief explanation, e.g., active. Instructions for sending proof of disqualification from juror service You can also mail the required information to the OJC at the following address: Office of Jury Commissioner While many Americans are capable of carrying out the duties of a juror, certain factors may disqualify a particular citizen from participating in this aspect of democracy. If you are not qualified to perform jury duty, you must submit proof of your disqualification to the Office of Jury Commissioner (OJC). We will use this information to improve this page. Massachusetts Juror Service Help A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. However, when you report for jury duty at the courthouse, a judge may excuse you from service if you can explain why sitting on a jury would be a hardship for you. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Check with the court clerk for specific information on your situation. These exemptions may be listed on the court website, or you may be able to learn them by calling the clerk's office. Date your letter with the date you intend to mail it, and include both your mailing address and the mailing address of the court. If you disobey this order, you may be subject to stiff fines or even jail time. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. For example, the state of Texas allows you to postpone jury service at least once, but you must send a letter with your reasons for being excused at least two weeks before the date you're scheduled to serve. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 310,964 times. Therefore, simply having a job isn't in itself enough to be excused from jury duty. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Learn about juror eligibility and disqualification, is, Learn about juror eligibility and disqualification. You can also be excused if you don't meet the basic eligibility requirements for jury duty in MA. You can do this on the Juror Service Interactive Website. You also should double-check the deadline before you mail your letter. A lock icon ( Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. Felons, unless they have had their civil rights restored, cannot serve on juries. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. This most beautiful site in Boston does not belong to the judges, it does not belong to the lawyers, it does not belong to the federal government. If you are wondering if you qualify for MA jury duty exemptions, DoNotPay can help you navigate the process. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Persons 70 years of age or older can indicate on the juror confirmation form that they wish to be exempt from performing juror service. Any citizen of the United States who is a resident of the judicial district or who lives within the judicial district more than fifty per cent of the time, whether or not he is registered to vote in any state or federal election, shall be qualified to serve as a grand or trial juror in . This name or title also should be included in your salutation. Just because someone else has been excused from jury duty for the same reason you've provided, that doesn't mean your request to be excused will be granted. You can: Complete and print your Confidential Juror Questionnaire. There are 2 types of medical disqualification: If possible, please include the jurors Badge Number (which you can find on any Office of Jury Commissioner (OJC) mailing). However, the federal government and each state recognize legitimate reasons why you may be excused from jury duty because completing jury service would constitute a hardship for you. Find out if you're eligible to serve and what you should do if you're not qualified. We can help you with a variety of other problems, including: No matter what your concern, DoNotPay can help! Let us know in a single click. Boston, Massachusetts 02118-2447. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. However, when you report for jury duty at the courthouse, a judge may excuse you from service if you can explain why sitting on a jury would be a hardship for you. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. [1] A specific diagnosis isn't required you'll need to identify only the nature of the medical condition,such as chronic psychiatric condition or mobility impairment rather than schizophrenia or "multiple sclerosis.. Submit the request at least 30 days before your date of service to the following address: Search Jury Duty Excuse on DoNotPay, and enter your jury duty summons information, including the assigned date, court name, juror number, and more. Welcome to the Massachusetts Juror Service Website To use this website, enter your Badge Number, PIN, and the first five digits of your home address ZIP Code from your summons,then click the Sign In button. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Instructions for sending proof of disqualification from juror service, is, Instructions for sending proof of disqualification from juror service. The state of Massachusetts clearly defines who is eligible for jury duty, who is disqualified, and who can request a deferment. Jury Duty Disqualification Information for Doctors, Mass. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Close your letter by telling the court if you want to be permanently excused or simply have the duty deferred or postponed to another time. Please limit your input to 500 characters. In order to be disqualified from jury duty for one of these reasons, you must provide the reason for your disqualification. While jury duty is a civic requirement for all eligible citizens in Massachusetts, there are a number of excuses that can be used to legally get out of being required to report for jury selection or jury duty, or receive a deferral. If you attend college in one county but live in another, you can legally serve in either county, but should contact the OJC if you are summoned in both counties. You will have to include these dates in your jury excuse letter and may need to provide them to anyone else who you need to write a letter on your behalf as documentation. Section 4: Disqualification from juror service. There are some instances where you do not meet the criteria for disqualification or deferment, but you may still request an exemption for an unusual hardship. If you are asking to be excused from jury duty because it would present financial hardship, you will need to gather documents that prove the state of your finances or the fact that your income is necessary to care for dependents. Office of Jury Commissioner Phone. Please let us know how we can improve this page. Volunteer safety personnel can qualify for an exemption. Please limit your input to 500 characters. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. You are not an MA resident/do not live in MA at least 50% of the year. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Alien Identification card number, visa status, or copy of passport. In some cases, a court can excuse you from jury duty, but it's not always clear what exemptions are allowed in Massachusetts. Boston, MA 02118. Find out about the 2 different types of medical disqualifications and how to write letters for each type. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. My reason is that I am on dialysis treatment. Weise is working toward a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis. Jury duty is one of your civic duties as a United States citizen. You skipped the table of contents section. Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Previous service in a similar type of jury can exempt you from serving again for a period of time. juror service, and will also allow you to make changes or request assistance. Using what you've learned about the kinds of excuses the court typically accepts, explain your situation and relate it to one of those acceptable excuses. To find out whether the court will excuse you from jury duty, you must write a jury excuse letter and send it to the judge or clerk of court that issued your summons. Each court jurisdiction has different qualifications, but in general, persons older than 70 are exempt from serving jury duty. You must notify the OJC to be added back to the juror list in order to serve in the future. Thank you for using the Massachusetts Juror Service Website.. If you've been summoned for both state and federal jury duty, you should report for federal jury service. You have served on a grand jury or trial jury in state or federal court within the last 3 years, or you are already scheduled to serve. provide the reason for your disqualification. Finally, print out the letter and sign your full name at the bottom in blue or black ink. A summons contains the juror confirmation form, which has a place where the juror may indicate a date, and an alternate date of up to one year ahead, to which they prefer to postpone the juror service. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Carefully note any dates on your summons, including the dates you've been called to jury duty. Written statement that juror cannot speak and understand English,and the language spoken by the juror. Massachusetts Juror Service Website A disqualification letter must: Be on your office's letterhead. Thank you for your website feedback! If you don't want to serve, you can notify the OJC that you'd like to be disqualified, and the OJC willpermanently remove you from the juror list. [email protected]. A specific diagnosis isn't required you'll need to identify only the nature of . Anyone holding public office, whether elected or appointed, cannot serve on a jury. Learn about juror eligibility and disqualification | Mass.gov In order to be disqualified from jury duty for one of these reasons, youmust provide the reason for your disqualification. All jurors must be U.S. citizens. To write a jury excuse letter, start by checking with your court to see if they'd prefer you to fill out a specific form. Understanding jury duty laws and exemptions can be a little confusing, but fortunately, DoNotPay can help you with Massachusetts jury duty exemptions.