Most people dread the thought of receiving a jury summons and being required to serve on jury duty; however, it is an extremely important part of our judicial system. Juries help resolve criminal and civil cases, including car accidents, product liability claims, nursing home abuse, and more. For many people, their first thought is, “How can I get out of jury duty?”
Yes, it is possible to get out of jury duty, but your situation must fall under one of the approved reasons. Simply not showing up for jury duty is not the way to do it, and that could even land you in some legal trouble. Keep reading below to learn more about getting out of jury duty in Kansas City.
How Are Potential Jurors Selected?
There is a lot of confusion about how potential jurors are selected, and many people hold incorrect preconceptions. Potential jurors are selected at random by a computer. The computer uses public records in order to select the individuals who are issued a jury summons.
Names may be pulled from:
- Voter registration records
- Driver’s license records
- Property tax records
Some individuals think that if they never register to vote, then they cannot get called for jury duty. That is not true, and you may still get selected for jury duty based on other public records that are tied to your identity.
Qualifications for Serving on a Jury in Kansas City, MO
Not everyone who receives a jury summons in the mail is legally qualified to serve, so you must ensure that you meet the following juror requirements.
Generally, qualified jurors must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be at least 21 years old
- Be a resident of the county that issued the summons
- Not have been convicted of a felony (unless your rights have been restored)
- Be able to read, write, and speak English
- Not be a judge of any court of record
- Not be on active military duty
- Not have a physical or mental impairment that would prevent you from fulfilling the obligations of a juror
Failure to meet these requirements means that you cannot legally serve as a juror; even if you wanted to serve, you would be disqualified and not allowed to participate in the process.
Getting Out of Jury Duty in Kansas City
If you have received a jury summons and do not wish to serve, there are some excuses that could get you out of jury service. In fact, Missouri law spells out several legally valid excuses that can get you out of jury service even if you would otherwise qualify to serve as a juror.
You can get out of jury service if:
- You have served on a jury in the last 36 months.
- You are a nursing mother.
- Absence from your job would adversely affect public health or safety.
- Religious obligations prevent you from serving.
- You are a licensed health care professional who is actively practicing.
- You are 75 years old or older.
- Your service would impose an undue physical or financial hardship.
You will be required to provide proof that you meet one of these exceptions. That may require obtaining a signed statement from your physician or your place of employment, or providing other evidence that the court deems sufficient.
In addition to the valid excuses above, you can also postpone your jury service if needed. For instance, suppose you had a vacation planned during the time you were supposed to report for service. The court will typically allow you to move or postpone your service once, with no questions asked, but your postponement date must be within six months of the original date.
Potential Penalties for Avoiding Jury Duty
One thing you should never do is simply ignore a jury summons because failure to show up for jury duty could land you in some pretty serious legal trouble.
Potential penalties for failure to appear at jury duty could include:
- A “show cause” hearing in front of a judge
- Fines
- Community service
- Resummons and service on a future jury
If you get a jury summons in the mail and cannot serve, you must contact the court to be excused.
Contact Our Kansas City Personal Injury Lawyers at Cohen Law Firm for a Free Consultation
Jury duty is an important civic responsibility, but courts may excuse or defer service in certain circumstances. If you receive a jury summons, review the instructions carefully and follow the court’s procedures for requesting an exemption, postponement, or other accommodation.
If you were injured in an accident and have questions about your legal rights, we can help. For more information, contact an experienced Kansas City personal injury lawyer at Cohen Law Firm to schedule a free consultation today.