Office of Jury Commissioner Please let us know how we can improve this page. Massachusetts has a statutory exemption that allows individuals over a certain age to request exemption from jury duty. James Marsden 'Worried' How Ronald Gladden Would React to 'Jury Duty Some page levels are currently hidden. Please do not include personal or contact information. Thank you for visiting the Massachusetts Juror Service 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. We have helped over 300,000 people with their problems. Instructions for sending proof of disqualification from juror service provide the reason for your disqualification. You must plan in advance to get the documentation you'll need. Massachusetts has a statutory exemption that allows individuals over a certain age to request exemption from jury duty. In order to be disqualified from jury duty for one of these reasons, youmust provide the reason for your disqualification. If your business will cease to function as a result of your jury duty, you may be able to claim exemption from jury duty. You are the sole caretaker of a permanently disabled person living with you (and you do not work outside the home). ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. PDF Getting Excused from Jury Duty A lock icon ( Please limit your input to 500 characters. Keep in mind that courts typically consider each request on a case-by-case basis, and have the discretion to grant or deny your request. Massachusetts Jury Duty Excuse List - Getting Excused From Jury Duty Written statement that juror cannot speak and understand English,and the language spoken by the juror. Those who are not capable of a juror's duties by reason of health are disqualified from participating in jury duty. In Massachusetts, your employer is not allowed to penalize you for missing work for jury duty. Application. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Finally, print out the letter and sign your full name at the bottom in blue or black ink. 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. Disqualification letter guidelines. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Research source or Address the letter to the name indicated on your jury summons, whether the clerk of court or a specific judge. 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. Employers are forbidden by law from firing you or taking disciplinary action against you for reporting to jury duty, so it isn't a valid excuse to claim you're afraid you'll lose your job if you serve on a jury. If possible, please include the juror's Badge Number (which you can find on any Office of Jury Commissioner ("OJC") mailing). Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. Some page levels are currently hidden. 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. Usage is subject to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Your practitioner should review the information for medical disqualificationbefore deciding whether you're capable of performing jury service. For example, in California your excuse is denied if you indicate more than one reason why you are disqualified from jury service. Section 4: Disqualification from juror service. If no form is available, you can type your letter using traditional business letter format. 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. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. Jury duty is one of your civic duties as a United States citizen. Pending felony charges: statement of felony charge including court where charge is pending. If you have a medical condition that prevents you from serving on a jury, learn how to request a medical disqualification. If you've been summoned for both state and federal jury duty, you should report for federal jury service. duty: doctors, police officers, students, and even judges are eligible to serve Keep in mind that your initial jury duty summons is only for attending jury selection day, where it will be decided if you are to actually serve on a jury during the "Voir Dire" process. Felons, unless they have had their civil rights restored, cannot serve on juries. Question still not answered? For tips on submitting your letter properly, read on! MA Jury Duty Exemptions [Request an Excuse Now] A letter from a registered physician that states 1) the nature of your disability and 2) the physicians opinion that the disability prevents you from performing jury duty. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. Include the juror's address. You will receive written notification of your disqualification by mail in 7-10 days from the date of disqualification. Jurors must read and write well enough to fill out forms related to their jury duty. Boston, Massachusetts 02118-2447. Please limit your input to 500 characters. This website will help you respond to your summons for 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. Write down the rule number or statute number of any exemptions that fit your situation so you can reference them in your letter. You may be disqualified from jury duty if youhave a mental or physical disability that keeps you from serving. Some page levels are currently hidden. Cookie Notice Many states such as Massachusetts have strict legal requirements regarding disqualification from jury duty for medical reasons. My reason is that I am on dialysis treatment. These exemptions may be listed on the court website, or you may be able to learn them by calling the clerk's office. citizens in our participatory democracy. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. For example, if you will be out of town on the date you were summoned for jury duty, and you've already made reservations or purchased plane tickets, copies of your reservations or plane tickets would provide proof of your excuse. 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. Once you have your letter, you can submit it in 1 of 2 ways. , We read every comment! 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. Have you received a jury duty summons? A disqualification letter must: Be on your office's letterhead. You can also postpone your service for up to a year if you prefer, or request a hardship transfer to a more convenient location, depending on your situation. If you're attending college in Massachusetts but you're from another state, you're required to serve in response to your Massachusetts summons. Thank you for using the Massachusetts Juror Service Website.. Jury duty is a privilege and a responsibility shared by all eligible and mail it to the following address. 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. Same form also used to ask for excusal due to hardship. Let us know in a single click. If you're a breastfeeding mother, you are still qualified to perform jury service. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. By using our site, you agree to our. Any advice on what to do? The feedback will only be used for improving the website. 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. 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. Research source. For more information, please see our To apply for an exemption your must: complete the form Application for exemption or disqualification from jury duty or for postponement of jury duty to a later session which you received with your summons; include supporting documents with your application (for example, a doctor's certificate, a photocopy of an airline ticket . You must notify the OJC to be added back to the juror list in order to serve in the future. In some jurisdictions, these forms must be completed and sent within a certain period of time after you receive your summons, regardless of whether you are asking to be excused from service.
